Aeration, chemicals, pumps and stuff-Do I need it?

[Jennie Beth]

I am in the process of setting up --ok, planning so I can set up--a 650-700 gal pond, to be heavily planted and hold a handful of comets and a few snails. I have done this once before, and either got incredibly lucky or accidently ended up with a good balance of plants/fish/water quality. I had a 600 gal pond, ran a 1800gph pump with only a foam filter, and a pretty healthy waterfall. I think I used dechlorinator once, maybe twice, in the five years it was mine. Never used chemicals except a little hydrogen peroxide on occasion when the string algae was horrendous in the summer. No bio filter, no UV, no beneficial bacteria, no stress-kote stuff. Nothing. Had clean clear water. Lots of plants. Two generations of new baby fish. I lost only one fish to non racoon-related death. And an electric fence took care of that for me. Blissful ignorance is great! :dance:

So, now I have read WAY too many books, and posts, and websites, and am wondering if I need all that stuff I didn't have the first time. I am looking at a similar setup, but no waterfall this time. I will have to use a fountain instead for aeration. If I am turning my water 2-3 times an hour, will the bubbler head that comes with my pump give me enough aeration to keep the fish happy? At least until I can afford a prettier squirty thing to go along with it? And do I need all that other stuff? :confused:

Thanks,
Jen

[bitbot]

I'm sure the experts will weigh in, but I would think the answer is 'no'.
The pond is a big system and will be relatively lightly stocked.
It should find its own equilibrium level.
(I never realised raccoons could be an issue to fish keeping!:))

[Jennie Beth]

" I never realised racoons could be an issue to fish keeping"

Oh my goodness!!! I hate the hairy little buggers! They would dump out all my plants looking for snails and tasty critters, eat my hyacinths, smash my snails on the rocks and leave me sad little piles of broken shells, and steal my fish, all in one night!!

(Breathing deeply) Coon skin caps outta be required wear for pond keepers :)

[bitbot]

Glad we don't have them here! - just vegetarian possums

[7itanium]

the smaller the tank.. the harder it is to maintain

so a large pond isnt nearly as hard to maintain as a 10g house tank lol

just stock it slowly.. and the bacteria will come on their own

do water changes as needed.. and have fun

[Jennie Beth]

Thank you, thank you...
Can't wait, I am off to start spending money--I mean building my pond--the end of the week!! Hope the family likes Top Ramen. We'll be eating alot of it :)
Lucky for them it is a little early in the season for plants and fish, so they may have a few more decent meals left!
Jen