During the first year I would do a 10-15% water change every month. After a year the pond should be cycled and harmonized so that one need not do any water changes other than topping off due to evaporation.
pond maintenance question
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During the first year I would do a 10-15% water change every month. After a year the pond should be cycled and harmonized so that one need not do any water changes other than topping off due to evaporation.
You don't say how many gallons your pond is. Mine is about 700 gallons, and I only have six adult fish and maybe 10 babies. I also have an underwater pump and filter, which I regularly rinse/change. Plus at least half my pond has surface plants, plus some plants below the surface. Everyone's pond is a little different, and will require different maintenance, as there are varying factors to take into consideration. Some areas get little rain; where I live we get several inches a month. And a smaller, highly stocked pond would need more monitoring than say a larger one with few fish and a lot of plants. It does sound like in your situation you should be doing regular partial water changes, or at least until your pond stabilizes.
thats a variable....
and also, thats why you get a test kit... test the water weekly/bi-weekly, and change the water as needed. just like a tank.
I do about a 30% water change once a year in the springtime on my pond, which is about 1500gal. Its fairly lightly stocked and I use a veggie filter for nitrate reduction. Other than than, I keep it topped off so when we get rainstorms it overflows and gets small water changes throughout the year.
I have no experience with pond but have experience with aquariums. If your pond is heavily planted with potted and floating plants, I would not bother changing water. The bigger than pond the less you need to change the water. Do a periodic check of ammonia,ntrate etc. If it's all normal, don't bother water change.
