Building a fishpond can be a complex business, you have to think about its location and the look of it, as well as including plants into the equation and what fish you want to keep. There are many things to think about and the beginning is the time to think about them.

But what about all the bits in between, there is decisions to be made on all the extras that can only make for a finished masterpiece. Probably the first big decision is to decide whether you want a regular fish pond or a koi pond.

A few things to think about in the planning stage are where the electric and water supply are going to come from, the nearer the pond the better. Decide what filtration system is going to be installed and where, to achieve the best results and clear water.

Take your time and think about all these things and anything else you might want to include in your pond right at the beginning. Proper planning and preparation is essential to get the right end result and to make sure you do not forget an important factor of the pond, that might be difficult to add on afterwards.

A fountain is something that we may want to consider, they look great and sound great, but also help aerate the the water for the fish. These are best set up with a separate pump so they can be turned off without affecting the filter system. You will probably want to turn them off during the night as in the dead of the night they can suddenly become noisy.

What about the gentle sound of a flowing waterfall, these really can make for a great looking pond. You can enjoy more than one waterfall, depending on the size of your pond. Whether the waterfall is a large or small one the noise can be so relaxing and they are well worth thinking about before construction starts.

Lighting is the other obvious addition and this can change the look and feel of the pond after dark, the mood can be changed dramatically through the different kinds of lights that are now available. Lights can be set around the pond or you can go for under water lights, you can even light up the waterfall, the different effects that can be achieved are numerous.

The biggest and most important decision to the pond builder is the kind of fish that will be kept in the new pond, if Koi is the choice then finding a reputable breeder is important as these fish are very expensive, although that goes for any fish breed. There are many different species to choose from and although this part is important it is also fun as well, hand picking the fish that will live in the new home you have created for them.

Introducing fish to your aquarium is tricky, whether you’ve just set up the tank or already have an established aquarium with other fish. In fact, it is often more difficult to add new fish to an established tank. You’ll need to make sure that the aquarium is ready for new fish, choose the right aquarium fish, and introduce them carefully.

Before you add any fish to your aquarium, you will need to check the quality of your water. It will not be safe to transfer your new fish to your tank if the water quality is not at its highest. If your old fish are living in poor quality water, they will likely be even more stressed, when the new fish is introduced. So if you dont want any fish expiring, be sure that you clean and check that water conditions are ideal for the new and old fish. If youre like me and dont like frequent aquarium cleaning, get yourself a product like EcoBio-Block. It will add beneficial bacteria and trace minerals to your aquarium water to make it cleaner and safer all around for your fish and reduce your maintenance needs.

Because you already have fish in the aquarium, you’ll need to select species that are compatible with each other. You don’t want your new fish to pick on, or even kill, your old fish. You also need to choose species that thrive at similar water conditions, as each aquarium fish has specific pH and water temperature needs. Make sure that the fish you select is likely to successfully co-exist with its established tank mates. Try to add more than one fish at a time, so that the new fish will have a decreased chance of being singled out and picked on.

Once you have chosen the fish to add, you need to rearrange the aquarium. Your old fish have likely made territorial claims on the hiding places in your aquarium so cleaning and rearranging the plants and other decorations will clear the field for your new fish. Try to give them plenty of hiding places to go to, until they familiarize themselves with their new neighbors.

When introducing new aquarium fish to an established tank, never bring your new fish home from the pet store and immediately dump them into the tank. This will shock their system, and they may not make it.

Once you bring home a new fish, it is best if you first set them up in a separate tank to quarantine them for a few weeks. This is a good way to check for signs of sickness. You dont want them contaminating your other aquarium fish. You can safely transfer fish that are already in bags of water similar to your aquarium set up, by first floating this bag in your aquarium water for a few hours. This will equalize the water temperature and prepare the fish for his new environment. Once you have the temperatures equalized, slowly release your fish to your aquarium.

By choosing the best time to introduce new aquarium fish, selecting the right fish, and acclimatizing them slowly, your fish will have the best opportunity for a smooth transition with minimal stress.