Each water garden pond you create while gardening must be thought of as a mini-ecosystem. There are many factors that must reach equilibrium in order to have a healthy environment and to have a beautiful water garden. Otherwise you may wind up killing any fish you include and having a sick, algae overgrown mess that is neither attractive nor does much for your gardening efforts.

In this article we are sharing some basic water garden pond care tips that you probably have seen before if you have done any reading about water gardens. Understand these tips go toward achieving a beautiful water garden pond by balancing your water garden plants, the fish you may wish to include, the bacteria that also play an important part and other items.

First off be sure to dechlorinate your water that you include in the pond. This is especially important if you include fish and other creatures. Either allow the water, once your pond is built, to sit for a few weeks or use some type of dechlorination kit to achieve your end.

However you may find your city water supplies have been treated with chloramine. Chloramine can remain in the water for months and you should use a chloramine remover. Fish can be added within 20 minutes of using a chlorimine remover depending upon how well it is circulated through the pond. This is important if and when you may have to drain a pond to clean it out. Don't add fish right away to a new pond. See more information below.

You will want to test the pH of your pond water. Keeping it above 7 and in the 7 to 10 range will help keep the algae down in the pond. Realize when your pond is just starting you do need to give some time for the algae to come into balance and you may have a heavy algae bloom for the first two to six weeks. As long as the pH is as above, this should clear up. You can add submerged plants that will help remove the nutrients the algae uses and help filter the water. You can actually think of algae as a sign of how well you have maintained the balance within your water garden pond after the first few weeks. Too much floating on top and you have a problem.

Once you begin to add fish and plants to the pond, the first rule is "Don't crowd". You can always add more later on if it appears you have the room. Fish will grow and so will the plants. You will get a lush appearance eventually but trying to force it right away can cause diseases among your fish and perhaps even encourage too much algae growth.

Fact is you will want to be sure that you do not completely cover over the surface of the water garden pond even later. At least one third of the water surface should be clear. This allows the sun to penetrate and reach any submerged plants you have added to your pond. It also allows gases to escape and oxygen to enter the water. This all goes toward achieving that mini-ecosystem balance.

Lastly, don't be in a rush to get your plants and fish into the pond. It would be best to give your water garden pond time to settle in and mellow. Add plants next and give them time to come into balance. Adding fish should best be done in late spring or early summer when the temperature of the pond reaches 50 degrees. So much depends on the type of fish you plan to add, the type of water garden pond you have, and where you are located.

Copyright 2006, Sandra Dinkins-Wilson