Top Tips for Backyard Fish Pond Maintenance

Now that you have built your beautiful fish pond, you’re going to need to maintain it properly. Proper backyard fish pond maintenance is more than cleaning out a leaf or two every few weeks. If you want your pond looking crystal clear everyday and most importantly, keeping your fish alive, then you should read on and discover our tips for keeping your backyard fish pond clean and healthy. 

Getting the Right Type of Fish

Goldfish

One of the most common types of fish that can be kept in outdoor fishponds are goldfish. Goldfish can come in a variety of colours and sizes based on the dimensions and specifications of your own pond. The common gold fish, those usually kept in fish bowls, are the same as goldfish that can be found in most backyard fish ponds. With the expanded living conditions, some common goldfish can grow up to 30cm and live for up to 20 years. You will need to keep a watchful eye on both their breeding and eating habits to ensure fish pond longevity.

Native Australian Fish

If you have a larger fish pond or are looking to maintain a more diverse range of fish, you should look at including select native Australian fish such as tandanus catfish or Murray River cod. For smaller fish ponds, fish such as jade or silver perch are a great choice. These fish are legal to purchase from your local or trusted pet store and are known for their quick growth.

Individual states can have their own restrictions and guidelines for keeping native fish in ponds. If you’re unsure about Queensland specific guidelines visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

Specific Tips for Warm Weather Ponds

There are various ways to keep your backyard fish pond maintenance up to date, especially in the warmer months. We think it’s best to:

• Agitate the water using a fish pump to keep carbon dioxide filtering out and the oxygen being introduced into the water. Pond pumps should be run indefinitely and cleaned every couple of days.
• Keep an eye on your fish’s breeding schedule. Goldfish tend to breed in warmer months, particularly in late December. Feeding should be increased during these months, but only slightly.
• New Season Syndrome can occur during the transitioning weeks from Winter to Spring/Summer. Most fish will begin to discharge a type of mucus from their skin which will give them a change of appearance and on rare occasions, can result in death.

Controlling the Growth of Algae

Algae are categorised as a large term of photosynthetic water-based organisms. They typically appear as a slimy green film along the edges of your pond. Algae can be incredibly disruptive to your pond’s natural ecosystem. There are several well-known methods for stimming the growth of algae in a backyard fish pond. Water based plants such as duckweed and water lilies can create shade for your fish and will compete against the available sunlight coming into the feature. Goldfish are also a natural consumer of algae growth in most backyard fish pond maintenance plans.

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