What you need to understand about pond keeping is the nitrogen cycle and the
stages it passes through. Keeping some feeder goldfish in the pond
initially as sacrifices will help get the cycles going. Once the pond is
aged, a few weeks, it is OK to start increasing the fish load with whatever
you want to keep. Test your water on a regular basis, most pet stores carry
a basic test kit for a few dollars.

A UV light is one of the best investments you can make for a pond. This
will help control most undesirable algae and bacteria under control. I have
had my most recent pond here in Florida, 2000 gal., since 1998 and as long
as I remember to replace the UV bulb my pond has always been crystal clear.
I keep around 20 - 25 koi ranging in size from 6 inches to 20 inches,

"EMF" wrote in message
...
Hi

After succesfully keeping a reef tank for several years i have now moved
into pond keeping or should i say blanket weed growing. The answer to
algae
elimination in a reef tank is to install a plenum filter to reduce
nitrates
and phosphates to virtually undetectable levels, hence starving them of
their food. I understand the design of plenum filters as they apply to
reef
keeping and i intend to use silver sand in place of coral sand as the
local
water supply is very hard. Has anyone here used such a filter in a pond
and
if so what where the results. I understand that water temperature plays a
big part in the efficiency of the bacteria in the filter and its ability
to
breakdown the nitrates and phosphates. In the north of England, where i
live, a water temperature of 18-20c is quite high and about as good as it
gets in the summer. Any help please.