From Fish Food to Filters: Our Quick & Easy Guide to a Thriving Fish Pond

Adding a fish pond into your garden is a great way to transform your outdoor space into a natural paradise. However, from choosing the right fish for your pond and ensuring they are fed the most nutritious fish food pellets to including the right mix of plants and keeping that pesky algae at bay, creating a fish pond and maintaining it properly is often easier said than done.

From design to upkeep, having a garden pond is a super fun project but doing it well requires a lot of research and knowledge. For this reason, we’ve compiled a quick and easy guide to get you started in terms of setting your pond up for success. From choosing the best fish and finding the right pond fish food, installing a pond filter and finding ways to tackle the challenge presented by algae, we’ll cover the basics needed to start your subaquatic project on the right foot.

Setting Your Pond Up for Success

When it comes to setting up a thriving fish pond, it is important to consider your environment and get the basics right.

What Pond Fish Should I Get?

First things first, you’ll need to choose the type of fish that will live in your pond. Thankfully, Australia’s great climate means that you are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding fish that will not just survive but thrive in your pond. However, it is important to consider the specific climate of your area when choosing fish. For instance, if you live in the warmer parts of Australia, you’ll be able to take your pick from almost all the most commonly available native fish. However, these same fish may not do well in cooler parts of Australia.

When it comes to the world of fish-keeping, Goldfish are often some of the most well-known and popular fish species to keep. Often used as an introduction to the hobby, goldfish have been kept for centuries and come in a variety of colours and types.

• Comet Goldfish: The Comet is the most common type of Goldfish. They have a single tail and are known for their large, rounded tails and long bodies. Their long fins give them a streamlined appearance and make them fast swimmers.
• Shubunkins: Shubunkins have a body that looks similar to comets and have developed a calico pattern through selective breeding. These fish are bred for their long bodies that taper to a deeply forked tail.
• Fantails: One of the most popular Goldfish for freshwater aquariums and ponds, Fantail Goldfish are known for their rounded egg-shaped body with a double tail.
• Other fancy Goldfish: There are so many Goldfish varieties, such as Orandas, Lionheads, Ryukins, Bubble Eyes, Telescope Eyes, Veiltail and Pearlscales. They have been bred specially for their distinguishing characteristics, which make them desirable. These fancy Goldfish prefer warmer water and are better suited for the aquarium than for ponds.

Koi fish — colourful versions of the common carp — are one of the most popular ornamental fish varieties kept by aquarists and pond keepers alike. Koi have become a symbol of prosperity and good luck since they can grow to be quite large and live long, happy lives! They are beloved for their vibrant colours and playful personalities. Today, Koi fish can be found all around the world in ponds, tanks, and aquariums. In Australia, Koi can only be kept as pets in New South Wales and Western Australia as they are classified as noxious aquatics species in other states and territories.

If you’re interested in keeping native Australian fish, we recommend:

• Rainbow Fish: These colourful creatures are readily available from professional sellers, and they do really well in warmer, tropical climates. In addition to being bright and beautiful fish, rainbows are frog-friendly too, so you can have a thriving eco-system of aquatic creatures. For those in cooler climes, the Murray rainbow fish is a particularly good option.
• Pacific Blue Eyes: Another frog-friendly option is the Pacific Blue Eyes. These little guys don’t grow beyond about 3 cm in length, which makes them perfect for smaller ponds. A great bonus is that they eat mosquitos which will help keep pests at bay.
• Empire Gudgeon: If you are looking to keep the frogs away, then the Empire Gudgeon may be a good option. These are fairly small fish that feast on insects and tadpoles, and are perfect for tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones. What’s more, the males are especially colourful during the breeding season.
• Smelt: Native to South-East Australia, Smelt are a brilliant choice for ponds, especially if you are based in the southern regions of the country. They only grow to around 10 cm, which means they won’t do much harm to frogs or tadpoles. They do, however, feast on mosquito larvae, which is a bonus!
• Aussie Bass: Found in the freshwater streams along Australia’s East coast, these bass grow to 50–60 cm and are only suitable for larger ponds. You should only keep one or two in a pond as they are aggressive feeders and will eat almost anything that fits in their mouth.

What Fish Food Should I Use?

Whether you’ve opted for fish native to Australia, or goldfish or koi for your fish pond, choosing the right type of fish food is important. Specially designed pond fish food ensures your fish get the nutrients they need to thrive and grow.

If you are keeping goldfish in a pond, they prefer a mix of high-quality goldfish flakes and floating pellets. For more variety, you can then treat them with some veggie flakes or brine shrimp. Koi fish are omnivores and regularly eat a wide variety of fish foods. Smaller baby or juvenile Koi prefer to eat flakes or smaller-sized pellet foods. For medium or larger Koi, they prefer larger-sized floating pellets and pond food sticks.

For your native fish, like Rainbow Fish and Pacific Blue Eyes, they are also omnivores, and regularly eat mosquito larvae and small insects that fall into the pond. They will enjoy a good-quality tropical fish food flake or small tropical fish granules.

Do I Need A Pond Filter?

A common question people ponder when setting up an outdoor pond is whether or not they’ll need a filtration system. The answer here is an unequivocal yes and here is why. A pond filter is an essential piece of equipment for any garden pond. It serves the purpose of cleaning and purifying the water in your pond, making it healthier for your fish and other aquatic life. Keeping a clean and healthy environment for your fish is important, as poor water quality can lead to sickness or even death.

Pond filters help keep water clear by trapping debris that would otherwise sink to the bottom of the pond. This includes leaves, twigs, dirt particles,and other organic matter that can accumulate over time. The filter also works to promote beneficial bacteria growth which helps break down waste products produced by fish or plants. This helps keep ammonia levels low so that there is enough oxygen in the water for fish to survive and thrive.

The filter will also help to reduce algae growth by removing nitrates from the water which are used as food by algae.

Finally, it helps to reduce bad odours caused by bacteria or decaying material in your pond. When it comes to choosing a pond filter for your pond, you’ll need to choose one based on the size of your pond to ensure it works effectively. The bigger the pond, the bigger the filter needs to be.

What Plants Should I Get for My Pond?

Remember that creating a thriving fish pond isn’t all about the fish; the flora matters too. Choosing the right plants for your pond is no simple feat though. It is important to go for a broad selection of plants that aren’t just easy on the eye but provide a balanced combination that keeps the pond water clear.

Generally speaking, there are four broad types of plant that you should consider adding to your pond. Oxygenators will be positioned at the bottom of the pond. Then, floaters, such as Azola Fairy Floating Moss and Amazon Frogbit, will be on the surface. Next, add submersibles, such as Water Lilies, followed by marginal or bog plants. Feel free to mix and match to create a diverse aquatic environment.

How Do I Remove Algae From My Pond Without Harming My Fish?

Algae is one of the most common problems pond owners face, as it can cause the water to become cloudy and unpleasant. Algae growth in a pond can be unsightly and, depending on the type of algae, can also be unhealthy for its inhabitants. Algae growth in ponds is caused by an excessive amount of sunlight and nutrients in the water. It is important to take steps to remove algae without harming the fish in the pond. Fortunately, there are several methods that can be used to effectively remove algae without negatively impacting fish living in the pond.

Mechanical filtration systems, like a pond filter, help filter the water and can trap the algae particles before they enter the pond. Most modern pond filters now come with in-built UV clarifiers. Water passes through the ultraviolet clarifier and the UV light kills the single-celled algae, binding them into a larger clump, which can then be filtered out by the filter. It is a chemical-free cure and the best long-term solution for removing algae and green water from ponds.

We have a range of pond algae treatments designed specifically for killing and removing algae without impacting fish and other species, however some algae treatments can harm plants. API Algaefix, though, is safe for plants and fish.
Adding aquatic plants to shade the pond and feed on the excess nutrients that outcompete the algae helps reduce the amount of food for the algae to thrive too.

Start Your Fish Pond Project Today!

In short, creating a thriving fish pond is no simple feat. There are lots of things you need to consider to ensure the environment is just right for your fish. Hopefully, this guide has given you some useful things to consider before you get started on the exciting project of creating your dream outdoor fish pond.

One thing is for certain; you’ll need to do a bit of shopping before you get cracking on building your aquatic kingdom. Thankfully, when it comes to all things fish, Aquarium Kingdom is the place to go. From a massive range of fish pond food to pond filters and algae control products, you’ll find everything you need to create the perfect pond for your fish.