Do I Need To Cycle A Pond?

[Sarah5098]

I have taken 3 goldfish from my friend that she won at a fair and doesnt have the proper set up for. They are living in a 100l tank of mine. They are currently only a few cm long so should be fine in there for now. I am digging them a pond, but does the pond need cycling? If so, how do i do this, just the same as a tank???
Thanks,
Sarah

 

[saph.st24]

hi sarah

yes you will need to cycle the filter to the pond, it is basically the same as a tank just on a bigger scale,
you can by bacteria called filter start/boost/cycle, there are others on the market too leave for recommened time on bottl usully a week
then add the fish one at a time so the filter has time to catch up with the demand being put on it, then add anoher fish about a week later so on and so on .

 

[flyhawk]

cycled ours for 1 month the put in 12 goldfish!

 

[saltynay]

Depends on the size and quantity of plants. Mine is heavily planted an around 100 gallons so when I first started I threw in 12 2-3" goldfish (before I knew about nitrogen cycle) and only fatalities I have had is through predators.

 

[Sarah5098]

Theres lots of Elodea that i have taken from my larger pond.
I dont quite know about the size of the pond its about 5m diameter and near 5ft deep in the very middle.
Sarah

 

[saltynay]

With plenty of elodea and a low stocking it shouldn't need cycling although be very slow with your introduction of new fish I would say after the first batch added leave for 6-8 weeks before adding more. You can easily do an ammonia, nitrate and nitrite test just like any aquarium to check levels aren't dangerous