Step 5 - Add Gold Fish or Koi.
It is crucial to wait 24-48 hours before stocking the pond to allow for the chlorine to evaporate. The combination of fish with the aquatic plants creates an ecological balance in the pond that counteract any algae growth that occurs after construction. Before releasing into the water garden, fish need to be acclimated to the water temperature by floating in a plastic bag on the surface for 15-20 minutes. Place newspaper over the plastic bag and splash with water to keep in place during this time for further heating from the sun. To keep a healthy balance in the water garden don't stock with more than 1-2 inches of fish for every square foot or 3-5 gallons of water. It's not necessary to feed fish in well-stocked ponds, because they can get their nutrition from plants and algae. However, most people enjoy feeding their fish. But keep the feeding to a minimum, to avoid over growth and clouding of the water.