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Dechlorinators

Before putting any animals or plants in tap water-filled ponds, you'll need to treat the water with a dechlorinator. Chlorine is lethal to beneficial bacteria. It also damages fishes' delicate gill membranes. Dechlorinating water treatments are easy to use and work instantly to neutralize chlorine, rendering it harmless to living organisms. Be sure your water conditioner is also formulated to neutralize chloramine, another harmful compound commonly found in tap water, and rid the water of heavy metals.

Microbial Treatments

Microbial treatments introduce enzymes that affect nutrient concentrations in pond water. Microbial pond treatments are useful after your pond is established as they help decontaminate water by releasing enzyme-producing bacteria that digest targeted pond pollutants. Since microbial treatments take some time to be effective, they should be viewed as a long-term solution, not a quick fix. It's important to note that microbes require a balanced pH, sufficient oxygen and nutrients themselves to flourish. Microbial treatments are a natural, harmless way to maintain a healthy ecological balance in your pond.

Pond Water Maintenance

There are a variety of other water conditioners available but the safest and most natural way to keep your pond healthy is by establishing a self-sustaining ecosystem. The most important ingredient for doing so is patience. It can take a few years to create a fully mature pond environment. Adding too many different conditioners to the water can actually upset the balance and make it more difficult to develop the pond you desire.