Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations What's a new pond owner to do?

So, pond experts...what's an eager new pond owner to do? We've built the pond and watched it fill, stocked it with the first year's fish, and now all we can do is wait? Is there something else I can do other than wait for fish to grow?

I've put out a couple of pallets for the FHM to spawn on, we've put "some" rock into help provide structure, and have even almost completed a cabin.

What can we be monitoring to be sure this new ecosystem is getting the best possible jumpstart? Water temps and clarity?

Or should I just paddle my kayak and try to watch the young fish eat tadpoles?

It's all exciting!

Do you throw out and fish food?

This provides a relaxing and interested activity in which you get to observe the fish.

You could decide what types of emergent plants you want and plant them. Otherwise you'll get what ever comes in, which you may like or not. Also, do you want a dock?

I think you have a good idea of monitoring water temps and clarity, perhaps even the Ph. Consider what Dwight is doing - he is monitoring several aspects of his pond and logging it on an excel spreadsheet. After compiling this data for a few years he will be able to anticipate seasonal changes and will be able compare data from one year to another. I think this is very cool. If I lived at my pond property I'd be all over this.

Oh and don't discount paddling around in a kayak and observing. Bob Lusk has written articles and spoken about the observing the nuances of ponds - in other words using observation to determine what is occurring in a pond. Plus it's fun!

Thanks guys. I guess I'll just sit in a kayak and watch fish grow while soaking in all the knowledge that pondboss users so generously share.