Everyone will tell you something different. I've found simplistic is best. The pond will regulate itself if you let it.

I treated with dechlorinator when i first set up the pond but never have since, And I am coming up on two years. I have my pond in a greenhouse so it goes year round. I have two comets and two shubunkins. I never test pH, nitrates, or anything else. I have plants and use a terta filter with two grades of pads and bioballs (Used a smack pack to start). I top off and even added 1/2 the volume again (pesky nephew pulled a tube off the waterfall) with no ill affect. But every town has different tap water, as a caution. Also check your local garden extension and check your rain pH, you may need to adjust more for that then for tap water.

If I get some algae (one bloom so far, knock on wood) I throw in a scoop of barley treatment, one in the pond and one on the bioballs. You may see more of these being outside. I know I did when I had a outside koi haven.

Happy fishing!

Regarding cycling, I think whether or not you see a rise in your ammonia level when cycling will also depend on the amount of fish in the pond versus the total volume of water. Example: If you put your three fish in a newly set up 10-gallon aquarium youÂd probably notice the ammonia level rising after just a few days. After that youÂd probably be doing water changes while the filter is Âcycling just to keep the ammonia/nitrite/nitrates from reaching dangerous levels. With a 140-gallon pond, however, it will still cycle, but hopefully the levels of ammonia wonÂt reach dangerous levels because thatÂs a lot of water for 3 smaller fish. In an outdoor pond thereÂs other things that create ammonia, however, such as decaying leaves, bugs, etc.

Everyone has their own method of doing things. You might not have to add dechlorinator when doing a 10% water change. Some people choose to play it safe and add some. Personally I do add dechlorinator, but I donÂt bother mixing it with the water in a bucket beforehand.

Example: my pond is 300 gallons. If I do a substantial water change, I remove one-third or approximately 100 gallons. When I add the new 100 gallons of water, I just take the hose and let it run into the pond. The brand of dechlor that I use needs one capful for every 10 gallons, so ten capfuls in total for the 100 new gallons of water, so as the hose is filling the pond IÂll just add a capful or two every couple of minutes. ItÂs not an exact science, sometimes IÂll only add enough dechlorinator 80 gallons yet fill with 100 gallons of new water.

Glen