Pond Construction and Preparation for Better Fish in 5 Steps

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Fish farming is almost a scientific process including raising fish in tanks, ponds for food commercially. The most important fish species used in fish farming for business purposes are carps, tilapia, and catfish worldwide.

The success of fish farming depends on mainly on pond design, pond construction and pond preparation. Since early times, fish have been kept in a wide range of man-made earthen ponds normally. The common type of fish farm was developed by forming small ponds by hand and submerged with water during the raining season.

The basic earthen pond construction and design system is still the more important and affordable by farmer. But there have been remarkable technological advancement over the last few decades that have developed the aquaculture industry. To make a better pond you need to flow some steps. These are as bellows..

Pond Construction:

So before pond construction you need to consider most important three question and the answers of questions will show you the right way. These questions are

  1. Which of fish you want to grow?
  2. Which size of fish you want to grow?
  3. How many fish you want to grow?

However; you need to make sure the type of fish, size of fish, and number of fish which will help you to construct a good pond. I think you don’t want to grow fish that are too large for the pond size only to find out you’re running out of the room.

Step 1: Select a Site or Land

The success of fish farming depends to a large extent on the proper selection of the site to be developed into a fish farm. When you will select a site for pond construction you have to consider some essential factors such as access to water, type of soil, and climate, proximity to markets, and the specific requirements of the species. The ground level of the land should be low and flat for a good pond.

Fish Pond
Fish Farming Project

The pond should be constructed in a place where it can collect natural rainwater easily or easy access to a lot of clean water that flows all year round. The area that is risk-free of flooding and an open or sunlit area for pond construction. This helps to keep the water fresh and from becoming stale which can harm the health of your fish.

Step 2: Pond Design

 Pond construction is very vital factor for proper and prifitable fish farming but ponds size depends on the type of fish and number of fishes. Usually a pond should be constructed as large as space allows but it would be a manageable size as well. A typical size pond to start with is 6:4 in meter. You also can construct a bigger pond if you have experience with a smaller one. The pond walls should be sloped and the bottom has one deep end for draining easily. Slopes and the bottom of the pond should be well packed.

The depth of the pond should be up to1.0 m at the shallow end and sloping up to 1.5m at the drainage end will be better for pond construction. You should also keep in mind about how high building the walls of the pond. The walls of pond should be higher so that it can stop water from overflowing over the edges. If the pond overflows then fish can escape or go away from other pond.

Step 3: Filling the Pond with Water

After pond construction you need to fill up the pond with water what depends on the size. It be a good idea to let the water run into the pond from the side as this will also be help full the tarp to conform slowly to the weight of the water as well. If you place some stones or rocks around the external edge of the tarp then it will be necessary to prevent walls from falling in as the weight of the water increases.

watering the pond
Watering in the Pond

When the pond is full, the weight of the water will keep it in place. Then you can then set up your pump system, if you have. If you do not have any planning to use a pump system in the pond, then you may work on introducing your fish. However, you should not that fishes need some oxygen in water to live properly and grow healthy. You can provide them with oxygen by placing a running hose in the pond 3-4 times a week.

Step 4: Greening Your Pond

Fish in ponds usually eat green plankton which are the various collection of organisom live in water and are unable to swim against a current and grows in the water. Before putting fish in the fish pond you need to make sure that your pond is green in color and to do this you can do this by using dry animal manure in the pond. However; you have to control how green do you want your pond and it can be done by adding and removing the bag of manure as well.

Step 5: Introducing Your Fish to the Pond

When the pond is ready to introduce the fish then you have to keep in mind that the new fishes are not habituated with this water this is why slowly begin to mix the pond water into the bucket water that you have your fish in for 20 to 30 minutes, this will help them acclimatize to the new water Ph levels properly.

Once you have mixed the water properly and waited, tip the fish into the pond slowly. Don’t introduce all your fish at a time. Start off with a small amount of fish at first. If most of them live for the first two weeks then introduce rest of them.

Conclusion

Fish farming is one of the better ways to support you and your family with a sustainable food and protein source but better fish production depends on a good pond, that comes from a better pond construction idea. If your pond construction is good and as your fish breed enough, you will find that you’ll have more than enough food to last for years what you wanted. So, are you ready to build your own fish farm or pond ready for your homesteading now?


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