"Oxymel of Squill" wrote in message
...
a newly dug pond is a device for killing fish. Leave it a year to settle
and
sort out its own chemistry before introducing fish



A year ?
You're kidding, right ?

Maybe this won't work for everyone, but in my case I let it sit for a couple
of days, added the plants and filter.
Let it sit for a week then put a few fish in.
Then I started testing the water quality.
Added some more fish after a couple of weeks (add plants whenever you want).

By this time the water had cleared.
Tested water
After 6 weeks switched on UV to keep it clear, and that was it functioning
pond.

Peter