PLANTS AND FISH FOR YOUR BACKYARD POND:

After the water has been filtering for about a good week, you may add your plants and fish.
You need bottom plants,for the fish to feed on. They provide both food and oxygen to the fish and the pond. You can buy "Annacharis" a plant that grows very well on the bottom of the pond.Tie bunches together and sink them with a rock tied around them. They will spread very nicely. You can also buy some shelf plants to place around the sides of the pond on the inner shelves.A nice water-lilly is very pretty centered in the pond,and if the water conditions are good,they will bloom in the summertime. Do not over crowd your pond,fish need room to swim and breathe.More is not good.
Do yourself and your pond a favor and buy a water testing kit at your garden center. They are inexpensive and will make sure your water is at the right levels for your fish. In the summer you can color the water blue,to protect your fish from the sun's rays.
I hope I have been of some help and have given you what you need to get started,if you need more information please contact me at:
dottye@webtv.net