No living thing can live in a stream unless there is food available. This is a important point, especially when setting up a pond or lake for DIY fish farming. The aquaculturist has to reach a very good balance between the food source and fish. Too many fish and not enough food can lead to starvation and cannibalism in the fish.

The food source for your fish is the first thing that you will need to be concerned with. Feeding your fish actually begins with the right vegetation. Choose a location for your fish pond that's where there are shrubs and bushes very close by. They provide shade and protection from predators and a great place for insects to breed.

Cattails and other swamp plants are incredibly important and should ring the pond. These plants provide great breeding spots for insects that your fish will feed on. They also help to filter the water and keep the soil intact around the banks.

A selection of native plants should be planted right in the water. This can be accomplished by draining the pond, planting and refilling it. This is probably the harder way. A much easier way is to use potted plants with rocks tied to them. It only requires that you submerge the pot and allow it to set on the bottom. These plants will provide homes and breeding grounds for the aquatic critters that fish feed on.

Once the vegetation of your pond has been well established, it's time to introduce the food species you'll raise. Some of the best food items for your fish will be fresh-water snails & shrimps, Corixae, certain kinds of mussels and may-fly. Local lakes with similar fish thriving in them will give you clues as to what you'll require for your pond.

Introducing a wide selection of food for your fish is significant, but don't over-do it. Before you add any critters to your water, research it and get information about its reproductive habits. You don't want anything to invade the water and cause problems with your stock.

Once the steps we've covered are complete, your fish pond is nearly ready for operation. It is essential to allow the waters to run and rinse your pond, plants and equipment for several weeks before introducing your stock. During this time, regular checks on the pond should be made and any problems addressed and taken care of immediatly.

In the next report of this series, we'll cover the fish species for a do it yourself fish farm. You'll find out the easiest to raise. There are other kinds of fish that can live with and even provide food for your fish. Find out what they are and what species to avoid.