When you're filling the pond, just use any aquarium dechlorinator at the recommended dosage to dechlorinate the water. That's only necessary if A) you have animals you want to put in the water soon after filling or B) your local utility uses chloramine instead of chlorine (call them and ask). If the utility uses chlorine, and you're not going to put animals in right away, there's no need to add any chemicals: the chlorine will evaporate out into the air.



Likewise, if you're just topping off the pond from your hose, there's no need to treat the water. And don't worry about the nitrates from urine- your pond will soon develop a thriving population of denitrifying bacteria that will take care of that for you. You can jump start the bacterial population by rinsing off a filter from a well-established aquarium and pouring the rinse water into the pond, or else by dropping in a double handful of muck and leaves from an older pond.



Water quality control is much easier in an outdoor pond than in an aquarium. It will largely take care of itself.

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