Hallo Rodney Pont,

have fish you don't need to use dechlorinator, especially while
rinsing it out. Once it's clean using dechlorinator will allow
bacteria to grow on the sides and that will help keep it clean.

Chlorine reacts quickly with everything thats organic and so is very
soon depleted, especially in a vat of (organic) wood. It doesn't harm
plants in the concentrations used for drinking water, or your
oesophagus would quickly be history :-) Dechlorinator in this case is
absolutely unnecessary.

If at all possible, clear the vat, clean it by scrubbing the inside
with steelwool and much water (you may use a detergent at the
beginning, but make sure it is rinsed out completely. A whisky vat has
been in use for many years to store and age whisky, and other spirits
before that. Stuff has soaked into the wood, that now soakes out
again. Not really ideal for a pond. But by following the above
procedure and frequent water changes at the beginning you'll soon have
a suitable vessel for youir pond.


Best regards,

Klaus