Summer is upon us. The heat can take a toll on your pond and affect the plants and animals in it. High temperatures can impact your pond water’s ability to hold dissolved oxygen and dissolved oxygen levels can drastically fall, causing fish to become stressed.
Here are some ways to maintain your pond in summer
Keep it Clean
Make regular pond cleaning a part of your garden pond maintenance routine. Debris such as leaves, twigs, and pebbles can get into your pond. Be sure to remove dying leaves and flowers before they have a chance to decay in the warmer weather affecting pond water quality, and overall health.
Algae is the number one enemy of pond plants. It competes with them for sunlight and essential nutrients. Ponds tend to accumulate a lot of algae during summer. Once the sun starts to shine, algae can spread quickly to different parts of your pond. Regularly remove pond algae to maintain a healthy pond. Aquatic plants such as water lilies help provide fish with shade from the heat of summer, cooling the water and making algae control easier too. If your pond has water lilies, remove decaying stems and pads otherwise nitrogen levels in your pond may drastically increase.
Use algaecides as the last resort – only when you have a full-blown infestation. Oxygenators are beneficial for ponds. Though oxygenators help maintain pond water quality, they should be kept in check, or they can take over. Monitor the number of oxygenating plants in your pond. Make sure they do not cover more than a third of it.
Top It Off
As the temperature heats up, ponds start losing water at a faster rate than normal. Ponds with large pumps pushing high volumes of water, or ponds designed with multiple waterfalls and a lot of cascades and splashing may have higher evaporation rates. Depending on the local climate, you may have to top off your pond regularly in summer to maintain optimum water levels.
Periodically topping off your pond will help keep the oxygenating plants in it healthy. When your pond plants are healthy, they produce sufficient amounts of oxygen for your fish to thrive.
Add Oxygen to Your Pond
If you haven’t already done so, add oxygen to your pond by placing an aerator in your pond. You can also install a fountain with a pump if your pond doesn’t have a waterfall or stream built in. You will be able to use the aerator in the winter as a bubbler to keep a hole open in the ice. A pond air pump produces bubbles. When these bubbles burst, oxygen is released into the water. If you decide to use a pump, consider adding a biological filter to break down toxic waste.
At Atlantis Water Gardens, we have years of experience transforming ordinary backyards into oases. Our ability to understand our clients’ vision and turn it into reality gives us an edge over the competition. To make an appointment, call (973) 627-0515.