Keep Your Cool!
Keeping your pond cool and oxygenated should be your primary focus during the hot summer months. The
warm weather has a dramatic affect on oxygen levels in your pond - the
warmer the water, the lower the level of dissolved oxygen. Low oxygen
levels can lead to fish kills, increased algae growth, and a reduction
in beneficial bacteria resulting in an increase in ammonia, nitrites
and nitrate.
A relatively easy way to keep your pond cool is to add surface plants to the pond (aquatic plant products found here).
If you have fish, a good goal is to have 70% of your pond surface area
covered during the hottest weeks. You can add floating plants, such as
water hyacinth, water lettuce, and water chestnut. Another option is to
add a floating planter, or floating planting baskets, which provide much more plant variety.
Also
consider using a pond tint. These all-natural products act as a "sun
block" for you pond - keeping temperatures lower and inhibiting algae
growth. A great choice is the Pond Logic Plus (that includes the
PondClear clarifying agent) which comes in either Nature's Blue or Twilight Blue Tint.
A
bottom aeration system is extremely effective in cooling the pond water
and increasing oxygen levels thereby ensuring healthy pond life,
promoting beneficial bacteria growth, and lowering toxic gases and
ammonia by promoting gas exchange.
Oase and Airmax Eco
both have fantastic bottom aeration kits. We really like these kits as
they are truly the only "plug and play" systems available for ponds of
all sizes (not just small ponds).
