The Pond in the Summer: Reduce Algae and Increase Oxygen

Summer can be a trying time for pond owners. While it is a glorious time to sit at the edge of the pond and enjoy the water, the pond itself requires summer maintenance. With the summer heat come algae and a lack of oxygen in the water, and both of these can stress pond life.

Controlling Pond Algae in the Summer

When the heat is on, the algae can bloom. Pond algae adores summer sun and heat. Algae also thrives on pond nutrients. This means that when a warm pond receives a lot of fish food, fish waste, or fertilizer from the lawn, an algal bloom can occur. While a little bit of pond algae provides a ready source of food for tadpoles and aquatic invertebrates, a lot of algae can be a problem. When algae dies, the decomposition process can starve aquatic animals of oxygen, leading to die-offs of fish.

Control pond algae by providing shade around the pond and limiting fish populations to numbers that the pond can actually manage. In the spring, clean the pond and remove fall and winter debris and nutrients, giving the pond a fresh new start. While there are algae control products that will kill pond weeds, be wary of adding herbicides to the pond as they can also damage pond life.

Monitoring and Testing Water Quality in the Pond

Over the summer months, test the water quality in the pond. Test for nitrites to ensure that fish waste is not building up to toxic levels. If so, reduce the numbers of fish, reduce feeding, or clean the pond. Another important summer water quality test is the dissolved oxygen test. Use a water meter or water testing kit to look for dissolved oxygen. Ideally, this should be in the range of three to six milligrams per liter. The more oxygen there is in a pond, the better for pond life.

Using Pond Bubblers, Aeration, Pumps and Fountains to Add Oxygen

If there is low oxygen in the pond, use bubblers, aeration devices, pumps and fountains to add oxygen to the pond. A pond pump circulates water around the pond and into pond filters. Water circulation naturally adds oxygen to the water as well. A pond fountain is decorative, but water that falls into the pond from a fountain or a waterfall will also add valuable oxygen to pond water. Bubblers and other aeration devices add supplemental oxygen when pumps and fountains are not enough.

Regular observation of pond fish and plants and testing of pond water will help ensure that pond life survives and thrives in the summer heat. Cleaning the pond, adding shade and oxygen and removing sources of water pollution will help reduce pond algae and increase oxygen levels in the pond.