Are you seeing green cloudiness in your pond or water garden? Here in Southern California we have had days on end in the upper 80°’s and 90°’s and some that hit 100°. Heat can green up your pond! Read below to know about the heat and keeping your pond healthy:
For those of us who dare to keep up with the news, we’ve seen numerous reports of this June being the hottest recorded in history… and July is on track to be the hottest month ever!
If you’d like to read more about this, check this report.
But what does this have to do with your pond?
During high heat, ponds battle heavy evaporation rates, increases in photosynthesis, and warmer water temperatures than desired by most fish. Because the earth’s surface temperature will also rise, both direct sunlight and indirect sunlight ponds will feel fluctuations in temperatures during high heat.
We get tons of calls and emails from pond-owners wondering why their pond is suddenly losing a ton of water and wondering why their pond has turned cloudy and green. If you too have been wondering the same thing, read below!
Higher temperatures = lower oxygen levels!
Did you know that coeler water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water can? That means that when the outside air temperature increases, it is more important that the pond have good aeration. Waterfalls and aerators help provide oxygen. Lack of oxygen can lead to slimy algae! If you’d like to learn more about adding more oxygen to your pond, contact us now!
Do you notice certain parts of your pond grow more algae on the rocks or the water doesn’t seem to have much movement? That is a great place to consider adding an aerator. Not only does it get more oxygen to the pond, but it will also help with movement, circulation, and your ponds’ clarity.
Plants provide shade that can help keep the pond cool in the hot weather. Lilies, once they are established, are great for added shade. Submerged plants also add oxygen to the water. Floaters like water lettuce and water hyacinth are fantastic for filtration! You can pick some up at our shop or we can also deliver if you’re a maintenance client.
Did you know that if fish don’t have somewhere to get out of the sun they can actually get a sunburn? YES! You might not be able to see it, but it can kill them. Most fish don’t get sunburned because they live in water deep enough that the sun’s rays can’t hurt them. But if you have a more shallow pond, you might need to consider adding shade. If you don’t have a shade tree or lots of lilies, try putting in a fish cave. Call or email for pricing.
Overfeeding fish is a major cause of algae. In warmer weather, uneaten fish food decays faster and can be fodder for algae. During high heat time periods reduce high protein food intake so your fish will eat more algae which is easier to digest and will produce less waste. Remember to feed fish only what they can eat in a few minutes.
Did you know that although koi fish can be healthy in water from 35° to 85°, the ideal temperature is between 65° and 75°? When the weather heats up you may notice your fish spending more time at the bottom of the pond. It’s cooler there as the sun heats the top portion of the water.
Make sure you don’t have any liner exposed. The sun and heat can make it brittle, leading to leaks!
No matter the size of the pond, 2 to 3 inches of evaporation a week is normal. If you have an autofill your pond should be kepts at the correct level. If you do not have any auto fill, you will need to keep the pond filled by adding water with the hose.