Tag: water quality in ponds
More on “Pond Alert” during warm weather…
by admin on Jun.17, 2010, under Real Estate
Forgot to mention one or two things about pond management in warm weather that might be useful to other pond owners…
Now that North Carolina is in H-O-T weather season, I am leaving my fountain on nearly 24/7. Other times of the year it runs from early morning to around 10:00am and then comes back on in the evening around 6:00pm and shuts off at midnight. This is even more important with the sudden thunderstorms we’ve been getting lately. These storms add water to the lake which is good, but also add a fair amount of additional acid from the trees nearby – not good.
Evening rain puts a heavy burden on the oxygen levels – which often begins to impact fish during the night and early the next morning.
Many fish I found in my traumatic Summer of 2007 seemed to be gasping their last early in the morning so this early AM boost of fountain-induced oxygen can’t hurt.
I feed my fish, (Big Strike from Southern States). As the temperatures rise and conditions deteriorate, cutting back on feeding is another good way to help fish survive. The more they eat, the more they “go” – adding to the over-nutrient levels in the water. Having spoiled rotten every animal I have ever “owned”, I believe my catfish are purposely trying to make me feel guilty over this food rationing. They swim near their normal feeding area at the normal feeding time and splash around in the water – as if I didn’t know they are there waiting for more food. “It’s for your own good,” is what I tell them…Maybe I need to get out more often!!
Anyway, this is also a good time to remove any other plants or debris that have entered your pond. Plants can provide oxygen to the water but they can also suck it up as they die. Keep edges trimmed and low hanging branches over but not in the water.
If you have watermeal or duckweed problems, you are probably beginning to see signs of this season’s growth. Unless you want to pour chemicals in your pond, this is a ‘”wait and watch” timeframe. There is only so much gathering you can do until the stuff is bunched enough to skim out of the water. I feel your pain – believe me…
More on aquatic plants that are good for your pond coming soon…
Happy Summer!
