6 Tips for Summertime Pond Care

As summer time hearts up, do you know how to give your pond the proper care? Keep in mind that as temperatures push above 80 degrees, you might need to give your pond some extra TLC.
 
Because warm water has a reduced capacity for containing oxygen, it's not uncommon to see stressed or diseased fish in the summertime. That's exactly when your fish will need even more oxygen than usual. Signs of stress can include fish gasping at the surface of the water.
 
What's a concerned pond owner to do?

    •       Your very first line of defense against such summertime woes is to work with an expert pond contractor to proactively design your pool. A well-qualified professional will take logistics such depth, plant coverage, shade, and circulation all into account when designing your pond to better thrive through the worst of the heat.

    •       Your next line of defense, if you already have a pond, is to add plenty of aquatic plants to act as shade for your fish. One common rule of thumb is to provide plant coverage of one-third to one-half of your pond’s total surface area.

    •       Next, consider adequate pond circulation to help increase the availability of beneficial oxygen for your fish. Consider placing the biological filter and mechanical filter across from each other in your pond to optimize circulation.
 
Once you have the proper pond setup, consider these summer maintenance tips:

    •       When you feed your fish, do so in the morning hours and don't overfeed them since uneaten food will decay more quickly during the summer and pollute your pond.

    •       Always remove dying leaves or flowers promptly so they don't have time to decay in the warm water.
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    •       In the summer months, pay special attention to the health of your pond. A balanced ecosystem requires little maintenance, but you'll still want to occasionally check up on the health water, fish and plant life.
 
This summer, if you have any need for professional pond care, call on the experts at Modern Design Aquascaping. You can visit our website or call 865-995-1234 to learn more about our experience and services for those in the Knoxville, Maryville, Blount County, Knox County, and East Tennessee Areas.
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