In order to maintain a pond of healthy fish, it is essential that you keep your pond water healthy and clear. There are several factors you must pay attention to and maintain in order to achieve this.
Many people make the mistake of overfeeding their fish. It is suggested that you only feed your fish twice a day for 3-5 minutes, whatever they can eat in that amount of time. Any food that they do not eat should be removed immediately afterwards. Leaving leftover food in the pond will lead to the accumulation of bacteria, which will lead to an explosion of algae, which results in the pond water turning green and a depletion of the oxygen in the water, which can endanger the lives of your fish.
You should add oxygenating plants or submerged plants to your pond. These plants act as natural filters and remove nutrients from the pond. Algae need nutrients, specifically nitrates and phosphates, in order to reproduce. Therefore, if there is a higher level of nutrients in the water, there will be more algae. That is why it would be advantageous for you to have as many oxygenating and submerged plants in the water as possible to keep the nutrient level low, and as a result, the algae level of your pond. It’s also important to have as many submerged plants as possible because many types of fish tend to eat the submerged plants, but provided there aren’t too many fish, the plants should be able to reproduce faster than the fish are able to eat them.
Adding floating plants to your pond, such as water lettuce, water hyacinths, and water lilies will provide shade for your pond. This is important because algae need sunlight in order to reproduce. The shade will inhibit the algae from producing in your pond and turning the water green and cloudy. Additionally, floating plants will compete with the algae for nutrients in the water, further inhibiting the algae from taking over your pond and endangering your fish.
It is critical that you have the proper equipment to maintain the health of your pond. You must have a pump and filter that is able to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week continuously. It is important that you obtain the right size for your pond. The pump you obtain should at least be able to move the full volume of the water of the pond each hour.
It is a good idea to fill the bottom of your pond with smooth river gravel or pebbles, as beneficial and helpful bacteria will grow on the gravel and pebbles. You want these bacteria to be present, as they help to digest fish waste and plant matter that settles to the bottom of the pond and decays. Fish waste can throw off the delicate pH balance of your pond due to the ammonia that it gives off, making the water more basic (i.e. pH level rises), which allows algae to flourish in your pond more easily and harder for your fish to survive.
In addition, EcoBio-Block nsM and/or EcoBio-Block Wave can help to clear your pond of cloudy pond water and fill your pond with helpful bacteria that will maintain the health of your pond and fish. Its special formula maintains clear pond water, decomposes organic matter, reduces the need for water changing, quickly establishes nitrifying bacteria, removes odors, is easy to use, safe for your fish, and produces results in as little as 2-6 weeks.
Maintaining a clear and healthy pond is essential for the long-term survival of your fish. Algae is the primary nemesis to the long-term survival of your fish, as they take up most of the nutrients and the space in the ponds. The best ways to combat the growth of algae is through reducing the nutrients in the water with floating plants and submerged plants, only feeding your fish a few times a day and removing any excess food, having the right pump and filter for your pond, and utilizing EcoBio-Block products to increase the number of nitrifying bacteria and maintaining the healthy pH levels of your pond. By doing these things, you can have a beautiful looking pond with a healthy complement of fish in it for a long time to come.