There’s lots of conflicting information out there on how to keep your pond clear, free of algae, and safe for your fish. That’s why we’ve put together seven tips on how to keep your pond fish safe.
1. Give your pond regular bacteria treatments
Ponds need certain aerobic bacteria to keep their ecosystems healthy. These healthy bacteria stop excess nutrients from building in ponds, which reduces algae growth. Bacteria can also stop sludge from becoming anaerobic, which is important because anaerobic sludge releases hydrogen sulphide, which can make pond fish ill.
Like all living organisms, bacteria die regularly. So, you must treat your pond often to keep on top of bacteria levels.
2. Clean, instead of changing, your fish pond filter
Bacteria attach to your fish pond filter and digest algae and sludge, which is key to pond health. When you change your filter, you remove all the healthy bacteria buildup. So, it’s usually better to clean your pond filter than it is to replace it.
Bonus Tip
If you have to change your filter, apply a bacteria product to the filter before installing it.
3. Keep your fish pond pump and filter on all year
There’s a common misconception that you should turn your fish pond pump and filter off when temperatures drop. But turning your pump off in winter often causes pond problems that don’t show up until spring. For example, debris often builds up in ponds during winter. If you turn your pump off, the debris will build and release excess nutrients that algae will feed on during spring.
Leave your pump and filter on all year to keep your pond water moving and remove any debris.
4. Test water to keep pond fish healthy
Your water might look crystal clear, but that doesn’t mean it has the right parameters for your pond fish to live healthily.
Check your water parameters every fortnight to check KH, pH, ammonia, and other levels are healthy. Keep in mind that these parameters can change quickly, and this can make your fish ill.
5. Don’t remove live blanket weed
Lots of fishkeepers pull blanket weed out of their pond, but it always grows back within days. That’s because when you pull live blanket weed out of your pond, the strands tear and release new spores back into the pond.
Instead of pulling blanket weed out of your pond, use a treatment to kill the weed before you remove it.
6. Don’t empty your pond and start again
Some fishkeepers empty, clean, and refill their ponds when struggling with algae or green water. But this is the worst thing you can do in this situation.
When you empty your pond, you also get rid of all the healthy bacteria that pond fish need to live. Then, when you refill the pond, you refill with sterile water that’s full of heavy metals, chlorine, and little or no bacteria. The water will soon turn green again because there’s not enough bacteria to fight algae.
If you’re struggling with green water, it’s better to add a bacteria treatment to your pond.
7. Don’t overfill your pond with fish
It’s easy to overfill a pond with beautiful fish. The more the merrier, right?
Unfortunately not.
If you keep too many fish in your pond, you could damage the water quality. This is because fish produce a lot of waste, which releases ammonia into your pond. This ammonia can raise the water’s pH level, which can cause pond fish diseases.
Aim for 55cm of pond fish per 1,000 litres of water. As the average UK pond size is 6 inches, this often equates to 3 or 4 fish per 1,000 litres. You should also take into account the maximum length your fish should grow to.
About Warehouse Aquatics
The Warehouse Aquatics mission is to offer the most choice at the best prices when it comes to your fishes’ wellbeing. We use the products on our website ourselves and are well-versed in all things fish, so we can give you all the advice you need. We’re not just here to sell aquatic supplies. We’re also here to guide you through your journey as a fish owner and enthusiast.
As a small team, we love to hear from our customers, so please do join the Warehouse Aquatics social media community. We’re always up for a chat, and we’d love to share your aquarium photos with our followers.