Summer Outdoor Fish Pond Maintenance Tips For Water Garden Keepers

Maintain A low maintenance outdoor pond ...

Spring has drifted by us and it's an absolute delight to have those hot summer days here once again. Back yards and outdoor fish ponds are a hive of activity and vitality.

For water garden keepers and fish pond owners Summer is the time of year when the most activity takes place above and below the pond surface. It is the time of year that your pond fish will spawn and produce the next generation.

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Summer is indeed the time when you can be thankful for all the preparation you did during the spring. It is also the time of year where outdoor pond maintenance and vigilance is needed the most.

During the long summer days and humid nights things can go awry for the novice or unsuspecting water gardener. Keep an eye out for possible troubles ahead and follow my recommended outdoor fish pond maintenance tips below and you be able to make the most of this beautiful time of year.

In particular beware of increases in pond algae bloom (green water). This nuisance is particularly dangerous during the warm water temperatures experienced in summer ponds. Warm water holds less oxygen and algal blooms have been known to consume vast amounts of oxygen during the night resulting in pond fish suffocating.

All is not lost however and to make the most of the warm season ahead here are my Summer outdoor pond maintenance tips to help you get your garden fish pond in tip top shape for the hot and enjoyable days and nights ahead.

For those of you living in the southern hemisphere take a look at Winter Pond Preparation tips ...

Summer outdoor fish pond maintenance Tips ...

  • Your pond should have One-Half to Two-Thirds Aquatic Plant Coverage which not only provides additional oxygen to the pond but acts as a sunscreen for Koi. Believe it or not koi can actually get sunburned. This is particularly true of shallow ponds in direct sunlight. Click here to review all the Aquatic Pond Plant Articles on this site.
  • Use a Biological UV Filter if less plants are desired and ensure that your pond pump turns the pond volume over at least once every 2 hours.
  • You will need to Control Fish & Pond Parasites because an increase in the pond water temperature will see an increase in fish parasites such as anchor worms, fish lice or flukes. An effective treatment is Jungle Pond Parasite Guard. Ensure that you follow the dosage stated on the label carefully to ensure you don't damage or kill your pond fish.
  • Ensure that the pH of your pond is normal and make any necessary adjustments if needed.
  • Add Viresco Algae & Blanketweed Remover to prevent the development of blanket weed, filamentous string algae and suspended algae (green water)... Click here to read the Interview with John McLauchlan the developer of Viresco.
  • Add Plant Fertilizer also known as Plant Food to encourage plant growth.As the plants grow they compete with algae for the nitrates in the water.
  • In heavily stocked koi ponds, an aerating air pump also known as a Pond Air Pump will add extra oxygen and encourage a healthier environment for its inhabitants. It is a good idea, particularly if you live in the hot southern sates of the USA to test the pond water oxygen levels with an Oxygen Meter. Try to ensure that oxygen levels remain at around 7 parts per million (7ppm). Warm pond water holds less oxygen than cold pond water. Pond fish including Koi and goldfish will show signs of stress when the level of oxygen drops to 4ppm. At 3ppm they will start to die.
  • In high temperatures you will loose pond water on a daily basis due to the effects of evaporation. Keep an eye out for substantial water loss and do a partial pond top up if needed. Use an anti chlorine product to remove the water from tap water. Chlorine isn't beneficial to pond fish. Laguna Pond Prep as outlined below does a great job.
  • Add a Pond Water Conditioner such as Laguna Pond Prep that removes chlorine water, removes chloramines, neutralizes harmful metals like iron and coats and protects fins and scales.
  • Don't forget to start feeding your Koi, goldfish and other fish a Summer Pond Fish Food... Remember that quality is better than quantity. Cheap fish food is not as readily assimilated by your fish, resulting in more waste by products entering into your pond. This places a heavier strain upon your pond filter.

How Much Food To Feed Koi In Summer

When your pond water temperature is between 70 to 85 F it is a good idea to feed a low protein quality fish food. You will need to feed approximately 1% to 1-1/2% of the Koi's weight every 2-1/2 hours (time it takes for koi to digest the food). Ideally you will be looking at feeding the Koi between 5 and 8 times a day.

In colder water temperatures you only need to feed koi fish food between 1 and 3 times a day because the metabolism takes between 4 and 8 hours to digest the food.

Summer Garden Pond Care Articles ...