Tips for Fish Pond Management

Managing a backyard pond that has fish and other wild-life in it can be considered a tougher task as compared to managing a pond without aquatic life. This is because fishes and other aquatic life are prone to several diseases and require a well maintained ecosystem to stay healthy. Given below are a few important tips for managing your fish pond effectively.

Filter Your Pond Adequately

Fish and other wildlife produce biological wastes and hence adequate filtration is extremely important in a fish pond. Filters also help in aerating the water effectively which can help the pond fish get much needed oxygen supply.

You can consider going for a mechanical filter coupled with a chemical or biological filter. The mechanical filter will keep the pond clean of solid debris while the chemical filter helps remove harmful chemicals like ammonia and other nitrites.

Make Sure the Fishes have Enough Room

You would have introduced lots of fishes in your pond as they were young. The fishes would have been quite happy by then, but as they grow to full sizes their room in the fish pond is certainly reduced. In addition if your pond uses only an average filter the wastes generated by these mature fishes which include ammonia and nitrite can certainly build up. This can prove fatal to the lives of your fishes.

To avert such a situation, make sure that you do not overstock your pond with fishes. If you feel that the fishes are too high, make sure to transport them to some other pond.

Feed Fishes Appropriately

Make sure to feed your fish with the right kind of food and in the right proportions. Too much food can turn into waste and can pollute the water, where as too little food can starve your fish and make the vulnerable to infections.

Do a little experimentation at times to find the exact amount of food your fish need. Feed the fish and find out how much they eat up in five minutes. If there is feed left out after five minutes of feeding, you know you are feeding extra.

You must take note that feeding must vary depending on the climatic conditions and water temperature. For instance, fish may require less amount of food during winter months, as their biological activities are less during these months. During warmer climates the fish can be fed two to three times a day in adequate conditions.

Maintain Water Quality

Fishes need clean chemical free water to survive healthy. Some make sure the water that you fill-up the pond with, is free from chemicals like chlorine. If so, filter the chlorine out before using it. In addition make sure that you do not use chemical sprays near the pond. Spray droplets can spread through air and easily enter the pond water. You can plan on keeping the pond surface walls elevated to prevent run-off water from entering the pond. Run-off water generally contains fertilizers, dry leaves and pesticides that can pollute the water.

Keep checking the pH of your pond water using a pH monitor to ensure that the pH remains in the safe range of 6.8 - 7.8. Drastic changes to pH should be adjusted gradually as sudden pH change can cause damage to the fish. Ensure that ammonia and nitrite content in water is zero. Regular monitoring and adjustment of pond water is extremely essential to keep it clean and safe.

Protecting Fish against Diseases

Fish diseases are common in ponds that are not maintained properly. But fishes can get infected even in well maintained ponds owing to several reasons. Fish diseases can be cured with ease if they are identified at the earliest. Diseased fishes can be quarantined and adequate medication can be provided. You can refer to this useful table for symptoms that will help you identify a diseased fish along with their respective treatments.