Keep Your Pond And Fish Cool During The Summer Heatwave
As Minnesota summer really sets in around the Twin Cities, the thermometer starts moving up. As we experience high heat, it’s important to keep an eye on your water garden and any fish you may have in your pond. In warmer water, oxygen levels drop, which may cause your fish to gasp for air near the surface or crowd around fountains and waterfalls as they are trying to breathe. Additionally, higher temperatures can increase fish activity, raising their oxygen needs at a time when it’s scarcest and needed most.
To help reduce stress and risk of disease in your fish, it’s essential to optimize your pond’s environment from the start. A well-thought-out water feature design can turn this time that many pond owners worry about into just another day to focus on cooling yourself off, not your fish. Consider factors like depth, plant coverage, shade, filtration, and circulation. We recommend a minimum depth of two feet, allowing fish to escape to the cooler water at the bottom as needed.
Plant coverage is equally important as depth at this time; aim to cover one-third to one-half of your pond’s surface with plants to provide ample shade. Local Minnesota water lilies and floating plants like water lettuce and water hyacinth are perfect for this, as well as for protecting your pets as well.
Without proper circulation, you will be fighting a losing battle every time it heats up outside. Ideally, position your biological and mechanical filters so that they are located on opposite ends of your koi pond to ensure complete water movement and surface skimming. Features like waterfalls, streams, or fountains are not just visually pleasing but vital for oxygenating your pond. If your pond doesn’t have any of these important features, there are many ways to add an oxygenator to your pond.
Here are some other tips to help your pond thrive during our hot summer months:
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Introduce more oxygen by adding an aerator.
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Consider installing a small fountain or spitter to creatively aid oxygenation, even if your setup already includes a waterfall or stream.
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If you feed your fish, feed them high-quality food in the morning and avoid overfeeding as uneaten food decays quickly, using up oxygen in the process and worsening water quality.
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Regularly remove wilted plant parts to prevent decay in the warm water.
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Don’t guess at the temperature around your pond. Get a pond thermometer so you know exactly what temperature your pond is throughout the day.
Keeping an eye on your pond during these sweltering days is crucial, but with a balanced ecosystem you’ll be able to keep enjoying your Superior Pond. Enjoy your time by the water and keep a watchful eye to ensure your aquatic friends remain healthy and vibrant this summer!