Managing Large Landscape Ponds During the Summer: Key Maintenance Issues and Solutions

Summer is a peak season for large landscape ponds, where the combination of warm temperatures, increased sunlight, and often, high nutrient levels, can present a range of maintenance challenges. To keep your pond healthy and aesthetically pleasing, it's crucial to address several key issues. As ecologically and financially responsible pond stewards, embracing an integrated pond maintenance strategy is key to success. These strategies include, chemical control, beneficial bacteria, pond dye, monitoring of fish health, and pond aeration. This comprehensive guide will help you tackle these summer challenges effectively.

Ponds are a lot like your lawn, if your leave it alone for a month, it’s going to look like crap…

 1.Chemical Control – Sometimes things just gotta die.

Summer brings increased microbial activity and warmer water temperatures, this can (and often does) lead to the rapid growth of algae and other unwanted organisms. Effective and judicious use of chemical control can maintain aesthetics while the pond’s ecosystem works to rebalance the system.

Algae Control: Algae, particularly green algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can proliferate rapidly in summer. Abundant available nutrients and high water temperatures lead to beach closures and fish kills all around the country due to toxic algae blooms and other microbial-related health hazards.  To manage this, consider using algicides designed specifically for pond use. These products help reduce the severity of algae blooms but should be used with caution to avoid harming fish. It's often best to choose a product (and dosage) that targets algae without affecting other pond life. Regularly monitor the algae levels and apply treatments as needed, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

I don’t often advocate for chemical control as the sole means of pond maintenance. The cumulative harm that can be done can wreck your benthic ecosystem and set you back for the rest of the season. So please, use your pond chem responsibly. Overuse can quickly lead to a dependence on treatments and the slow decline of ecosystem health for subsequent seasons. This is costly both in a financial sense and in terms of cost to your pond critters. Treating your pond too much will definitely degrade your pond’s water quality and the number and diversity of the organisms living therein.

Algaecides: Always read the label and heed the instructions when applying pesticides of any kind. I recommend the use of chelated copper compounds when dealing with large algae blooms (Products like Cutrine Plus, K-Tea, Mizzen, etc.) These products do their job and then go away. They leave no active residue in the environment, which is good. Ideally, this allows the rest of the ecosystem to recover, alas that is not always the case. If prime algae growing conditions persist, you may have to re-treat to keep control until the weather cools off a bit. So you can see how easy it is to get stuck in a chemical treatment loop. 

I never want to be able to detect a residual active ingredient in a water body after a few days. Any compounds that stick around tend to bioaccumulate in sediments and fish tissues, causing lasting harm to the microbes of your pond and anything that likes to eat the fish living there. So, steer clear of copper sulfate-based products, where the bare copper ion is the active ingredient.

Nutrient Management: Excess nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, contribute to algae growth. Test your pond water for nutrient levels. If high, consider using pond treatments that bind these nutrients, making them less available for algae. Phosphate binders and nitrate removers can be effective tools in nutrient management. A good aeration system will also cycle out nutrients and make your ecosystem work better/faster.

 2.Beneficial Bacteria: Micro-Warriors in the fight for biological freedom.

Beneficial bacteria play a critical role in maintaining pond health by breaking down organic matter and reducing nutrient levels. Their effectiveness can be influenced by temperature, and summer conditions can either enhance or diminish their performance. Your pond already has resident bacteria strains ready to help out the cause. It is up to you to bolster their numbers and make them an effective fighting force against evil specter of doom that is hot summer nutrient rich conditions.

Choosing the Right Supplemental Pond Bacteria: During summer, opt for bacteria formulations specifically designed for warm water conditions. These bacteria help decompose organic debris, such as fallen leaves and fish waste, and keep nutrient levels in check. Regularly adding these bacteria to your pond can prevent the accumulation of harmful substances that promote algae growth. Reduce muck accumulation, eliminate foul odors and reduce nuisance algae with liberal application of beneficial pond bacteria.

Application Timing/Dose/Form: Add beneficial bacteria early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day, which can affect bacterial activity. Follow the recommended dosage and frequency as per the product’s instructions.  These instructions are more like recommendations… If you want your goo to disappear faster, use more bacteria, more often. Do not take this advice to the extreme, as you will eventually reach a level of diminishing returns but know that it is very hard to overdose your pond on beneficial bacteria. Be liberal with its use to see excellent returns. Pond bacteria comes in many forms/sizes. Use the delivery mechanism that suits you and your pond the best. Feel free to consult your friendly neighborhood pond pro to discuss what might be best for your situation.

Pond dye is another tool for controlling algae and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your pond. It works by shading the water, reducing sunlight penetration, which in turn limits algae growth.  This works as an algae inhibitor in ponds with depths greater than 4ft, with excellent results in deeper systems.

Choosing Pond Dye: Select a pond dye that is safe for fish, plants, and other wildlife. Dyes come in various colors, with blue, dark blue, and black being my favorites. The choice of color will depend on your aesthetic preferences and how much light you want to filter out.

Application and Maintenance: Apply pond dye anywhere in the pond, it will spread itself out.  Reapply the dye according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, usually every 4 to 6 weeks, or more frequently if the color fades. Rain is the main culprit of dye depletion, which is why you will go through WAY more dye in the spring of the year than in the dry summer months.

Summer heat can stress fish and make them more susceptible to diseases. Ensuring the health and well-being of your fish is vital for maintaining a balanced pond ecosystem.

Monitoring Temperature: Keep an eye on water temperature, as extreme heat can lead to lower oxygen levels and increase fish stress. Get a pond thermometer to track temperatures and consider installing a pond aerator if the water gets too warm.

IN FACT, if you don’t have a pond aerator yet, get one! An Aerating Fountain and or a Diffused Aeration System is the best tool for pond maintenance.

Feeding Practices: During hot weather, fish metabolism speeds up, leading to increased feeding activity. Feed your fish high-quality, easily digestible food in smaller amounts more frequently to avoid overfeeding and water pollution. Remove any uneaten food promptly to prevent it from decaying. Heavy feeding can lead to disease and nutrification of the pond. I don’t generally recommend fish feeders at all for large ponds, but if you must… Please regulate how/when you feed your fish.

Most large ponds do not require you to feed your fish. They should be able to forage for themselves. Aeration is key here too; a good pond aerator will increase your carrying capacity of both fish AND forage - effectively tripling the amount of fish you can carry.

Disease Prevention: Regularly check your fish for signs of illness, such as unusual behavior, discoloration, or sores.  Diseases usually show up due to overpopulation and poor water quality… both symptoms can be greatly mitigated by…. You guessed it. A GOOD CORRECTLY SIZED POND AERATOR!

Ahem…sorry for yelling…

Aeration is crucial/critical/imperative / VERY IMPORTANT for maintaining a healthy pond environment, especially during the summer when temperatures rise and oxygen levels drop. Funny how the thing that blows a billion tiny bubbles into your pond increases the overall oxygen levels…huh.

Types of Aeration Systems: There are various aeration systems to consider, including surface aerators and fountains, diffused aeration systems, and waterfall features (for koi ponds and water gardens). Surface aerators and aerating fountains increase oxygen levels by agitating the water surface, while sub-surface aeration systems use diffusers placed at the pond's bottom to release oxygen. Waterfalls and fountains not only provide aeration but also enhance the pond's visual appeal.

Click here for a longer discussion on types of pond aeration:

3 Types of pond aeration: Which is best for your pond?

Maintaining Oxygen Levels: Ensure that your aeration system is adequately sized for your pond’s volume. During hot weather, the water's capacity to hold oxygen decreases, so increasing aeration can help maintain oxygen levels at rates needed to support your fish. Regularly clean and maintain aeration equipment to ensure efficient operation. Diffusers should be cleaned and repositioned at least once per summer.

Monitoring Water Quality: Alongside aeration, monitor water quality parameters such as pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. High temperatures can exacerbate imbalances, so regular testing and adjustment are essential to keep your pond environment stable.

Look for visible changes to your pond. Is there a new plant growing in the pond? Are your fish acting weird? Was there a huge storm last night that may have washed in all sorts of unwanted goop? 

Be observant, educate yourself on what your pond needs to remain happy and healthy.

Conclusion

Summer presents challenges for large landscape ponds, but with the right approach, you can ensure your pond remains healthy and beautiful. By focusing on chemical control, beneficial bacteria, pond dye, fish health, and aeration, you can manage these issues effectively. Regular monitoring and proactive maintenance will help you keep your pond in top shape throughout the summer season. Enjoy your pond's vibrant ecosystem and the serenity it brings to your landscape!