Summer is great, for a lot of different reasons. It's the season you can spend the most time in the garden, either relaxing, tending to odd jobs, or even getting the BBQ out.

However, for your pond (and the fish that inhabit it) it can be a difficult time. The hot weather can cause a few problems that if ignored can really harm the health of your pond and fish.

That's why it's important you take care of your pond when the weather is especially warm.

With that in mind, here are our 10 top tips for looking after your pond this summer!

1. Increase surface water movement and oxygen levels 

Fish need a healthy amount of oxygen in the pond in order to survive. However, in hot weather, the water’s surfacemay tighten up, become still, and stagnate. This stops oxygen getting in and toxic gases from getting out.

Check the oxygen level in the pond using an oxygen test kit (see our stock here).

In order to increase the oxygen levels throughout the volume of pond water, you will need to increase the surface movement, which will allow more oxygen to diffuse its way in.

The best way to do this is to use either a fountain or air pump (see our stock here), which will break the surface, circulate the water, and allow more oxygen to get into the pond. 

2. Remove as much blanketweed, algae, and other debris as possible

In addition to using nutrients from the water, algae and blanketweed can clog filters, and cause even more problems for your pond and fish.

The quickest way to remove the algae from the surface of your pond is with a catching net (see our range here). Use a catching net to skim the surface of your pond, pulling the algae free and removing it from the pond. This may take a while, but it will give you immediate results.

Longer term, you will need to look at adding some pond plants to stop algae forming in the first place.

3. Don’t overfeed fish

Avoid overfeeding to reduce fish waste and stop any leftover food from rotting. If you have fish in your pond, you should only feed them the amount of food that they can consume in a few minutes. If you feed too much,  the excess food will drift to the bottom and rot, which can pollute water and also trigger algae growth. Excess floating food should then be removed.

It is advisable not to feed your fish when the temperature is over 30°c.

If you’re unsure about how much to feed your fish, check the instructions on your fish food for a rough guide.

4. If you have been overfeeding...

If you have been overfeeding, you may get a build-up of unsightly foam or froth on the water’s surface. This is caused by excess protein in the water (from the food).

Using some NT Labs Foam Control will break this protein down and allow oxygen to get in and toxic gases to get out. This can be found here.

5. Provide some shade for ponds that are out in the open

Fish are no different to any other living creature and will enjoy some time in the shade if the sun becomes too much for them to handle.

Make sure that an area of your pond is shady to give your fish a well-deserved break from the constant sun.

Adding some water lilies, placing a cover, or even adding some decking over part of the pond are just some ways on how to provide some shade.

6. Maintain water levels / keep the pond full

It is important to keep ponds topped up to their correct levels during hot weather. As water evaporates during hot weather, this alters the water parameters, raising mineral content (per/L) to levels which could be too high. This can be dangerous for fish and could encourage excess algae growth.

Carefully adding some new water at this time can also freshen things up a bit which fish really do appreciate.

7. Make sure pond filters are cleaned of mechanical debris and are running correctly

Filters need to be working as effectively as possible at this time of the year. Fish are at their most active, many will have just finished spawning and they are eating lots. This puts a heavy load on filter systems.

Maintaining your filter and keeping water moving through it is vitally important. Make sure your filter medias are free of mechanical debris, not getting blocked and water is able to run freely out back to the pond. This will help keep the water clear and healthy.

Do not be tempted to clean filter media in chlorinated tap water as this will destroy the important and friendly bacteria that has colonised in there. It is best to use either some old pond water or rainwater.

8. Keep predators such as cats and Herons away

As fish could be spending a lot of time closer to the surface, it's important to keep predators at bay, so that your fish don't suddenly "go missing".

Adding a pond cover net will not only keep intruders such as cats and herons at bay, but also stop fish from jumping out too (see our range here).

9. Test the water, checking the quality and the parameters

This will alert you to any problems. Doing this regularly enough will make sure you catch any potential issues early enough to treat them safely and effectively.

You can do this with a water testing kit (see our range here).

10. Where possible, avoid using fish disease and algae treatments 

While they may seem like a convenient idea to begin with, these products use vital oxygen to get them working. Oxygen which is at a premium in hot weather. It's better to use proactive measures to prevent algae, such as adding plants, or use a net to physically remove it.

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So to recap:

1. Increase surface water movement and oxygen levels with either a water or air pump. Check this using an oxygen test kit.
2. Remove as much blanketweed, algae, and other debris as possible.
3. Don’t overfeed fish, remove any uneaten food after 5 minutes. Feed only in the mornings and evenings when the temperatures are lower.
4. If you have been overfeeding……..
5. Provide some shade for ponds that are out in the open.
6. Maintain water levels / keep the pond full.
7. Make sure pond filters are cleaned of mechanical debris and are running correctly.
8. Keep predators such as cats and Herons away as fish could be spending a lot of time closer to the surface.
9. Test the water, checking the quality and the parameters.
10. Where possible, avoid using fish disease and algae treatments as these use vital oxygen to get them working.

Recommended products:

1. Pond air pumps.
2. NT Labs Foam Control.
3. Blagdon Fresh Start.
4. Waterlife Bacterlife.
5. Tetra Oxygen Test Kit.