What role does oxygen play in a pond?
Oxygen is an important ingredient!
Everything that lives in a pond relies on oxygen for survival. This is not only limited to fish and plants but also bacteria and microorganisms that are needed to maintain a clean and clear pond.
Fish use their gills to draw oxygen from the water, which then goes into their bloodstream and is distributed around their body. The amount of oxygen a fish needs is dependent on the type of fish; larger fish will require more than smaller fish. Interestingly, the original environment that the fish came from plays a big role in how much oxygen they will need!
Good bacteria and microorganisms are extremely important for maintaining a healthy pond. They convert the ammonia and nitrite from fish waste, fallen leaves and other decomposing materials into nitrate. For this to happen, the bacteria need oxygen. If there isn’t enough oxygen in the water they will struggle to do their job efficiently, which will likely result in contaminated water.
Keeping the oxygen levels nice and high ensures there is enough oxygen in the water for these processes to occur and for every living thing in your pond to thrive!
What depletes oxygen levels?
Is it getting hot in here?
Oxygen stratification during the summer is common in bodies of water, such as deep ponds and small lakes. Stratification is when the sun heats up the surface layer of water. Without enough wind to naturally stir the water and create an even temperature throughout the pond, the warm layer sits on top of a cooler layer below which can develop further into three layers with an even cooler layer at the bottom. Because of this separation of water, the oxygen from the top layer is unable to mix with the layers beneath and replenish oxygen throughout the pond, resulting in the cooler layers becoming deprived of sufficient oxygen in a short amount of time. Warm water is unable to retain the same oxygen levels as it does in cooler temperatures. Ponds that are aerated enough tend not to stratify because the water gets circulated around the pond, preventing any temperature separation. Although this is more common in deeper ponds or lakes, it can still occur in a regular backyard pond and is something that can be prevented through proper aeration.
“Warm water is unable to retain the same oxygen levels as it does in cooler temperatures”
Warm water releases oxygen back into the atmosphere at a faster rate than cold water, so in higher temperatures, your pond could already be at a disadvantage without adequate support to oxygenate the water.
Additionally, during higher temperatures, there are more demands for oxygen in your pond. The fish are more active and are eating more, the plants are growing and the bacteria and microorganisms have more waste to break down.
Plants!
Plants produce oxygen during daylight hours but they actually consume oxygen during the night. This isn’t a problem in a wildlife pond that has a lot of plant life and only a few fish, but for a dedicated fish pond, plants alone aren’t going to produce enough oxygen for the fish to live to their fullest potential.
How do you know if your pond isn’t generating enough oxygen?
The first way to check if your pond has enough oxygen is by monitoring your fish. Without enough oxygen, their health will suffer and they can become stressed. A stressed fish will behave in irregular ways, like lethargy, swimming frantically, bumping into things in the pond and locking their fins to their sides. Gulping for air at the surface is also a sign that your fish doesn’t have enough oxygen.
Test kits for measuring the oxygen levels in water are a reliable way of making sure you know your pond's oxygen needs!
How do you generate enough oxygen in your pond?
"Circulation needs to be constant; waterfalls, fountains or an aeration pump!"
Pumps are one of the best ways to add oxygen to your pond. The more agitated the water, the more oxygen gets in and around your pond! Deeper ponds may require several pumps for adequate oxygenation. What is healthy for a smaller pond, may not prevent stratification in a deeper one.
Waterfalls and water features not only add to your garden aesthetic, but they are very effective ways to help circulate the water and get oxygen into your pond! Win win! There is a limit to how much oxygen can actually be absorbed by water, but it’s not possible to over-oxygenate a pond, once it’s taken in all it can, the excess oxygen will return to the atmosphere. So you can add as many waterfalls, air pumps and plants as your heart desires; your pond biosystem, fish and plants will be healthy, safe and happy!
Shade over your pond is a good way to stop the water from heating up too much on hot summer days. Plants are good for offering some shade, but if you don’t have natural shade (or just want more coverage), then a parasol is an effective way to add that extra protection.
Plants do oxygenate the water during the day but, as mentioned above, be aware that these confusing little friends also consume oxygen during the night so can’t be fully relied upon for maintaining healthy oxygen levels 24/7.
Keeping everything clean will make your life a lot easier when it comes to maintaining the correct amount of oxygen in your pond! By consistently removing all waste and debris, the good bacteria and microorganisms won’t use up oxygen by breaking it down. Your filter and pumps are also less likely to block or fail if they are kept clean and in good working order. It is recommended to have a spare, just in case!
Ask your local fish expert!
We have a variety of water and oxygen pumps and test kits available in our store. If you have any questions just send us a message!
So consider this your friendly neighborhood reminder to go and check your pond’s oxygen levels!
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