If you have a smaller pond, you might be worried about the warm temperatures it reaches in the summer. High temperatures from the sun can be harmful to your plants and fish. Your pond supplies, such as pumps and filters, could also be damaged by high temperatures that increase algae growth, so it’s important to monitor the water temperature.
What is an Acceptable Pond Temperature?
While higher temperatures can be tolerated in ponds without fish, the ideal pond temperature is 65˚F–75˚F. Fish can survive small pond temperatures of 35˚F–85˚F, but if the water is consistently above 85˚F, you will need to enact some cooling procedures to keep your fish and plants healthy.
How Should I Cool My Pond?
Safe cooling procedures are often a good idea for keeping your fish healthy and minimizing sun exposure, which increases algae growth. Stay away from simply changing out hot water for cooler water, though. Your pond life will be shocked by the quick temperature change, and your fish and plants could die. Consider some of the following tips you can use to safely cool your pond:
- Plant trees around your pond.By adding shade around your pond, you will decrease the pond’s exposure to sun and extreme heat. This is a natural way to cool your water without affecting any of the internal workings of the pond’s habitat.
- Add lilies or other shady water plants.You can easily cool your pond and add a new decorative plant by adding lilies to your backyard water feature. Lilies lay on top of the water, protecting fish and the other plants from the sun’s heat.
- Add a waterfall. If you want to make an addition to your pond and decrease its temperature at the same time, you can install a waterfall or fountain aerator. These pond supplies will aerate your pond, and you can blow a fan across the falling water to cool it before it enters the pond.
- Use a pond tint. By treating your small pond with pond tint, you can help your pond filter during the hot sunlight. A slight blue tint will keep your pond cooler than it is with its natural color.
Using these cooling tips can help protect your pond life from the dangers of heat. If you need pond supplies to cool your backyard water feature, Pondliner.com is here to meet all of your pond maintenance needs.