A Beautiful Fish Pond Can be a Reality
By Regina Elling

The idea of a backyard pond is the dream of many homeowners.

But the dream can become a nightmare if the pond becomes a container of pea-green water, sludge and dead fish. However, the dream can still become a reality with some help from pond professionals such as Troy Masco, owner of Koi City in Escondido.

"The two biggest requirements of fish ponds are filtration and aeration," he says. "I can't stress enough how important these are to the health and beauty of the fish and the pond."

Most pond owners recognize the signs of an "algae bloom" - the water becomes a thick green, usually with lots of string algae.

"This happens to everyone at some point or another - even to ponds in the shade," Masco says.

To deal with the problem, he recommends pond products specifically designed to help control algae. Also, both the pond circulation and pond aeration should be increased. UV lights may also help.

"UV lights are the No. 1 thing that will help control green water - their use can make the water crystal clear," he says.

If your fish are all at the top of the water, with their mouths open and gaping, chances are they are not just "hungry" or being friendly - they may actually be gasping for air.

"This can be an emergency" Masco says. Again, he says to use a circulating pump to increase the aeration and conduct a partial water change.

"This should restore things back to normal," he says. Since this is often associated with high temperatures, large blocks of ice can help cool down a hot pond.

Although unsightly, sludge in a pond isn't usually a problem. "But if the sludge is stirred up, the buildup can become toxic," Masco explains.

"To avoid this, the pond may have to undergo a thorough clean-out. Also, there are pond products that will help break it down."

Ammonia buildup - the result of a combination of overfeeding and poor filtration - can also cause toxicity problems.

"Many people feed their fish twice a day in the summer. This is OK if they are feeding small amounts," Masco says. "But uneaten food sinks and molds. Further, the large pieces of food can't get filtered, and it causes problems for both the fish and the water quality." He adds that "koi don't need massive amounts of food."

"Every pond has something in it," he says. "Whether it is ick, finrot, parasites, fungus or something else. Things go dormant in winter, but the problems often emerge with the heat. Pond owners should be prepared to deal with this."

For more information about ponds, Masco can be reached at Koi City in Escondido, 760-747-0858, or visit www.koicity.com.