The Summer isn't over just yet, and the heat can be big trouble for fish and other pond life. Hot air lowers the amount of dissolved oxygen in their water, which can be harmful. Read on for some helpful tips for beating the heat for the rest of the summer and keeping your pond and all its residents happy and healthy.

Keep your pond cool:

 Fish don't like these hot days any more than we do, so keeping the water below 85°F can help to reduce fish stress. Use shade cloths, netting, pond plants and/or a bridge or trellis to block the sun from the water and keep your fish cool and comfortable.

Use caution with algaecides:

Make sure to take extra care when treating algae and aquatic weeds with an algaecide or aquatic herbicide during these last days of summer. During hot overcast days, ponds normally have reduced dissolved oxygen levels, and fish can be riding a fine line on having enough oxygen to survive. When applying an algaecide, oxygen levels can be further reduced when the algae dies since the decomposition process requires oxygen.

Read product labels:

So it is important to read product labels, carefully measure, and apply any algaecides. Always make sure there is sufficient water circulation and aeration in the pond as mentioned above.

Reduce fish feedings:

Fish do not absorb as many nutrients from their food during hot weather. Overfeeding them during high temperatures raises the pollution and algae growth in their water and lowers its oxygen level. Feed your fish only during the cooler temperatures of early morning or late evening, and make sure that you only feed them what they can eat in a few minutes.

Algae Control for Large Ponds/Lakes:

When applying an aquatic herbicide to a pond with heavy infestations of aquatic weeds, it is very important to treat only 1/4 to 1/3 of the pond at one time and wait about 14 days between treatments. Treating sections of a pond will minimize oxygen depletion and thereby lower the risk to fish. If some of the floating filamentous algae or aquatic weed can be removed as it is dying off, this will help the overall health of the pond and help keep the water clear.