AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – For pond owners, managing a healthy, thriving ecosystem is important. However, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. With help from experts at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, owners can dive into helpful tips and simple steps to help you keep ponds ready to enjoy all season long. 

 According to Corey Courtwright, an aquatic resources agent with Alabama Extension at Auburn University, consistent pond maintenance is essential to achieving management goals. By observing fish populations, maintaining predator-prey balance and monitoring other pond factors, along with taking proactive preventive steps, you can keep potential issues under control while they’re still manageable.  

Fundamental Guidelines

Before starting the maintenance process, a good rule of thumb for pond owners to follow is setting clear goals for their pond and developing a management plan to achieve them.  

“It’s important to know how you’ll use the pond,” Courtwright said. “Are you managing for trophy bass or is it a pond where your grandkids catch something every time, even if it’s not something big?”

Conducting periodic pond water testing can help identify any areas that may need improvement. Routine water testing is always a good practice, with further testing based on specific concerns that arise. Testing is crucial because a pond’s alkalinity can significantly influence its pH levels and impact the phytoplankton ecosystem. 

“Testing for contaminants is a complicated and costly process and is only necessary in cases where there is a reason to suspect chemical contamination,” Courtwright said.  

The following equipment and tools can be useful:

• Use a fishing pole and the “Fish Relative Weight Calculator” provided by Extension to estimate a pond’s fish population. 
• A Secchi Disk, or a do-it-yourself version, can be used to measure the water’s transparency or turbidity giving an index of algal populations. 

When to Begin Fertilizing

Fertilizing isn’t always necessary. Whether a pond needs it depends on the pond’s specific needs or the owner’s management goals. When used appropriately, it can provide several beneficial effects. Regular maintenance should begin once the water temperature reaches around 60 degrees, especially when planning to use fertilizers. 

Beginning too early won’t be effective, as cold water can’t support the growth of beneficial microscopic algae. On the other hand, waiting too long can also be ineffective, since warmer water encourages the growth of unwanted plants that will soak up the fertilizer before it can provide nutrients to the pond. 

“Fertilizing should increase the abundance of microscopic floating algae which is the basis of the food web of the pond,” Courtwright said. “Increasing the algal populations will increase the food available for small fish which are forage for large fish. Fertilization can also have other benefits like shading the pond bottom discouraging rooted plant growth.” 

More Information

For more information on pond maintenance or additional resources for water sample testing, reach out to your local Extension office, an aquatic resources agent or visit www.aces.edu.