Congrats On Your Pond!

We at Oklahoma Ponds want you to enjoy a stunning, healthy pond for years to come. That all starts with an effective biofiltration system. Think of your filtration system as the “stomach” of your pond: digesting all the muck, gunk, and toxins in your water, making it livable for fish and plants.

The biofilter has two functions. First, it filters out and captures small particles in the water. Second, the media inside your filter is host to billions of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria work together to eliminate and convert toxins produced by fish, birds, grass clippings, dead algae, decaying pond plants, and more. Each different substrate in your filter is prefered by different strains of bacteria. Speaking of bacteria…

Think about it like this: fish use your pond like a giant bathroom. Plants use it as a compost pile for dead leaves and other waste. If your pond is outdoors, it’s a magnet for dirt, grass clippings, leaves, and other debris. All this waste builds up over time, increasing the amount of ammonia in the water. Eventually, the ammonia levels become unsafe and deadly to your fish and plants. That’s where the beneficial bacteria come in. The bacteria growing in your biofilter break down and convert that nasty gunk into nitrites, which are then converted by other bacteria to nitrates. It’s these nitrates that are essential for plant health. This leads to our third point…

Healthy pond plants feed off the nitrates in your pond, keeping the water clear and preventing algae growth. The more plants you have, the less nitrates there are to feed the algae. Depending on the amount of sun your pond receives daily, you should have about 70% of your water covered or shaded by plants.

Your koi or goldfish fish are likely the pond’s main attraction. Besides looking beautiful, they play a significant role in your pond’s ecosystem. The beneficial bacteria in your pond need the waste your fish give off. However, too many fish in one space will overwhelm the filtration system, leading to increased levels of toxins and decreased oxygen, particularly during hot summer months. The Pond Pros at Oklahoma Ponds know exactly how many fish your water feature can handle. We will also teach you how to care for your fish and learn how proper pond maintenance will keep them healthy and happy.

The internet and pond supply stores sell endless products claiming to clear murky water, get rid of algae, and promote fish and plant health. While some of these products can be effective, they don’t all meet the needs of your unique pond. We can help you decide which of these products is right for your pond based on the symptoms it is experiencing.

Over time, your pond will become a self-sustaining ecosystem that doesn’t need much interference, but it doesn’t happen right away. In the beginning, chemical additives can help your pond stay healthy as its ecosystem matures. Like so many other factors affecting garden pond health, chemical treatments require a delicate balance. Introducing the wrong chemicals – or incorrect amounts of chemicals – could lead to fish death. Consult an Oklahoma Ponds professional before beginning any chemical treatments.