Health Problems With an Outside Fish Pond

Some Common Health Problems with an Outside Fish Pond

• Fish and plants can suffer from health problems in an outside fish pond. Fish can get bacterial infections, including gill disease and fin rot. They can also be plagued by parasites. Water plants can suffer from not having enough sun, too much sun or not enough circulation in the water. They can sometimes get root rot, or fungus. They can also be plagued with insects. An outside fish pond, in addition to being a health problem for fish and plants if not taken care of properly, can be hazardous to human health. In an unhealthy environment, water is a perfect breeding place for mosquitoes.

Size Can Help Reduce Health Problems

• The bigger an outside fish pond is, the less frequently you have to do maintenance routines. Nature has a tendency to take care of itself and establishes its own ecosystem. It can do that more efficiently with a lot of space. If you have a smaller fish pond, you might consider expanding it if you have the area.

  If expansion is not possible, it will take a little extra effort to keep your pond healthy. Regardless of size, however, to maintain a healthy outside fish pond, the filter needs to be cleaned and checked to make sure the pump is working properly on a regular basis. The pond water level needs to be full; if you don't already have one, consider adding a waterfall or fountain to add circulation to the water. The less space fish have, the more air they need. And, finally, limit the number of fish to fit the space.

Location Can Reduce Health Problems

• Fish and especially most water plants need plenty of sunshine, but fish need a place to get out of the sun occasionally. You can build a rock crevice or cave that fish can get into or construct a bridge over part of the pond that is wide enough for shade. You can also plant large water lilies and other plants, which can provide shade. If you have too much shade, consider trimming some of the branches back to provide full sun to at least part of the area of the pond.

Treating Fish with Health Problems

• Sometimes fish will get health problems in spite of all you do to prevent it. When a fish first gets ill, many times white spots or Ich will start showing up on its body. This can be the first sign of a more serious illness and serves as a warning. Treating the water and all of the fish at the same time is the best option. It is a contagious disease, but can be headed off if caught early. There are many medicinal treatments available for Ich that will treat other diseases such as fungus at the same time. This will prevent secondary infections from getting a stronghold. Make sure you pick a medicine that is made especially for outside ponds.

Treating Water Plants with Diseases

• On water plants, certain types of fungus will show up as spots on leaves, and the leaves will turn yellow. Air circulation should be increased by moving the plants further apart to give more room to each one. They may need repotting if the roots are bound in too small of a pot.

  Insects, such as aphids, which attach themselves to water lilies, can be hosed off, and the fish can eat them. If aphids or insects get to be too big of a problem, you can remove the plant and treat it with an insecticide or soap. Read all labels and do not use any insecticide harmful to fish (such as pyrethroids or pyrethrum). After treating plants, wait the allotted time on the label and rinse thoroughly before returning them to the pond.

Conclusions

• The proverbial phrase "prevention is worth an ounce of cure" is especially true for outside fish ponds. Keeping the water filtered and well aerated helps plants and fish stay healthy.

  If mosquitoes are a problem in your area, a number of fish eat mosquito larvae, and, in some cases, a state will stock your pond for you with mosquito-eating fish. Check with your state's Parks and Wildlife or similar department.

  Many people are concerned about algae, and it can get out of control if your pond is located in a place that gets a lot of sunlight. Small amounts of algae are harmless to plants and fish, but if too much is present, it can be toxic as well as unsightly. To cut down on algae, make sure the water is well aerated. Algae tends to get a better foothold in water that is not moving. Barley straw is sometimes used in the filter to prevent algae from growing. You can purchase a UV sterilizer which is installed with the filter system and by using ultraviolet light, can eliminate about 99 percent of disease carrying organisms along with the algae.