Water clarity in lakes and ponds
Think your pond is a good healthy place for fish to live? Sometimes that question can be a little more complex than it might seem.
Clear water is not always good.
Just because your lake or pond water is clear doesn’t mean it is in good condition for your fish. In fact, if your water is crystal clear, your fish are not doing as well as they should be. Ponds and lakes need algae suspended in the water. That is what gives the water a green tint. Without that green color, your pond or lake could be in trouble!
This is why:
- Without the suspended algae, or “bloom” as it is sometimes called, the tiny little critters known as zooplankton have nothing to eat. If they are not present in your water, the small fish have nothing to eat. If the small fish population is low, the larger fish have nothing to eat, so they go hungry, and lose weight. Fish on a diet are a lot less fun than the ones who are well fed! In the long run. the algae feeds the fish!
- Without the phytoplankton, that is another name for the algae bloom or suspended algae, sunlight can penetrate deep into the water. This is bad for several reasons. One is that aggressive plants can grow in the water if they can get enough light. Algae bloom is the best way to keep sunlight from encouraging rouge plants from taking over your pond.
- Water can get very hot when it is setting in direct sunlight. On a hot still day, it can become nearly unbearable for man or beast. Suspended algae shades cools the water, providing protection from the heat.
- Oxygen depletion can be a serious issue in ponds and lakes. Warm still days can rob the water of available oxygen. Fish have to breathe too! If you have ever watched fish come to the top and act as though they are gulping for air, well, they are! Having the proper amount of algae suspended in the water will produce oxygen in the water.
How do you get the algae growing in your fish pond or lake? That is pretty simple. Fertilize. That’s right, fertilize your lake! For a little more information on this subject have a look at the rest of this website.
We provide this service as well.
Murky water.
Now, just because your lake water is not clear, doesn’t mean that everything is okay. Murky water with soil particles suspended in it can be just as bad as water that is too clear!
Stay tuned for more!
Tags: fish, water clarity algae bloom