Prevention

In a previous article we discussed The six causes of pond fish illness . In this article, we'll delve deeper into preventative measures you can take to prevent any of these conditions from occurring. Preventing problems will save you a lot of stress, save you money by calling veterinarians, and improve the well-being of your pond inhabitants.

Water quality

The most logical preventive measure is of course to keep the habitat in which the fish live healthy. The water composition (what do the fish need?) and water quality (How clean is the pond?) are literally vital. Most ponds are unlike natural ones, so you need to take measures to keep the water healthy. Regular water changes are essential. A rule of thumb is to change at least 10% of the water per week. If your pond is densely populated, you'll need to change even more. Changing water is different from replacing evaporated water! You'll need to drain some of it and replace it with tap water. It also helps if your filtration system can capture most of the solid waste before it decomposes and unnecessarily pollutes the water. You'll also need a biological filter for Nitrification process . Also prevent toxic substances from entering the pond. This includes poisonous plants next to the pond, but also paint, metal, herbicides, cleaning products, and so on.

Technology

Essential for most modern ponds is that the system doesn't fail mechanically. Leaks, blockages, faulty air and water pumps, and short circuits can cause serious problems for pond inhabitants. In addition to maintaining equipment, regularly checking its functionality is important. Some hobbyists have backup systems. Examples include two filter lines on two different (power) circuits, spare equipment, an emergency generator, warning systems such as a text message alerting you to a lower pond level or a failed (air) pump, and so on. While you don't need to go that far, preventative maintenance can prevent a lot of misery.

Infection

New inhabitants or nets, buckets, plants, stones, filter material, etc. recently used in other ponds can transmit diseases to your habitat. This can be prevented by quarantining new inhabitants and disinfecting materials from other ponds before using them in your own pond.

Care

Good nutrition, containing everything your pond inhabitants need, prevents the fish from weakening and becoming susceptible to disease or causing deficiency diseases (vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies). A stress-free environment helps the fish feel at home, allowing them to build up a strong immune system. Hiding places also help them feel at home should they be startled by something. This helps them de-stress quickly.

With a little common sense and a little effort, you can avoid a lot of trouble.

Author: Joop van Tol (Koitoday)