August Pond Care: Everything You Need to Know

We’re officially in the dog days of summer. Your fish probably won’t blame you for taking a swim with them to cool off, or at least dipping your toes.

Need an excuse to hang out by the pond? Spending time around plants and water can actually make you healthier – science says so! Check out our August Deep-Dive to learn more.

Pond care this month will look a lot like it has these past few months of summer – but you’ll want to start thinking about the fall ahead. Schedule Fall Pond Service as soon as possible to ensure an early spot on our calendar.

> Click here to request service

3 Tips for August Pond Care

 1. Use floating plants and fish caves to ensure fish have plenty of shade

No one wants to roast outside under a scorching sun – and that goes for your finned friends too.

Make sure they have plenty of shade in the form of floating plants, fish caves or, ideally, both.

Floating plants like water hyacinths, water lettuce and waterlilies give your fish a place to escape the summer sun, while also pulling algae-causing nutrients out of the water. Fish caves – ones that are either built into your pond or bought after the fact – offer additional shade, as well as protection from predators after plants fall dormant in winter. 

> Find Fish Caves at our Online Store

2. Schedule Fall Pond Service

Yes, we know, autumn feels like a century away when you’re enjoying beach trips and pool parties in the last days of summer. But the leaves will start falling before you know it.

Cross one thing off your fall to-do list by scheduling Fall Service at the end of August. During your Fall Service visit, our team will perform some basic maintenance tasks and install netting over your pond. This netting will keep the leaves out of the water, saving you some significant cleanup in the spring.

> Click here to request Fall Service

3. Continue weekly doses of Beneficial Bacteria

Beneficial Bacteria is our go-to water treatment for keeping water crystal-clear and fish happy and healthy.

Bacteria do lots of helpful things for your pond, including consuming harmful ammonia and algae-causing nitrites. For best results, apply bacteria at least once a week throughout the season, or install an Automatic Dosing System that will do the work for you.

Pond Bacteria comes in lots of forms – so how do you know which one you need?

Just follow this guide:

• For water below 50 degrees: Cold Water Bacteria (Available at Splash)
• For water above 50 degrees: Beneficial Bacteria (Available at Splash)
• For new ponds, recently cleaned ponds or springtime ponds above 40 degrees: Pond Starter Bacteria (Available at Splash)
• For Automatic Dosing Systems: Maintain for Ponds Autodoser Pouch (Available at Splash)

In August, you’ll likely be using regular Beneficial Bacteria.

Liquid Beneficial Bacteria comes in an easy-to-use pump-top container. If you buy an 8 oz, 16 oz, or 32 oz bottle, simply add one pump of bacteria per 100 gallons of water in your pond once a week. If you buy a gallon bottle, use one pump per 600 gallons.

(Dry forms of bacteria are also available. See your container for dosing instructions.)

To Calculate Pond Size in US Gallons: Length (in feet) x Width (in feet) x Average Depth (in feet) x 7.48

All of the Beneficial Bacteria products listed above are completely safe for fish and plants – making them a great alternative to potentially harmful algaecides.