Tackling nitrite key to a healthy pond

Ammonia and nitrite are two pollutants pond owners need to monitor, as they can cause damage to fish if left untreated.

A pond can be an attractive addition to any garden, but regular attention is needed to keep it looking its best and minimise damage caused by pollution.

The combination of fish and plant life makes ponds a delicate environment and one major issue owners need to look out for is nitrite, which reduces the ability of fish to draw oxygen from the water, causing their health to suffer.

Matt Clarke of Swell UK  notes regularly checking fish is one of the best ways to tell whether a pond is polluted, as they may rise to the surface and gasp, or lay on the pond floor, if the water they are in is of poor quality.

Using a good quality pond pump to carry out large-scale water changes will help reduce the concentration of nitrite and the publication recommends removing and replacing between 25 and 50 per cent of the total volume each time.

Temporarily cutting back on fish food is another method that can reduce nitrite concentration, as the food contributes to the build up of nitrite and will not be eaten by fish living in nitrite-heavy water.

Ammonia can also affect the health of fish, damaging gills and making it harder for them to breathe easily. To eradicate the problem, Mr Clarke suggests improving pond aeration to raise oxygen levels, before conducting a large-scale water change to reduce ammonia concentration.

Regular testing for both ammonia and nitrite is necessary after cases of either have been dealt with and, writing for Practical Fishkeeping, he advises monitoring fish closely to watch for potential infection.

Outbreaks of pollutants can be controlled by pond filters, such as the Evolution Aqua Pure Pond Filter 10000, which uses four filtration stages to remove impurities and solid waste from the water and boost oxygen levels.

Regular cleaning of pond filters is a necessity and it is important to wash filter media in old pond water, as tap water contains chlorine that can kill the filter's useful bacteria that help strip out pollutants.

Posted by Laura Hendley
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Tuesday, 31 Jan 2012, 5:31pm