Oxygen is the lifeline of the almost all the creatures surviving in this world. It is rightly said that Ponds are Like People, Need Oxygen to survive.

Although oxygen appears in various forms whether in gaseous form or dissolved form, everyone on this earth knows its importance. One of the important parameter to be monitored and taken care of for pond is Dissolved oxygen. It is basically the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. The technique involved to determine the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is to measure ppm (parts per million) factor.

The best level to be maintained for the dissolved oxygen in water is around 4 to 5 ppm. So the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water in ponds, determines the stability of the pond ecosystem.

Importance of Pond ecosystem

The pond ecosystem greatly depends upon the amount of dissolved oxygen level. Any alteration to the amount of oxygen level results in unbalancing of survival of the creatures living in ponds. There are various factors associated with low level of dissolved oxygen in the pond. The fish kills are due to major degradation of the dissolved oxygen level in the ponds.

The depletion of the dissolved oxygen in the water in pond ecosystem is mainly due to sudden degradation of the microscopic plant kingdoms present in the water kingdom. These microscopic plant kingdoms are of great help to the pond as they are responsible for maintaining the dissolved oxygen level.

Maintenance of ponds

If the ponds are properly maintained by using fertilizers, then the plant kingdom generates adequate amount of the oxygen level in the water. These microscopic plants impart green color to the water kingdom thriving in the pond. These phytoplanktons essentially control the food chain and supplier of oxygen. So, proper fertilizer should be carried out to control fish kills. If proper fertilization is not carried out for the ponds then in the worst scenario, the phytoplankton decomposes and depletes the remaining dissolved oxygen level in the pond.

There are lot of factors determining the amount of dissolved oxygen in the pond ecosystem like algae bloom i.e. excessive growth of algae in the pond. The pond owners should take utmost care to prevent algae bloom, as they are considered responsible for consuming large portions of dissolved oxygen in the water. If the pond appears excessively green or pea soup color, then its algae bloom.

The other factors reducing the oxygen level are high organic waste load and over population of the fish in the ponds. As excess of everything can unbalance the ecosystem, so the population of the fishes and high organic waste loads should also be controlled for proper balance of the water kingdom.

In order to resolve the problem of dissolved oxygen level in the water kingdom, proper aeration needs to be done. The aeration for deep ponds is required to properly aerate the dissolved oxygen in the pond. One may use the bottom-based diffuser to properly aerate the dissolved oxygen in the pond. But in case of the shallow pond fountains can also aerate the pond to a good level.

The proper aeration solves the problem of fish kills, algae blooms, stimulation of beneficial aerobic bacteria and many more. The pond owners should be properly educated to understand the importance of dissolved oxygen in the pond ecosystem and its consequences in worst cases.