Fish kills are a fact of life in arid areas when pond owners fertilize. It sounds like a good idea to increase carrying capacity but when the almost inevitable summer evaporation occurs, the pond is overstocked. Overcast, non windy days then beget fish kills. This brings about my question/thought. You indicate that you lime as necessary and fertilize annually. That might make sense in area of low alkilinity. However, is it really necessary? The fish kills and algae might be indicators of fertilization problems when you have an annual 40% drop in carrying capacity. Adding non-oxygenated well water might exacerbate the problem. If your water quality doesn't really require chemical alteration, the mechanically supplied oxygenation could do even more good on helping clean out the muck (I guess). I don't know much about aeration but have gotten a pretty good handle on the dangers of fertilization when the water level varies seasonally. I followed the prescribed fertilization routine for the first couple of years that I had my pond. Had fish kills both years. I stopped fertilizing and the overall biomass was apparently reduced a little bit but the fish kills absolutely stopped. I also have no weed problems like everyone else. Think it over. Gotta admit though, I'm not producing any 5-8 pound bass yet.
