Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations I've had a few fish die

I have a one acre pond, During the summer months I run a well, feeding the pond with water via a shower head type fountain. I do not not need to run the fountain in the winter months to keep the pond full, but I do run it some when it gets real cold or has been cloudy for several days. I use the fountain somewhat as an aireator as well as keeping the pond topped off. Anyway after the last two cold spells (lower to mid 20's) I have found two nice size bluegills and 3 or 4 real small ones dead as well as one 2 - 3 inch bass. Is this a bad sign or would it be considered normal. I have only found a few dead in the past and they had holes in them from the dammed Herons. Thanks for any comments or ideas. Would like to mention also that the pond receives a lot of action from the wind ( live in vally surrounded on two sides by mountains) there is almost always a good wind and ripple on the water. Considering this would you think any extra airation is needed?

Thanks

Oxygen is not your problem. I would suggest you catch some fish and have them tested. It is hard to get sick fish to bite so you may need a throw net to catch the fish.

If you have just a few fish die it may not be a problem. It's not unusual for a pond to lose a fish or two now and then especially older fish.

On the other hand something may be stressing them as some anoxic water coming up when the pond really starts mixing after colder temps. Or it may be your pond temps drop too rapidly which stresses them.

Do you destratify in the summer?

As of now I do not have any type of bubbler or underwater aireator. It has been preety mild here in North Alabama, the past week or so is the first time it has got down in the mid twenty's.

The fish were stocked this past February (bream) Early June (bass). So they are not very old, yet many of the bream have grown near handsize.

The Well showerhead that I run I would assume is adding some aireation to the pond, especially the water being pumped thru the well. Well water is 52 degrees. I had a good bloom through September maybe even early October.

I'm rambling, but trying to give an idea of what my pond is like.

With the consistant wind and the adding of aireated well water would you still reccomend a bubbler type airation?

Thanks for any ideas/suggestions.

It sounds like oxygen is your problem. Well water is usually very low in oxygen to begin with and throwing it in the air might only increase the oxygen enough to aerate the surface. You probably have stratification with low oxygen in a large portion of the depth of the pond. When the wind blows hard it can force a mini turnover bringing some of the low oxygen water to the surface and trap and suffocate some of the fish. The few dead are a symptom of potential larger kills in the future. I have seen ponds with the same problem. The owner thinks that fountain of well water is aerating the pond but because it is so low in oxygen to start it is no net gain. I am guessing that your pond is fairly deep and the deep water is low in oxygen. Using diffuser aeration from the bottom will solve this problem. Be careful when starting it up because it will throw up a lot of dead water initially. If you do it in the winter you will be much safer, but in the spring or summer you will be on shaky ground. If you can get someone to check the oxygen levels it would help to get an idea of the extent of stratification. It would help to know more about the area and depth of the pond.

The pond is one acre. It is square more or less with 2 long sides and 2 a little shorter sides.

Woops, hit the wrong button... The pond is 140 feet wide by 315 feet long. The pond ranges from 3 feet deep and staggers different depths from front to back where it is 12 feet deep, there is a "underwater shelf" in the middle that adds to the shallow water.

Your pond layout sounds really quite good. The 12' depth is a little more than you need but not unreasonable. In fact, you can easily aerate the whole pond efficiently with a 1/3 hp compressor and one diffuser assembly set in the 12 foot depth area. It is very likely that the 12 foot hole is low in oxygen and sort of cut off from normal circulation by the rise you have in the middle. Occasionally, dead water seeps out over the shallow areas and causes minor fish kills. I would think that you have a very easily solvable problem by simply installing a small aeration system. One bubber assembly in the 12 foot area will produce plenty of oxygen to the whole pond.

I've been thinking hard on getting a diffuser, sounds like I need a post Christmas present!!

Here's my two cents...if oxygen were the problem, you would have lost more fish.
Follow the water chemistry.
Your well water will be chemically different than surface water.
Surface water is influenced by surface minerals in your soil. If you are in pine tree country, your soils are acidic.
Well water is likely quite different, influenced by subsurface deposits.
Analyze your well water, and your pond water. Look for differences in pH, alkalinity, and individual mineral content.
I agree with the posts for you to aerate, but not because you need oxygen. You need mixing, and processing of your existing water via bottom diffuser.
The few dead fish are an indicator of water issues.

Good point and certainly a likely scenerio. I have suspected as much following heavy rains but never could quite catch the event in action. In any case, the common denominator, bottom diffusion, seems to have solved the problem. The mixing seems to do the trick. And it certainly doesn't hurt to add oxygen.