Ponds

G. A. Clark, C. D. Stanley, F. Z. Zazueta, and E. E. Albregts

Ruth Francis-Floyd

This document is about dissolved oxygen (DO). DO refers to oxygen gas that is dissolved in water. Fish "breathe" oxygen just as land animals do. However, fish are able to absorb oxygen directly from the water into their bloodstream using gills, whereas land animals use lungs to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere. First published in 1992.

Craig Watson and Charles E. Cichra

This document outlines the principles and practices of fertilizing freshwater fish ponds to enhance their productivity. Fertilization, akin to its use in land-based agriculture, can significantly boost the production of small natural food-consuming fish species such as bluegill and golden shiner by increasing the availability of algae and zooplankton. This process not only supports small fish but also benefits larger predatory fish, like largemouth bass, by improving their food supply. Phosphorus is identified as the most critical nutrient, often supplemented with nitrogen for better results. The document discusses the forms and application methods of fertilizers, emphasizing liquid fertilizers for their rapid effectiveness. Practical guidelines for determining the timing and frequency of fertilization based on water temperature and clarity are provided, alongside techniques for applying both liquid and granular fertilizers efficiently. The document also addresses common challenges suc

Gail Hansen andShangchun Hu
Other Contacts: Keighly Graves

Craig Watson and Roy P.E. Yanong

Copper has been used for many years as a chemical tool in freshwater farm ponds and aquaculture operations. It is both an effective algicide and a parasite treatment. The problem with the use of copper is that there is a thin line that separates effective treatment levels from overdoses, which can kill fish. This fact sheet is designed to explain when copper is used, how it is used, and some precautions to take before using it. First published in 1989. 

Michael McGee and Charles Cichra

The goal of most fish farmers is to maximize production and profits while holding labor and management efforts to the minimum. Risk of fish kills, disease outbreaks, poor water quality, and reduced feed conversion often result when efforts to increase production are unsupported by improved management strategies. This document is about aeration. This is a process that offers the most immediate and practical solution to water quality problems encountered at higher stocking and feeding rates. Aeration may be broadly classified into two different applications, emergency aeration and maintenance aeration. First published June, 1991.

Andy M. Lazur, Charles E. Cichra, and Craig Watson

Liming is an effective tool in fish production and pond management. However, lime is casually used to describe two different types of materials, used for very different purposes. Agricultural limestone refers to calcite (calcium carbonate) and dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate). The calcium and magnesium components raise the total hardness of water, essential to the health of many aquatic species. The carbonate component raises the total alkalinity and the pH, buffering daily fluctuations in pH, increasing microbial activity in the pond soil, and increasing the availability of phosphorous to phytoplankton. Pond water with total alkalinity less than 20 ppm can benefit from liming. Hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) is an inexpensive and effective pond sterilizer, raising the pH quickly and dramatically above tolerable levels for most aquatic organisms. It should be used carefully, avoiding contact to the applicator, and never used in ponds containing desirable fish. This document w

Gisele P. Nighswander, Mary E. Szoka, Kayla M. Hess, Eban Bean, Gail Hansen, andBasil V. Iannone III

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. Published by ==Water==

Dorota Z. Haman, Fedro S. Zazueta, Gary A. Clark, Sandra M. Guzmán, andHaimanote K. Bayabil

A pond can be created by constructing a dam or embank- ment across a watercourse, by excavating a pit or dugout, or by building a dike around a natural depression area. For many farms, ponds may be the most economical way to provide water for various agricultural operations. Necessary water for irrigation, livestock or fish production, or other purposes can be stored in the pond. Ponds can also be used to store runoff from irrigation or rainfall events. The use of this surface resource could lead to reduced pumping from deep aquifer water  supplies.

Samantha T. Howley, Steven P. Hohman, and Alexander J. Reisinger

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: ==Water==