It’s that time of the year when I give a short sermon on pond maintenance.

Small ponds of 1000 gallons or less (or even bigger ponds for that matter) need similar husbandry as an indoor aquarium. You need to do water changes. If there is runoff into a pond when it rains there are chemical changes that can take place. These chemicals lower the alkalinity and therefore the pH to sometimes dangerous levels. If the rains are just replacing evaporation it is not as big a problem, but to be safe, keep a submersible pump around to pump some water onto your flower bed and replace it with tap water. There is nothing better for plants than water formely inhabited by fish. The nitrates that build up in the water are not good for the fish but great for plants. Therefore, changing your pond water is a winning situation for plants, fish and the vitality of your pond.