It should be a well known fact that fish need oxygen. In order to get sufficient oxygen, it is necessary that the water in which fish reside has its oxygen content continually replaced as they use it up.

In nature, two simple factors ensure that fish will almost always have access to sufficient oxygen. These two factors are that the quantity of fish will not exceed what the body of water can support and that oxygen will always be replenished in the water. If these criteria are not met in nature, fish will quickly die out and would not re-appear until the eco-system could again support fish life.

With mans intervention, it is possible to have a pond that does not support healthy fish. Unlike in nature, if your eco-system is not in balance, when all goes wrong, it is very easy to re-stock and repeat the failing process.

Quite simply, most fish ponds have two fundamental challenges in maintaining oxygen levels. The number of fish held in a given volume of water far exceeds the density of fish numbers that exist in nature. Secondly, the methods of water absorption are more restricted.

Oxygen absorption occurs at the water’s surface, this process is enhanced by water movement which both increases the surface area exposed to air, and circulates the oxygenated water around. Further to this, plants will also produce oxygen. A well stocked garden pond does not have sufficient surface area to absorb enough oxygen and water movement does not occur naturally. Good planting will certainly be an important tool in managing the oxygen levels of your water. However, it will most likely be insufficient for your ponds needs in the same way that the surface area proves to be. Under these circumstances, there are two possible tools to utilise. These are water movement and pumping oxygen.

Fountains and waterfalls are not just pretty, they perform a very important function in both aiding oxygen absorption and also circulating the oxygenated water. Alternatively, it is possible to use an aerating pump that works in much the same way as is used in an aquarium. Quite simply air is pumped into the water which promotes oxygen absorption.