Too Much Sunlight

by Charles
(Central Alabama)

I have a small preformed goldfish pond (185 gals). It has been shaded by dogwood trees for about twenty years. The trees were removed this spring.

It now gets full sunlight for about 15 hours per day.

Are there any artificial floating covers for sale?

I know I'm going to have temperature and algae problems because the deepest part of pond is about 18 inches. What type of live floating plants would you suggest.

I have 14 goldfish that are 5-10 inches in length. They tend to eat most plants.


Grant's Reply

Hi Charles

I have to agree with you that your Goldfish environment has changed significantly with the removal of the dogwood trees.

I suspect you are already seeing changes.

My immediate suggestion is to purchase some shade cloth from a garden center or hardware store rated at 50% shade. This will bring the sunlight down to a more reasonable level until you can find more natural solutions.

I wouldn't use a floating cover as used on swimming pools as they restrict the exchange of gases between the water and the atmosphere.

As you point out, Goldfish love to eat most floating plants. They tend to die off in winter and cause pollution problems, as well as introducing unwanted pests, I would suggest not using floating plants, except as a food source.

Water lilies are a good option. They can be grown in their own baskets and like full sunlight. Goldfish usually don't attack them either.

They do die back in winter, but they don't create as much debris as floating plants do.

With 14 fish in 185 gallons, you are near the maximum for a pond of this size. You don't mention a filter or aeration system, so if you haven't got one, I would suggest looking at something before the water temperatures start rising.

You can lose all you fish very quickly from a combination of green water and high temperature.

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Aug 25, 2016
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by: Grant

Thanks for the update.

Yes Hyacinths are great at filtering the water, especially if they are growing rapidly as yours are.

They are obviously getting a lot of sunlight, which they need being a tropical plant.

I suspect your fish will have spawned quite successfully on the root systems which are ideal for collecting eggs and hiding fry.
Aug 23, 2016
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by: Anonymous

To update the hyacinths for sunlight reduction, they covered the surface of the pond in about three weeks and they have given me the clearest water I have ever had. An added bonus is their absolutely beautiful blooms. They look just like orchids! I do have to thin the plants about three times a month, and the fish only come out to be fed, but it is an extremely healthy pond with happy, healthy fish and crystal clear water. I will have to remove most of the plants as the weather starts to really cool, around the first of November here in central Alabama. For now though, they are just about perfect.
Jun 13, 2016
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by: Anonymous

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I do have a filter that also circulates the water continuously. You are right though, as soon as a power shortage occurs, the fish begin to labor and move to surface for oxygen. I use a stand-by battery powered air pump for emergency aeration. I currently have hyacinths covering the surface, but they are messy because the fish are continuously eating the roots. On the bright side, they have kept the water temperature safe, barely, and they have prevented a green water algal bloom. I think I will try the greenhouse shade cloth and thin out the hyacinths. I believe they grow faster than kudzu!

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