New Pond Syndrome & Pre Season Measure Up

New Pond Syndrome & Pre Season Measure Up

Hi Guys! In this video I go through how I am dealing with the development of new pond syndrome. New pond syndrome is a process that takes place in new ponds that are in the first stages of the biological system starting to establish. The first stage of this process is the build up of excess Ammonia within the system that is produced by the fish.

The reason this Ammonia spike takes place is due to the biological filtration lacking in the Nitrifying bacteria that feeds off of the Ammonia. As this bacteria begins to develop, the Ammonia that they feed off of is then converted into Nitrite.

This is the 2nd stage of the Nitrogen cycle that greatly affects new ponds. Once again, without the presence of another bacteria, during the "new pond syndrome" stages, Nitrite levels can spike to quite undesirable levels and become toxic to the fish. The way it does this is by binding with the haemoglobin in the blood of the fish creating methaemoglobin, which in turn suffocates the fish.

So during the biological process, Nitrobacter bacteria forms and evetually reaches a point where it feeds off of the Nitrite and produces Nitrate. Whilst this process is maturing, it is important to keep on top of doing regular partial water changes in order to keep Nitrite levels at a level that the fish will "tolerate". Raising your pH up to around 8 will also help to make Nitrite less toxic to the fish. (Nitrite is more toxic the lower the pH is). This process may take some time to establish fully so you have to be patient and let the cycle run it's course.

Once Nitrite is converted to Nitrate, the filter is in it's third stage of the Nitrogen cycle and over a few weeks, you should notice the water parameters start to level out and become more stable. Nitrate is nowhere near as toxic as Ammonia and Nitrite and shouldn't be concerned over too much. weekly 10% water changes, plant life, bakki showers etc will take care of the Nitrate side of things.

Now that is out of the way, Also in this video I bowl up the fish to take a look at them and give them a pre-season measure up ready for growing, hopefully😉

I hope you enjoy

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