If pesticide, herbicide, or another lawn chemical enters your pond, take action immediately. These chemicals may harm fish and other pond life.
What to do
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Stop additional contamination.
- Stop spraying or applying the chemical.
- Prevent additional runoff from entering the pond.
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Identify the chemical.
- Keep the product container or label so the active ingredient can be identified.
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Increase aeration.
- Keep the waterfall and circulation operating.
- Add supplemental aeration if available.
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Begin partial water changes.
- Replace contaminated pond water with fresh water.
- Additional partial water changes may be necessary depending on the chemical and amount involved.
- When adding tap water, use Aquascape Pond Detoxifier as directed to treat the replacement water. Pond Detoxifier treats chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, copper, and heavy metals; Aquascape does not identify it as a treatment for pesticides or herbicides. Aquascape, Inc.
If fish are showing distress
Watch for gasping at the surface, abnormal swimming, loss of balance, lethargy, or fish deaths.
If a large amount of chemical entered the pond, fish are severely affected, or the product is labeled as highly toxic to aquatic life, contact the chemical manufacturer or a qualified fish-health professional for product-specific guidance.
Do not wait for fish to show symptoms if you know pesticide or herbicide entered the pond.