What to do if you overdosed your fish  pond with medications or treatments

Sooner or later a pondkeeper is required to add something to his fish pond. This may be to treat a disease or modify water properties with water conditioners for example. There is a real danger of overdosing if great care is not taken.

Overdosing a pond with medication can result in ...

1. Death by poisoning since the majority of medications (acriflavine, malachite green, potassium permanganate, formalin etc) are strong toxins and treatment levels or dosages are worked out so that only the targeted pathogen is killed.

2. Dissolved oxygen levels are reduced more than necessary and unless aeration if sufficient to overcome the removal of oxygen then fish become stressed at best or suffocated at worst. When treating koi ponds always lookout for the tell tale sign of low dissolved oxygen which is fish gasping at the surface.

3. Poor water quality is more often than not the source of disease and other pond problems. If this is the reason for problem behaviour or condition then overdosing can lead to very serious consequences so it is always wise to test for ammonia and nitrite levels before doing any dosing at all.

How to handle over-dosing of a koi pond.

The following should be carried out as soon as possible ... like immediately.

Do at least a 30% water change by allowing the pond to overflow for some time or pump out water and refill.

Add oxygen by heavily aerating the pond and if possible the filter.

3. Activated carbon is useful in removing many toxins and can be placed in the biofilter.

Overdosing is best prevented by making sure you know the pond volume as accurately as possible. Download my free pond volume calculator that allows you to calculate volume of any pond shape.

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