What Is Dissolved Oxygen in Ponds (and Why Does It Matter)?
Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen gas present in your pond water, measured in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L). Most healthy ponds need at least 5-6 ppm to support fish, beneficial bacteria, and a balanced ecosystem, though the exact requirement varies depending on what you’re stocking and the season.
If you’ve noticed fish gasping at the surface on warm mornings, algae blooms taking over, or foul odors wafting from your water garden, low dissolved oxygen is likely the culprit. Oxygen doesn’t just appear in water on its own in sufficient quantities. It enters through surface agitation, …










