Your Pond Is in Full Swing — Here's How to Keep Up This Memorial Day

By Memorial Day, your pond is wide awake. Water temps across Southern California are pushing into the high 60s and low 70s, the koi are active from sunrise on, and the plants you put in this spring are taking off. This is when a pond looks its best, and also when small things get away from you fast if you're not paying attention.

Feed your fish two to three times a day

In the cooler months, koi and goldfish slow way down. By late May that's flipped, their metabolism is running fast and one feeding a day isn't keeping up. Two to three smaller feedings is the move. Feed only what they can finish in about five minutes; anything left floating just adds to your filter load and clouds the water. Seeing leftover pellets? Scale back the portion, not the frequency.

Quality matters more than you'd think

This is the time to be picky about food. A high-quality pellet with real protein (look for fish or shrimp meal as the first ingredient, not corn or wheat fillers) shows up in color, growth, and energy. Cheap food means cloudier water, more waste, and duller fish. Got growing or younger koi? A growth formula is worth it through summer, and color enhancers with spirulina or astaxanthin bring out reds and oranges.

Keep an eye on plant growth

Your aquatic plants are running just as hard as your koi. Healthy growth shades the water, competes with algae for nutrients, and gives fish places to hide, but it needs managing. Trim yellowing leaves as you see them, since decaying matter sinks and feeds algae. Thin aggressive growers like water hyacinth before they crowd the surface; once a pond is more than about two-thirds covered, it loses too much light and oxygen exchange.

Enjoy the long weekend

Heading into Memorial Day, a few minutes of attention keeps your pond looking its best all summer. Whether you're hosting or just relaxing by the water, that's exactly what it's there for.

Questions about your pond's summer setup? So Cal Ponds is here to help — local, licensed, and experienced.