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I know jugone in my pond can be the problem that's killing my fish. Any way to test for it? #832052

Asked May 25, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT

I hope to test for juglone in my black walnut exposed pond.  Is this possible?  Empirically replacing the bottom of the pond would be highly challenging.  Or could it be tannin?  My pond has been collecting oak leaves for 30 years also. Can tannin be tested for?

Hamilton County Ohio

Expert Response

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any easily available test for juglone or tannin accumulation in pond water (or even in soil where it's more commonly an issue).  Juglone is broadly toxic, including to fishes, but I have no idea how much leaf or husk material (nut hulls are much more toxic than leaves) would be necessary to randomly drop into a pond before stress becomes evident.  Most people don’t tolerate substantial canopies of deciduous trees in general near to ponds because the accumulation of organic matter from excessive leaf litter tends to hasten the aging process of the pond.  Conventional wisdom is certainly to keep walnut trees at a distance that they’re not likely to shed into ponds, but I can’t confirm any associated quantitative details.

Leaf litter itself will impose problems on a pond.  Increasing the organic matter decomposing in the deep water of your pond will, again, hasten the aging process and increase the biological oxygen demand of the system with it.  That can lead to wide fluctuations of dissolved oxygen, concentrations being lowest after the length of night, just before dawn.  Low-oxygen stress is easily the most common cause of fish kills on small ponds.

You can help slow the pond's aging process and mitigate low-oxygen events by operating diffuser aeration from deep water throughout the warm months.  However, you'd also be well served to simply manage against the accumulation of leaf litter and other organic matter in your pond.

I hope this information is useful.

Eugene
Eugene Braig Replied May 25, 2023, 5:13 PM EDT
Thank you so very much for your thoughtful answer!

Mary Anne Curtiss



-----Original Message-----
From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
To: Mary Anne Curtiss <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Thu, May 25, 2023 5:13 pm
Subject: Re: I know jugone in my pond can be the problem that's killing my fish. Any way to test for it? (#0101978)

The Question Asker Replied May 26, 2023, 5:02 PM EDT

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