How to deal with summer heat for the koi pond

These are a few important things that koi owners need to know about reducing stress and potential loss in summer heat. I have collected seven important points to consider which will help your fish go through the heat of summer. Using Microbe-Lift products can be extremely helpful in maintaining a clean pond.

Feeding: especially in small or shallow ponds, be sure to watch the temperature of the water. At 85°F, revert to the spring Wheat Germ food and feed sparingly. At 90°F, stop all feeding. These are not tropical fish. They are temperate zone fish and have difficulty absorbing nutrients at higher temperatures (like they do at temperatures below 50°F).
Shade: your fish are stressed by excess heat. A sail-cloth or other way of implementing shade for the fish is helpful. While plants need the sunlight, your fish will do fine in the shadows. Shade will also help control the growth of algae.
Clean your filter. If detritus is in the filter, it is in the pond and will contribute to the un-health of your system. Thoroughly wash the mats and other materials, and re-inoculate with nitrifying bacteria (PL Gel and Nite Out II).
Clean the bottom of the pond: remove all muck, uneaten food, fish poop, leaves, dying or dead plant leaves, etc. All that will contribute to bacterial activity and rob oxygen from your fish.
Algae: Clean out excess algae. Algae is an oxygenating plant, during the daytime, but during shaded days and nights they take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. A little bit is not a problem, but excess algae take the oxygen needed by your fish.
Oxygen: Add extra aeration during hot summer months. Make sure your waterfalls are running 24/7. Check your pumps. Be sure your pond is filled. Good circulation is important, too. Check your oxygen levels because oxygen is lowest in warm weather.
Water changes: Doing regular partial water changes (which is not simply adding water to the pond to top it off) is extremely important to remove pollutants and nutrients that will build up to harmful levels, especially in the middle of summer.