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Pond Winterizing
If you want a clear and healthy pond in spring, some proper procedures for a
shut down should be followed. Closing your pond properly for the winter
months is one of the best things you can do for the next pond season.
Obviously these procedures do not apply to everyone in the nation but they do
apply to most.
Plants:
Let's start with the plants in your pond. Plants are the number one
factor creating decay in your pond and must be dealt with before or right
after the first frost. First, remove all foliage from your aquatic plants.
Water lily leaves and blooms should be snipped at the container level and
discarded. Thereafter, place the containers in the deepest section of your
pond. Marginal plants are generally clipped 2" above the water line. You may
want to winterize these plants last, in case the weather suddenly warms and
causes them to grow. This will eliminate the need to cut them again. Surface
plants should to be removed and discarded. Most are tropical in nature and
will not make it through the winter months. Submerged or oxygenating plants
can survive under certain conditions. Usually the deeper your pond the more
likely they will survive. Lastly, remove foliage and debris thoroughly from
the plants. Leaving this debris in your pond will foul it and create more work
for you in the spring.
About The Fish:
Koi and Goldfish are cold weather fish. Without going into a lot of
detail, their metabolism will slow as the water gets colder, making them
inactive. One grave mistake is to feed or otherwise bother them when the water
turns cold. The fish do not need your help or food during the winter months.
One thing you can do for them prior to the cold weather, is give them a clean
environment in which to live. Also placing 2' sections of 4" PVC pipe will
give them a place to winter over. Drill a hole in each end and tie a short
piece of fishing line with heavy weight to the pipe. This will keep it on the
bottom and in place. You may also want to use a product that will place a
slime coating back on the fish. Using pond salt will also help. I
recommend our Heals-All, which contains a double slime coat as well as
Vitamin B-12 to heal any wounds or cuts the fish may have in preparation for
winter. If you live in an area where the pond will be covered over by ice,
then it may be necessary to install a pond de-icer. See Equipment
section below.
Chemicals And Treatments:
Treating your pond with the proper additives will greatly increase your
chances of a clear, clean and healthy pond for the spring. Nitrifying bacteria
is what keeps the pond clean. This is the good bacteria in your pond. Problem
is, that when the temperature dips near 55 degrees, it dies. One way to have
this bacteria active most of the time is to use a product like our Fall and
Winter Formulation that will continue to provide sustained biological
activity in water temperatures under 55 degrees. It also maintains a healthy
immune system for fish. Even if frozen the bacteria will remain effective
after thawing out. It also helps to jump-start your pond to a healthier
environment in the spring. You can see this product and others by clicking the
tab titled Water Treatments at the top of this page.
Covering Your Pond:
Covering your pond is very important and performed after you have done
the procedures above. BE SURE that you have netted out all the debris and scum
from the bottom of the pond. Get as much as you can, as this will make the
difference in water quality and clarity in spring. The most obvious way to
cover your pond is with nylon pond netting. This netting is strong and will
not rot or decay, making it the choice of pond owners everywhere. This netting
is extremely important in keeping out the leaves and trash that eventually ends
up in everyone's yard. The netting is stretched tightly across the pond and
anchored with plastic stakes or rock. One good idea is to place a floating
object in the pond to make the netting take on a tent-like appearance instead
of eventually ending up lying in the water. You can also use foam, beach
balls, even the blow-up rubber toys used in pools. Either way, get the netting
raised up above the surface.
The Equipment:
There are differing opinions on what to do with the equipment that
filters, pumps and sterilizes your pond. One thing we know for sure, if you
have fish, DO NOT leave the pump running to power your waterfall or other
feature. Your fish just don't want to be messed with in any way, shape or form.
They DO NOT need the added oxygenated water in the winter months. Anyway, by
keeping pumps or waterfalls going in winter it disturbs the warmer water at
the bottom and makes it colder, which can be deadly to hibernating fish. Many
products are on the market that will keep an open hole in a frozen pond.
Without this hole allowing trapped gases to escape, fish will suffocate and
die. The best defense is a simple thermostatically controlled pond de-icer
that comes on at a certain temp and off at a certain temp, protecting your
investment. Disconnect and clean all of the equipment in your pond. This means
the pump, filter systems and UV sterilizers. Let them air dry prior to storing
in your shed or garage. To properly clean a UV, mix a solution of 50/50 water
and Clorox 2, NOT REGULAR CLOROX. Place masking tape over one of the holes.
Pour solution into the UV until it is about half full. Place tape or your hand
over the other end and shake vigorously for 2 minutes. Pour out and repeat.
Next, remove the tape and lay the UV on the ground. Place the end of your
garden hose in one end and turn on at about 50%. Let the water run through it
for at least 5 minutes. Now turn the UV 180 degrees and repeat the procedure.
This way the UV will be properly rinsed and will not harm fish or plants in
the spring.
Final Thoughts:
Take this part of your pond maintenance seriously this winter. It is a
very important part of the eco-system of the pond. If you use the procedures
above, you will find that your spring maintenance will be significantly
reduced giving you more time to enjoy the awakening pond life.
(excerpted from an article at Patio Garden Ponds in Oklahoma City)
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