Winter is a transitional time for a pond. From fish and food, to equipment and plants, caring for the pond in the winter is an important time for your ecosystem.

Fish and Food
In most parts of the United States fish can be left in the pond during the winter, providing the depth of the pond is adequate (18 inches minimum or deeper in harsher climate zones) with little or no water circulation. Fish will gather in this deepest area of the pond where the water temperature remains more stable and go into a state of hybernation during the winter months. Note that some types of fish, such as fancy goldfish with ornate tails, bubble eyes and lionheads, are sensitive to cold weather and should be brought indoors.

As winter approaches, you should monitor pond water temperatures daily. When the water temperature falls below 39°F, you should stop feeding the fish altogether. Some may worry about not feeding their fish, but you can rest assured that your fish will naturally rely on stored energy reserves built up during the summer to sustain them throughout the winter months.

Equipment
If you live in a cold climate, disconnect the pump, filter and UV clarifier before water freezes. Be sure to store the UV clarifier indoors for protection. It is also a good idea to store filters indoors (if manufacturer's directions suggest). If you live in a northern climate zone where your pond will freeze over, it is very important to purchase or have a pond de-icer ready for installation. Gases, which are produced by decomposing organic material, are toxic to fish when they are trapped beneath ice covering the pond's surface. Only a small hole is needed to allow these gases to escape and ensure the survival of your fish.

Plants
Most aquatic plants (with the exception of tropical lilies and water hyacinths) can be left in the pond through the winter. Trim back all dead foliage, and then submerge the plants in the bottom or deeper section of the pond to prevent the plants from freezing. Hardy water garden plants will come back year after year. Consider bringing tropical lilies and water hyacinths indoors for the colder months.

In the past, readers have asked us for advice on what to do if they are NOT closing up the pond because they live in a warmer climate. If you live in a spring or summer-like region, we suggest you continue to monitor your temperatures and follow a feeding schedule like the TetraPond Seasonal Feeding Cycle. If you have premium Koi, continue to feed a food that is high in wheat germ like TetraPond's KoiExcellence Complete

Additionally, monitor your equipment to ensure it is running properly. Consider purchasing a second pump simply to power your waterfall. Not only will it cut back on your energy bill (You don't need to run your waterfall 24 hours a day. Installing a timer can make it easy.), but it will also prevent overuse of your primary pump. Lastly, remember to change your UV Clarifier bulb every 11 months.

Whether you run your pond all year long or not, make sure you take time to enjoy its beauty throughout the year, even if there is a northern nip in the air. Watch the landscape change before your eyes...from summer hot spot for family relaxation to a crisp, beautiful winter wonderland. 

Remember, if you have pond questions over the winter, please call on us anytime.  We are glad to be of service.

Keeping Ice at Bay

During the winter months when ice forms on the surface of your pond, always keep an opening in the ice to allow for gas exchange. Without this hole, toxic ammonia can build up, making it hard–or impossible–for fish to breathe the dissolved oxygen they require. De-icers help fish survive by allowing harmful gases to escape through a small ice-free opening in your pond's frozen surface. Remember: never break the ice to create an opening. You'll risk causing harmful shockwaves that can injure or even kill your fish. Many varieties of de-icers are available, including simple floating heaters, insulating domes, and islands that prevent ice formation and also provide a drinking platform for birds.

Layers of Warmth Keep Fish Cozy

Have you ever noticed that in very cold water, your fish seem to prefer staying near the bottom where the water is warmer and denser? It's not by happenstance, but a phenomenon called "Layering." As water temperatures keep falling, the pond water actually forms "layers" of varying temperatures in the pond that do not completely mix the cold surface water with warm bottom water. Down to 39°F, water becomes its densest. The top layer at the pond's surface fluctuates depending on the air temperature and weather conditions. The thermal zones are more stable and warmer at the bottom of the pond. Layering helps fish avoid excessively cold conditions, which could impair fishes' ability to absorb oxygen from the water (due to failure of the gills to work efficiently). To maintain a dense, bottom layer of warmer water, you can reduce circulation rates in the pond by reducing flow rates, switching off air pumps and waterfalls, bypassing bottom drains (if possible), and retrieving pumps from the pond bottom.

Recognizing Unhealthy Fish

Even fish living in a good environment with a nutritionally balanced diet are prone to disease outbreaks from time to time. Factors indicating poor health include gasping, rubbing, becoming darker or lighter in color, appearing emaciated and exhibiting listless behavior. Prompt treatment requires quick and correct identification of the problem. Pay close attention to the time of disease onset and the rate it spreads throughout the pond. Use these guidelines: If... Then the cause may be: one or two fish are affected and it does not spread to any other fish non–infectious disease or malformation a small number of fish are affected initially, but this number gradually increases infectious disease all fish are affected (or all fish of the same species/size) and onset occurs very quickly poor water quality Examine fish for signs of parasites. Place the affected fish in a large polythene bag where it can be viewed from all sides easily, as opposed to the pond.

Treatment Tips

Immediately remove and quarantine badly diseased fish to prevent the spread of disease. When two or three fish are affected or if the disease is infectious, change 25-30% of the water and use TetraPond AquaSafe Water Conditioner to neutralize the heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines found in tap water so fish will not be harmed. Treat the entire pond with Pond Fish Treatment that destroys harmful bacteria, parasites, and fungus. It's important to remove any excess debris in the pond before adding the remedy so it doesn't bind with some of the remedy and make it less effective.

What about falling leaves?

 Falling leaves posts a big problem as water temperatures drop.  Here's what happens:  Without a skimmer, they rest on the bottom of your pond waiting for you to scoop them up or for decomposition to take place.  The problem is that in cooler water temperatures, decomposition takes it's time, and your water takes on a new color....  Tea Brown.  This is a natural thing that can be avoided by regular cleaning, but once the water turns color, most people scratch their heads wondering how to clean up the water back to the crystal clear water they want.  We do have the answer.