Seasonal Tips

Although the weather is still pleasant, Fall is upon us and pond owners will soon need to turn their thoughts to winterizing their ponds. Fall is the time of year when your soon to be dormant fish build up fat reserves for their semi-hibernation over the winter. Ponds that contain fish have to be readied for the winter, at the latest when the water temperature falls below 50 degrees F. In order to prepare for the cold weather ahead, the metabolism of your fish slows down. At this point, the fish are no longer able to digest foods. Pond owners should switch to a low protein/ high fiber food (such as spring/fall fish food) as fall progresses in order to avoid undigested food remaining in their system once the real first cold snap occurs.

Here are some other tips and steps you can take for winterizing your pond:

• Netting the Pond: If your pond will receive heavy leaf fall, it would be a good idea to cover the pond with a heavy mesh, durable net. You can then blow the leaves off the net each week. Be sure to remove the net when the leaves are done falling, because it will not support the weight of any snowfall.
• Plants: Cut back all plants by 3/4" leaving tender new shoots intact. Some marginals, like cattails, iris, and pickerel rush, can be left on the plant shelf. Move tropical plants indoors if you want to save them. Remove all Hyacinth and Lettuce.
• Keeping a Hole in the Ice: If you are going to try to run your water fall all winter, you will need to supplement with floating heater directly in front of your skimmer opening. If you will be shutting down the water fall, you will either need to remove the pump and store it in a bucket of water in a warm place so that the seals inside the pump do not dry and crack. If you are removing the pump, you will still need to aerate the water with a recirculating pump supplemented by a floating heater (Do Not use a floating heater by itself, it will not agitate the water to provide oxygen for your fish, which will almost certainly result in fish fatalities!)
• Winter Supplements: Add Microbe-lift/Winter Prep as it will sustain biological activity even in water temperatures below 55 degrees F, help maintain a healthy immune system in fish, and reduce buildup of dead leaves and organic sediment all winter long.