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Tips
and Techniques On How To:
- Retrofit
a skimmer system/ biofilter waterfall
- Split/
repot aquatic plants
- Create
a bog area
- Optimize
the efficiency of your water-flow through the pond
- Winterize
your pond
- Choose
the best location for your pond
Winterizing
Your Pond:
One
of the first things you’ll need to do is start preparing your
fish for colder weather. As the water becomes colder, and fish being
cold blooded, their metabolism slows as the water cools down. It
is time to start cutting down on the higher protein foods. food
that is high in carbohydrates are easily digestible.
Something
that is often overlooked in the colder seasons is water quality.
Although the problems with ammonia and pH are not as likely to fluctuate
to the negative, you still need to keep an eye on these conditions.
pH and Ammonia Test Kits are easy to use, and will ensure
that an easily rectified problem does not harm your fish over the
winter. It is also a good idea to make sure your salt level in the
pond is at a desirable level to keep the electrolyte count up in
the pond water. As a general conditioner, the salt level should
be at about 20%. This will help fight against infection as
well as replenish the fishes slime coat. A fish’s slime coat
is their first line of defense against disease and parasites.
Aquatic
plants also need to be addressed at this time. After you see your
hardy marginals and water lilies start to die back. Pull them out
of the pond, cut them back to the top of the pot, separate them
if they are becoming root bound, fertilize them, and then sink them
to the deepest part of the pond. Be sure to get most of the dead
leaves and other organic material out of the pond. This will reduce
the biological load and reduce the event of a water quality problem
over the winter.
As
far as the hardware for your pond you have some options to consider.
If you have a top draw system for your water recirculation, such
as a skimmer system, then you have the ability to keep your pond
running all season long. The key to your fishes survival is to do
2 things: keep an area open in the ice surface for gas transference,
and leave the warmer water that is in the bottom of the pond where
it is. Do not recirculate bottom water to the surface. Your fish
go to the bottom to stay in the warmer water. Recirculating it cools
the whole ponds water to colder surface temperature. The skimmer
system allows you to do both; only pull water from the surface and
keep an area in the ice open via the water running through the waterfall.
If you don’t have this type of system and want to keep the
waterfall running year round, move your pump closer to the surface
of the pond. In either case you must keep the pump running 24 hours
a day 7 days a week to keep the pump from freezing and becoming
damaged as a result. Make sure you keep an eye on the water level
as well.
Your
other option is to shut down the pump, remove it from the pond and
store it in a location where it will not freeze. You will also need
to shut down your filter. Any in-line pond filters should be removed,
cleaned and stored similar to your pump. Take the time to wash out
your filter thoroughly to avoid ammonia problems when it is hooked
back up in the spring. Any external filters should be completely
drained and washed out also. Keep in mind that anyplace water can
sit in your filter is a potential spot for freezing and ultimately
damaging your filter; so be thorough when winterizing it. Any and
all U.V. Sterilizers should be removed as soon as the water temperature
dips to 50 degrees.
The
most important thing you can do to make sure your fish have a pleasant
winter is to make sure you use a pond de-icer. These come in both
floating and sinking varieties. The purpose of the de-icer is not
to heat the pond, rather just keep an area about 2’ across
the surface of the water from freezing solid. This will prevent
toxic gases, given off by decaying organic matter, from building
up under the ice and suffocating your fish. A great way to keep
the organic matter out of your pond in the first place is to cover
your pond in early fall. They come in a variety of sizes, and can
be made to fit any pond.
In
extreme cases it may be necessary to drain the pond, do a complete
cleaning and reinstall your fish and plants. Many pond owners prefer
this option as a regular maintenance routine. It’s a great
time to winterize plants, pumps, filters and all of your other pond
accessories. Not only that but it also gives you a clean startup
in the spring. If this option seems the way to go for you but you
do not have the confidence or the time to do it, be sure to ask
about Bloomers Pond Winterizing Service! Below is a description
of what the service includes:
- Draining
and cleaning the entire pond to remove organic material.
- Cutting
back, splitting, repotting, and fertilizing all aquatic plants.
- Winterizing
and cleaning pumps, filters, and U.V.’s.
- Covering
pond.
- Adding the
following water treatments to insure proper fish health:
Pond Salt
(to 20%)
Chlorine and Heavy Metal Neutralizer
Stress Coat
Prices
for this service will vary according to pond size but will be based
on 1/2 day and full day rates plus materials. Please stop in today
and ask for details!
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