Getting Your Koi Pond Ready for the Winter Months

Early fall is the perfect time to begin preparing your Koi pond for the winter ahead. Here are some helpful tips on winterizing your pond.

Staring in early fall you will want to pay careful attention to water temperature, as this is the indicator that changes will need to be made in your pond. Be sure you are watching water temperature as opposed to air temperature. To help ensure a healthy pond come spring a water thermometer is vital. In order to be able to easily read your thermometer it is best to tie a string to one end of the thermometer then attach it to a rock on the side of your pond.

Fish Care
As the water temperature in your pond drops to the lower 70s it is time to switch your fish food to a wheat germ based food. This food is much more easily digested by your fish, and colder water temperature makes it more difficult for your fish to digest their food. While your fish will need to add some bulk in preparation of winter it is important not to overfeed them.

Whether you feed your fish once or twice a day, never give them more food that they can eat in a three to five minute span. Any left over food should be promptly removed from the pond. A fish processes food using bacteria in its digestive system. These bacteria can no longer do their job once the water temperature drops below 50. Stop feeding your fish entirely as soon as the water hits this temperature.

Plant Care
To prevent debris from building up in the pond any dying plant material should be trimmed and removed. Pots should be divided and replanted in the fall. This should give your plant plenty of time to heal before the onset of cold temperatures. You are likely to get additional blooms from your plant the following summer if your plant is properly potted and fertilized in fall. Your climate will dictate what needs to happen with your plants. In colder climates tropical plants, as well as some surface and submerged plants, will need to be brought inside or discarded when the temperatures drop below 60°. Lilies should be trimmed and bog plants should be removed before your first frost. Plants can be placed on the bottom of the pond if it is sufficiently deep to prevent them from freezing.

Water Change
Fall is an excellent time to change the water in your pond, especially since you are already out there moving plants and fish around. Excess debris that is allowed to stay in your pond will decompose, producing hydrogen sulfide (a toxic gas) and using up valuable oxygen. Use a find weave aquarium net to sift out excess sludge. Be sure to leave a small amount of sludge in your pond for those inhabitants of your pond that prefer to burrow.

While water changes can occur at any time during the fall, they will be less stressful on your fish if conducted before the water temperature drops below 60°. You may want to try a 50 percent water change on one day, and repeat it the next day if your pond is still too murky. Always remember to use a de-chlorinator if your tap water contains chlorine.

Debris Control
As soon as the leaves begin to fall your entire pond should be covered with mesh. Netting out every leave by hand is an almost impossible task, so it is much better to cover the pond with a net. Once it is stretched out across the top of the pond and anchored to the sides it will barely be visible. The netting should always be above the water surface.

Dump the leaves off as they accumulate by removing the anchors from one side and turning the net over. Don’t forget to re-anchor the net when you are finished. If you prefer not to install a net you will need to remove debris daily with a skimmer.

Using a Heater
The net should be left on top of the pool until it begins to freeze over for those in colder climates. A heater can be put in place after you remove the net. Rather than heating up the entire pond a heater simply keeps a small area from freezing. This allows oxygen to enter the pond and toxic gases to escape.

Pumps and aerators will need to be run year round by those in warmer climates where the water does not freeze over. It helps to lift the pump and aerator a few feet from the bottom of the pond if the water temperature drops below 40°.

More available information to help you with your yard:
Outdoor and backyard ponds
Landscaping around your pond
Pond furniture for relaxation
Home pools
Animals and pets

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