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Picture of backyard pond from Colorado Pond Pros

Does a Pond Have to Have Plants?

Does a pond have to have plants? Of course not! If you prefer a very rocky backyard pond, with no lush, green beauty and dirty water, then the pond definitely does not need plants…Alright, no need to get snarky. But who doesn’t love plants??

Pond installation and landscaping before and after from Colorado Pond Pros.

Do the two pictures above even look like the same pond? They are! This is Kristi’s pond before it had any plants and after they had grown in. Even without landscaping, it was a handsome pond; but plants don’t just provide beauty, they are an integral part of a healthy ecosystem. Plants are a workhorse essential for healthy water.

Lily pads and lotus in a backyard pond from Colorado Pond Pros.

Why Plants?

Because they filter the nutrients out of the water that would otherwise feed algae!

It’s about more than just beauty

Aquatic pond plants bring a new level of beauty to any pond, but they are much more than just good looks. Plants are the natural workers of a pond ecosystem. They use the nutrients that the fish are adding to the water (think fish poop!) and become living filters. Even if the pond doesn’t have fish, there are other nutrients in the pond that, if left alone, algae will swoop in and use.

How many plants does a pond need?

40–60% of the pond’s surface area should have plants. Even when there are skimmers, Biofalls, and pressure filters, plants are still the best filtration for a pond.

What kind of plants do I need?

Having a variety of plants in your pond not only looks better but helps filter better as well. That means less maintenance! As each plant has different foliage, length roots, and flowers, they use different parts of the nutrients. And they are heavy feeders right before they bloom.

What about shade?

Sun and shade are very important for the pond and the fish. A very sunny pond without plants is highly likely to have a lot of algae. Plants provide shade which helps regulate the temperature swings in the pond. As it gets hot, the shade will keep that pond much cooler than it would be without the extra help. There are aquatic plants that love full sun, and there are those that prefer part sun or even shade.

Size matters!

When purchasing aquatic plants, remember to read the label carefully and look for the size it will be as a mature plant. If your pond is 4 feet by 5 feet, a plant installed in the very front of the feature that grows into a 3-foot tall bush will block your view of the pond. Conversely, if the pond is not near your sitting area, small plants may not be big enough to be enjoyed from the deck.

Pond Plants Are Not Difficult To Care For

  • You don’t have to water pond plants!
  • Lilies may need fertilizing, but the other plants don’t. Nutrients in the pond fertilize the plants, especially if there are fish.

Backyard pond landscaping done by Colorado Pond Pros

 Pro Tips:

When you purchase plants make sure you look at the Zone on the card to know if theses plants will return the next spring or not. Most areas in Colorado ,on the Front Range are in Zone 5.

We LOVE water lilies, but water lilies alone are not enough for good filtration.

How can Colorado Pond Pros help?

If we’ve nudged you to start planting, then Let’s Talk Aquatic Plants! This blog will list our favorites and how to plant them.

For any other questions about backyard pond installation and landscaping, please contact us at Colorado Pond Pros! We building, rebuilding, and servicing ponds since 2001, and we pride ourselves building works of art with great customer service along the way!

For more about ponds, read our pond blog!

Does Your Pond Have a Dead Zone?

What are Dead Zones and how do they occur?

Good question. Glad you asked!

The waterfall and pump create water flow and, thus, circulation in your pond. Ideally, the waterfall and skimmer (which houses the pump) are at opposite ends of the pond to create the best and healthiest circulation.

Image of a pond with a BioFall on one end and skimmer on the other indicating good water flow & circulation. From Colorado Pond Pros Backyard Pond Landscapers
The picture above is an example of good water flow and circulation.

Image of a pond in which the BioFall and skimmer are too close together, creating a dead zone. From Colorado Pond Pros backyard pond landscapers

When the waterfall and skimmer (pump) are too close together on one side of the pond (as in the above picture), a dead zone is created.

Identifying dead zones in the backyard pond 

If it’s a dead zone, you may notice:

  • Leaves accumulating.
  • More algae where there is no circulation.
  • If you drop a leaf into a stagnant area to see where it goes, you’ll find that it doesn’t really go anywhere.

If you have a dead zone, look at the bright side! 

There are things that will help: 

  • Aeration

An aerator in the dead zone will put more oxygen into the space and move the water so that it can join with the rest of the circulation. 

  • Jet Pump

A small pump put directly in the dead zone area will circulate the water.

  • Plants

Depending on the depth and space of the dead zone area, it may be the perfect place to add plants.

Pro Tips:

If you have a small area of your backyard pond with little circulation, it may be the perfect place for a LOTUS! Lotus don’t like moving water and need to have 1 1/2 to 2 feet of depth. 

Circulation is a major key to a healthy pond ecosystem, don’t ignore it!

Now, how else can Colorado Pond Pros help you? 

We love our jobs and are excited to help you with your backyard pond installation, pond service, and repair! And as the pond experts, we have plenty of advice and info on landscaping as well. 

Contact us today for help tending to your pond or installing a new one!

To learn more about how to take care of your backyard ponds this spring, read Spring Pond Concerns: Feeding the Fish and Spring And Your Pond: Be Ready For Predators!, as well as Topping Off the Pond: What to keep in mind.

Backyard Pond Installation Service Landscaping Picture

Spring Pond Concerns: Feeding the Fish

With the spring comes new life and new considerations for your backyard pond! Can you start feeding the fish again? Are the spring chinooks causing water loss? Let’s talk about what you can do if you find yourself in these typical Colorado spring situations!

When To Feed The Fish

The Colorado spring has the fish thinking it’s time to eat! Feeding the fish in the spring when pond temperatures are fluctuating 10 degrees or more from daytime to nighttime can be a little tricky. 

Things to consider:

  • Is your pond primarily very sunny?
  • Are the fish very active?
  • Do you have low protein or winter-type food available?

If you answered yes to these questions you can feed them winter food very sparingly.

Feeding Temps for Backyard Gold Fish Pond

We highly recommend keeping an eye on the weather. When there is warm weather for more than a few days in a row and you are feeding them, remain aware of cold weather coming in. Don’t feed them for a couple of days before the cold weather to make sure they have processed all the food out of their systems. 

We also recommend that if you feed them when temperatures are low, you use cold water bacteria. As the temperatures rise the fish waste will provide nutrients that algae may take advantage of. 

Keep in mind, if you feed your fish just below or at 50 degrees you are doing this at your own risk!

Refer to the helpful chart above.

Backyard Gold Fish Pond

 

How else can Colorado Pond Pros help you?

We love our jobs and are excited to help you with your backyard pond installation, pond service, and repair! And as the pond experts, we have plenty of advice and info on landscaping as well. Contact us today for help tending to your pond or installing a new one!

Whether we’re talking about outdoor gold fish ponds, pondless waterfalls, cleanouts, renovations, leaks, or aquatic plants, we’ve got oodles of experience and enthusiasm to share! Just take a look at our blogs Topping Off the Pond: What to Keep In Mind, How Does Colorado Pond Pros Handle Bottom Drains? and High Winds and Your Backyard Water Feature.

koi pond backyard water feature

When can I start feeding my fish in the spring?

Bottom line

Do not start feeding your fish until the water is consistently above 50 degrees! Conversely, stop feeding them when the water temperatures get below 50 degrees.

Aspects of properly feeding fish

Yes!  One must consider:

  1. water temperature
  2. type of food
  3. how much to feed the fish
  4. how often to feed them

Talking temperature

The water temperature needs to be consistently at 50 degrees before we start feeding them. This is because their metabolisms slow down for the winter. They generally do not move much when the water is cold and they cannot digest food well until the water temperatures are above 50.

Type of food

Good quality, high protein food keeps fish healthy and vibrant. However, as the fall weather begins to creep in and we are on the way to winter, a food with less protein is okay.

How much to feed

Fish are eating machines and will eat themselves to death if we keep feeding them.  Make sure they are only fed what they can consume in 5 minutes. Check out this article to read more about by clicking HERE. 

How often to feed

This is not necessarily a simple answer. In ponds that have algae and gunk fish may only need to be fed once or twice a week.

In ponds with little to no algae one might want to feed them every other day. However, many people love their fish and want to feed them daily. If the fish are fed daily it is recommended to feed them either early in the morning or in the evening when it is a little cooler. The more the fish are fed, the larger the load on the natural filtration system in the pond. Overfeeding can cause algae blooms and can even be bad for the fish. Either way, consistency is the key.

Want help from us knowing when to feed the fish?

We send out weekly emails with tips about ponds, fish, aquatic plants and how local weather is affecting our ponds. We also include pond temperatures in the early spring and late fall so you know when to feed or stop feeding the fish! Just shoot us an email or subscribe on the first page on our website.

Outdoor goldfish and koi pond

Spring And Your Pond: Be Ready For Predators!

Did you know that Sunday, March 20th was the first day of spring in 2022? It was! Spring brings new growth and fresh colors, and it also awakens wildlife that has been hunkered down for the winter. 

While we love all animals, we want to make sure our fish are protected. Whether your fish are expensive, older and majestic, or small goldfish, we know that you love them! Here we are going to cover what has worked for us, what has worked for our friends and colleagues, and what doesn’t seem to help much at all when protecting our outdoor fish ponds from predators. 

What Has Worked For Us:

The Blue Man 

This silly-looking solution has been the thing that truly works. He is not at all the look that we are going for, but hear us out on the functionality and simplicity of this solution.

How-to Blue Man: 

  • We bought a Smart Plug and plugged it in an outlet near our backyard pond.
  • We synced it with a Smartphone (this is key). 
  • The Blue Man was plugged into the Smart Plug.
  • When the pond is unattended, The Blue Man is activated with the Smartphone. This is SO easy once it is set up!
  • When it’s time to enjoy the pond, we simply turn off The Blue Man, via the phone, before heading outside. 

The reason this works is that the movement is random. Herons or other predators are wise to stationary decoys. The randomness of The Blue Man actually deters them from coming near the pond. It really works!

Drawbacks to this solution: 

  • It doesn’t look great (that’s why we turn it off when in the backyard).
  • It will also scare other birds away that you may want at your pond. 

If you want to know where to purchase a Blue Man for yourself, a search of “inflatable tube man” will produce lots of options. And of course, he doesn’t have to be blue! However, if The Blue Man just isn’t for you, here are some other options.

Plant Cover

Did you know the pond should have 40% to 60% plant coverage for maximum filtration? Well, it should! The other benefit of plants is that if birds (or raccoons) can’t see the fish, they can’t eat the fish. 

Backyard ponds
Mother Nature makes the BEST filtration. Plants also beautify and deter predators.

Net Over The Pond

This does keep herons out, however, smaller birds may get stuck in it. Additionally, the look isn’t always the best. You may not always want a net over your backyard pond. 

Fish Cave

A fish cave for your fish to hide in is a must! This will not prevent all fish loss as a heron stays very still and the fish don’t realize they should be hiding in the cave—but it does help. 

Fishing Line

Drawing a fishing line taut around the edges of the pond can actually work pretty well. When a heron runs into it, it startles them, and they may give up the hunt.

Mats 

Putting mats along the edges of the pond when going away for a while, in addition to plant coverage, works well. We even put these on each night to deter raccoons. It makes it harder to see the fish, and if they were to step out onto the mat they would fall in the water suddenly and we know they won’t like that! It also keeps herons from seeing into the water along the edges. ***Keep in mind we only do this overnight or when we are away because it is not the most beautiful sight!

Backyard pond mats
These anti-fatigue mats most people use on a garage floor are surprisingly useful for predator deterrents. We also put them right on top of the lily pads when there is a risk of hail.
Outdoor fish pond mats
Floating mats in action

What Has Worked For Our Friends & Colleagues

Powerful Aerator

This is great to turn on at night or use when you’re not at home. It makes the water ripple so the birds can’t see the fish! You can always turn it off while you’re out barbecuing by your backyard pond, but if the predators can’t see the fish, they can’t eat them! 

Dog 

Another great thing about dogs! If the dog is loose in the yard, the predators will stay away. This is a great tactic, but you can’t leave your dog outside all the time.

Reflective Holographic Scarecrow Tape

This shiny ribbon blows in the wind and should scare off birds. We haven’t used this before so we’re not sure if it works, but it’s worth a try. 

Bird B Gone Pond Defender 

These are floating plastic pond grates that shouldn’t look too bad in the water. They are about 12 in. x 10 in. and you really only need enough to cover the edges of the pond. You can order them online and they would work well in conjunction with floating lettuce or hyacinth. Click HERE to check them out on Amazon.

Outdoor Goldfish pond floating grates
Bird B Gone floating pond grates

What HASN’T Worked Well

Fake Heron At The Pond

Real herons are extremely smart and figure this one out pretty quickly. In fact, in the early spring, it may bring them in. In theory, herons hunt alone, thus one heron by the pond should deter others. However, in the spring they have other things on their mind! We tried a decoy heron and within two days looked out to see a real heron trying to put the moves on our decoy!

Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler

These work better for raccoons, but both raccoons and herons can eventually figure these out if they are determined and don’t mind getting a little wet. It is usually people that bear the brunt of this clever surprise. 

Please consider taking steps to protect your fish before our neighboring animals SPRING to life!
Backyard pond heron
This is a photo of a heron at a client’s
property. These beautiful birds are slightly
less exciting to see when they are eating
your pond fish!

 Pro Tips:

Herons often arrive early in the morning or right before dusk. Keep an eye out for them. Let the dog out at or after dinnertime to scare them off. 

If you see a heron, even before it lands, scream, yell, and wave your arms like a crazy person. It will deter them from coming back. They don’t want to deal with that kind of crazy. Wouldn’t you like to see the video of us doing THAT!? 

If it is warm enough, eat dinner near your pond. It will help you deter them and it will bring down your stress levels.

How Else Can Colorado Pond Pros Help You?

We love our jobs and are excited to help you with your backyard water feature. We’ve got plenty of expertise on ponds, including outdoor fish ponds and pondless waterfalls, at the ready. Contact us today for help tending to your pond or installing a new one! 

And for more on caring for your backyard pond, check out our blogs High Winds and Your Backyard Water Feature and When Can I Start Feeding My Fish In The Spring?

How does Colorado Pond Pros handle bottom drains?

We don’t! When we build a backyard water feature we work with Mother Nature. We mimic her as best we can by providing the 5 basic elements of a healthy ecosystem.

A healthy ecosystem pond has:

Filtration

We do this through the use of a skimmer to skim off leaves and debris before it sinks to the bottom.

Rocks and gravel 

Not pea gravel, and not just cobble, but 3/4″ gravel. This provides the perfect nooks and crannies for beneficial bacteria to colonize and that bacteria consume debris and waste. 

Recirculation

This is where the pump comes in. The pump should circulate the total gallons in the pond once an hour. As water comes down the waterfall and stream, oxygen is naturally mixed in. 

Fish

Yes! Fish are a part of the ecosystem. They provide nutrients into the water to fertilize the plants as well as consume some of the algae. 

Plants

Don’t overlook the best and most magnificent filtration system ever made! Look to nature if you question this. Aquatic plants clean out your water feature by absorbing the nutrients that would otherwise be feeding algae. We know plants help clean the air, they clean water, too—better than any man-made filter.

Pro Tips:

Find a way to add more plants. 

When you add plants, take them out of the pot (alright sometimes it’s better to keep a plant potted, like if you want to keep lilies from growing like crazy!) and plant them in crevices or make a shallow area using other rocks and 3/4″ gravel. 

If you have a bottom drain pond, keep using it as long as you can keep the pond looking great. When you are ready, let us put in an ecosystem backyard pond for you!

How else can Colorado Pond Pros help you?

If you’d like to learn more about caring for your pond, check out our blogs Biofall—What is it? Does your pond have one? and Microbial Algae—What to know. And if you need help with pond landscaping, maintenance, or installation, the pond experts, Colorado Pond Pros, are only a call away!

koi pond backyard water feature

Topping Off the Pond: What to keep in mind

Have you topped off the pond this winter?

While we don’t think about adding water to the pond as often when it’s cold, it turns out that though water evaporates at a faster rate in high temperatures, it also evaporates in the winter! So don’t neglect to pay attention to the water level in your backyard pond just because it’s cold outside.

Things to remember when adding water to the pond in winter:

  1. The pump always needs plenty of water in order to work properly! If it begins to whine or make strange noises, it may be low on water. Going on too long this way can cause it to burn out.
  1. Water movement over a stream and waterfall oxygenates the water. Dissolved oxygen not only keeps our fish healthy, but it keeps our ecosystem healthy, too. This is true even when there are no fish present.
  1. When a fair amount of water becomes frozen, there is less water left to circulate, therefore the pond may require more.
  1. If there is an adjustable skimmer window on the skimmer, lower it to the lowest setting for the winter. Why? Because when some of the water is frozen into ice, the overall pond level goes down. Lowering the skimmer window opening ensures that you are making the most of the water available to the pump.
  1. Alright, I know most of you know this, but you never know who just moved here from Florida—If you hook up the hose to the house to add water to the pond, make sure to take it off when you are done. Here in Colorado, the spigot can freeze overnight in the winter. When it thaws you may have a broken pipe and flooding in your house!
  1. Do not put the hose on and walk away, potentially forgetting it. If you overfill the pond it can cause several issues—one of them being it could kill all your fish because of the influx of chlorine. Set a timer to go off every 15 minutes to make sure you check the water level.
  1. Do not overfill your pond! The ice will melt, causing the water level to rise when it does.
  1. Not sure what the “full level” is in your pond? A good rule of thumb is to fill it 2 finger-widths BELOW the top of the window opening on the skimmer.

Pro Tips:

It’s cold outside—so STAY IN!

How else can Colorado Pond Pros help you?

We are always thinking of new ways to help our clients and other backyard water feature aficionados! Whether you’re looking for pond maintenance, pond landscaping, pond cleaning services, or just some friendly advice from your local pond experts, we’re always here for you. Contact us today! 

And while you’re here, take a look at our blogs This Wacky Weather and How It May Affect Your Fish and Winter is FINALLY Here!.

New to Mature Pond: Does My Pond Have to Have Plants?

Check out these pictures. 

It’s hard to believe that these are pictures of the same pond, but they are! The top picture was taken of our backyard pond in 2018 when it was first built. Then, the photo underneath is of the same pond in September 2021.

Too Many Rocks?

Sometimes when people are having a pond built they get very concerned about the exact look of the rocks. While nice-looking rocks are beneficial, a lush green pond will draw the eyes away from those rocks!

A new pond will look rocky and that is okay! Winter ponds may look rocky, too, but it will also look gorgeous when it snows. 

When should you add plants to your pond? 

The sooner the better! There are many aquatic plants that will return year after year in Colorado. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has divided the country into different “hardiness zones” or areas with a certain range of “annual minimum temperatures.” Most of  Colorado is considered Zone 5 (-20°– -10°F). When purchasing plants, look for plants that thrive in Zone 5 or 4. If they are rated Zone 6 or above, they will not live through the winter here. 

The easiest time of year to put in new plants is mid-May. That’s when the aquatic plants come into your local plant nurseries. Annual plants, especially, should be added at this time to get the most enjoyment from them for the season. Although, if you are lucky enough to run into aquatic plants mid-summer or even early September, go ahead and seize the moment! They will die back in the winter but will likely come back beautifully next year.

Invasive plants

Watch out for invasive plants! They can be great natural filters and bring interest to the pond as long as you are aware that you need to keep them in check. Here is a list of invasive plants to keep an eye on:

Water celery 

It spreads and spreads, but it also creates a nice lush look. Water celery will produce small white flowers. The flowers can be seen on the left side of the photo above. 

Cattails 

If you really love cattails, get the miniature ones. They are still large and invasive, but a little less so. 

Irises 

Yes! If left unchecked irises can spread and get into places that you don’t want them. They are fantastic filters, just keep them from spreading too much. 

Bullrush

Bullrush is also a great filter but can get out of hand if left alone. Consider adding them to the pond in a pot. 

Pickerel weed

Pickerelweed (also referred to as Pickerel rush) can spread a bit, but it can be removed pretty easily. 

Pro Tips:

Find a way to add more plants! 

When you add plants, take them out of the pot (sometimes it is better to keep a plant potted, like if you want to keep lilies from going nuts) and plant them in crevices or make a shallow area using other rocks and 3/4″ gravel. 

Read the label that comes with the plant and follow those directions. 

If you see duckweed (a small, green, aggressive pond invader) on a plant that you have purchased, gently wash it off before adding it to your pond, and pick any leftover duckweed off to keep it out of your pond. 

How else can Colorado Pond Pros help you?

We are always thinking of new ways to help our clients and other backyard pond aficionados! Whether you’re looking for pond maintenance, pond landscaping, pond cleaning services, or just some friendly advice from your local pond experts, we’re always here for you. Contact us today! 

And while you’re here, take a look at our blogs Our Friend Pickerel Rush and Water Hyacinth—A Workhorse in a Colorado Pond.

Ash in the pond?

When there is a nearby fire, ash may end up in your pond. There is a difference between forest fire ash and ash from destroyed homes, garages, and businesses. The ash from a forest or grass is natural and will contain high amounts of potassium, but the ash from non-organic material will contain plastics and all sorts of harmful chemicals. 

Ash affects ponds in these ways:

  • It raises the pH of the water
  • It may create foam
  • Toxic chemicals in the ash could be detrimental to living creatures in the pond 
  • Debris in the pond (ash or otherwise) can clog equipment 
  • Even if the equipment is not clogged, filter pads can be completely gunked up (Yes, that’s a technical term) 

What about the equipment? 

It would take A LOT of ash to actually gunk up the pond equipment, but that is certainly possible. If your system has taken on a lot of ash, make sure to pay attention to your equipment. Loud noises, indicating the equipment is struggling, mean that the pond may need to be cleaned out right away. 

How does the ash affect water quality? 

If there is visible ash settling in the yard, that same amount is ending up in the backyard pond. If the pond water looks sort of like coffee, there is too much ash in that water!

Ash from natural materials, like a forest fire, has a high potassium content. This potassium is a nutrient. If the nutrient load in the water is more than the plants can consume (and it likely would be in the case of a large amount of ash suddenly in the pond), algae will be right there to pick up the slack. I recommend adding extra cold water bacteria to help the situation. Remember that the bacteria is not working at full capacity when water temperatures are below 50 degrees. However, bacteria alone will not fix an ash problem. 

If there are no fish in the pond, plan a full cleanout for the pond in the spring, and don’t be surprised if the string algae go nuts between now and then. 

Koi and goldfish can be fairly hardy, but adding something unknown to the water that changes water chemistry could be detrimental to the fish. If the ash contaminates the water in the winter you may not see the effects on the fish right away as their metabolisms are much slower in the winter. Remember that it is not just the higher potassium that we need to worry about here. There can be toxic chemicals in the ash as well. 

Ash and Fish Health

If there are large amounts of ash, you will need to take action. What is a large amount of ash? Good question. When you see ash in the yard around the koi or gold fish pond and you feel like it is a lot, we consider that a large amount of ash. 

Here are some guidelines and to-dos:

  • The very first thing we do if our pond is inundated with ash is make sure there is plenty of oxygen for the fish! We already have aerators in the pond, but if we didn’t we would add them immediately. If the fish were stressed as the chemical balance of the pond changed, the best thing to do is make sure they have plenty of oxygen. 
  • In the spring or summer, when water temperatures are above 50 degrees, a full cleanout is a good idea.
  • In the winter (which it is right now!), a complete cleanout is risky for the fish, but so is leaving the ash in there with them! We recommend starting with a partial water change of 20% of the volume unless the ash is so bad that the pond looks like a giant mess. Remember to use a dechlorinator and treat the water with cold water bacteria. 
  • If a cleanout needs to be done, keep in mind that it cannot be done if the temperatures are below roughly 45 degrees. It could kill the fish. While fish MAY get through it just fine, winter stress is difficult for them as they are coldblooded and their immune systems are not really online during the winter. If the pond has to be cleaned out, then it has to, we want you to understand the risks. If you decide the cleanout is the way to go, contact us about our pond cleaning services!
  • After a water change, test the pH of the water. Healthy pH levels in ponds with fish should be between 6.5 and 8.5. A pH of 9 is too high. Keep in mind that city water from the hose may have a high pH. Testing the hose water for pH lets us know what we are starting with even if we have no control over it. 
  • Keep an eye on fish behavior. When the water temperatures are below 45 degrees they should be at the bottom of the pond not moving very much. If they are gasping at the top of the pond for air, getting sucked into the skimmer, or exhibiting other weird behavior, another water change might have to be done. 

We have many clients whose homes are in or near the Marshall fire area. Our hearts go out to anyone who has suffered loss due to this horrible fire! 

If you’re ready for a new backyard pond, need a renovation of your pond landscaping or some pond maintenance, give your Colorado Pond Pros a call! And to learn more about ponds, read our blogs This Wacky Weather and How It May Affect Your Fish and Should You Run Your Pond Over the Winter? And for some fun videos and before & afters, subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Backyard Pond Waterfall Service

High Winds and Your Pond

High Winds and Your Backyard Water Feature

Did you have high winds at your place this week? We sure did. In fact, there were areas in Colorado that recorded winds over 100 miles per hour. Boulder had gusts of 104 mph!

As a result, our pump was making some weird noises. Upon inspection, we found that leaves blew into our very clean pond and clogged our skimmer basket. We removed the net recently, not realizing there would be this crazy wind blowing in all sorts of debris. There were newspapers in the pond and branches, too! Not only did we need to clean the skimmer basket but we had to pull the pump out to make sure small debris hadn’t gotten through to clog the pump directly.

We highly recommend checking on your pond!

  • Remove debris that has blown in like leaves, newspapers, and kiddie pools.
  • Clean out the skimmer basket or net. 
  • Check to make sure the filter pad isn’t clogged with leaves.
  • If waterfall flow seems low and the water level is fine, the pump may need to be pulled so the intake can be checked for debris.

Pro Tips:

Remove all leaves from your yard so they don’t blow in!

Put away things like kiddie pools, umbrellas, and other blowable items because you never know when we will get crazy wind! 

If you add quite a bit of water (technical term for “20% or more”) remember to use a dechlorinator at the same time to protect your fish. No fish? Then you won’t need a dechlorinator!

We can’t predict when high winds are going to run amok, but we can do what we can to prepare for the chaos. 

If you need help with pond maintenance for your backyard water feature, call Colorado Pond Pros, your local pond experts.
For more on backyard ponds, check out our blogs This Wacky Weather and How it May Affect Your Fish and Pond Care While Traveling. And follow us on Instagram!

Colorado Pond Cleaning Services

Fluctuating Weather and How it May Affect Your Fish

The weather here in Colorado can do some crazy things. It could be unseasonably warm well into what is normally winter or we could have a freak snow storm in early October. Let’s discuss how this will affect your koi or goldfish. 

Temperatures and Metabolism

Feeding fish is all about water temperatures. Fish are cold-blooded creatures and when the water is 50 degrees or above, their metabolisms are faster. They’ll be moving around more and will need calories. When the water is below 50 degrees, they get slower and need fewer calories. They will almost not move at all when the water is 40 degrees and below. They cannot digest food when water temperatures are this low. In fact, if you tried to feed them when the water is 40 degrees, they likely would not move to get the food at all. 

So, does that mean we should feed the fish when we have consistently warm weather in the winter? 

This is the question that has been on our minds. We wish the answer was black and white, yes or no, but it just isn’t. 

Here are the things to consider:

  1. Do you know what your pond temperatures have been and have they been 48 to 55 degrees (or warmer) for 5 days in a row?
  2. Have you checked the weather and do you know that it will remain the same for the next week? 
  3. What is the behavior of your fish? Do they swim up for food when you walk up versus sitting at the bottom, not moving? 
  4. Do you have winter fish food (low protein)?
  5. Is your pond completely without string or fuzzy algae? 
  6. Is your waterfall/biofall pump running? 

If you answered yes to all of these questions, let’s get a bit more in-depth. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by this, just skip it and don’t feed your fish!

  1. If temperatures have been 48 to 55+ degrees for 5 days in a row their metabolism is running and could process low amounts of low protein food. 
  2. If the weather looks like it will be holding for the next week their metabolism should continue running and could process low amounts of low protein food. 
  3. If the fish look active, this supports the idea that their metabolisms are up and running. 
  4. Potentially feeding the fish is only a possibility with winter fish food—low protein, not regular food! This is important! Also, feed them half of what you would normally feed them. 
  5. If your pond has string or fuzzy algae, they are grazing on that as nature dictates, so if there is plenty of algae there’s no need to feed them. 
  6. Whether your waterfall or biofall pump is running is important because we have to look at the ecosystem currently and how it is functioning. Remember, the plants are not doing their job right now. They’ve died back and are not really processing nutrients in the water. The beneficial bacteria is working but far less than in the summertime when the water temperatures were higher. Therefore, the stream, waterfall, and biofall, with the help of beneficial bacteria, are doing the work of processing nutrients. If these are not on right now, please do not feed your fish! There is nothing to help process the ammonia that feeding the fish would create. 

What did we do in this situation? 

We fed our fish every 3 days. We only fed half of what we normally feed them, and we used winter fish food. Our biofall was running and we monitored the temperature of the pond as well as upcoming weather. 

What are we recommending that you do? 

We are not recommending anything! We are simply laying out the facts for you to make your own decision. It is a risk to feed the fish this late in the season unless you have considered all these questions and are knowledgeable about your pond and system. 

Pro Tips:

If you think your system is having water loss, do a leak test while the weather is still warm. It is better to figure it out before the frigid winter hits. 

Evaporation happens in the winter and more so when there is warm weather. However, you should not be adding as much water to the system as you were in the summer. 

Remember, in Colorado the hose must be disconnected from the faucet (spigot) when you are done using it. This is very important as pipes can freeze and rupture if left connected!

If you are interested in installing a backyard pond or water feature, Colorado Pond Pros are the pros you should be talking to. Contact us today! We would love to set you up with a koi or goldfish pond, or any of our other pond services that suit your needs!

For more on koi and goldfish, check out our blogs Koi Food—What to Know, Feeding Pond Fish, or Can Koi and Goldfish Be Kept in the Same Pond.

Koi need a deicer in the winter

De-icer or heater in your backyard pond?

What is the difference between a pond heater and a de-icer?

Great question!

The “heaters” we talk about, and that are most often referred to when talking about pond winter care, are actually de-icers. They don’t heat up a pond like a hot tub, they just keep a small space from icing over. This is necessary when there are fish present. So though we may say “heater,” we are referring to a pond de-icer.

Note: If there are no fish in your pond, this isn’t something you need to worry about!

(Shown above is the Aquascape de-icer)

The 300-watt Aquascape de-icer has an internal thermostat and only comes on when the water temperature is near freezing. This means it uses less electricity.

One of our favorite features is the light. In the picture above, the red light is on. This indicates that the heating element is on. (From your kitchen window you can tell it’s working!) The blue light indicates the deicer is not currently heating. And if there is no light, then you know the de-icer doesn’t have electricity. (We do wonder why red wouldn’t indicate being off, rather than on, but no one consulted us before the decision was made.)

The heating element stops heating if it is removed from the pond or if there is suddenly no water in the pond (hopefully that never happens). This protects the de-icer and anything near it from damage.

Pool Heaters

There are those who would put a pool heater into a pond. This can be very expensive (imagine the bill for heating a pool all winter long!). The fish will overwinter without a pool-type heater just fine, as long as there is oxygen and the water is deep enough that it doesn’t freeze the fish. (36 inches deep for koi and 24 inches deep for goldfish is plenty)

A picture of one of our koi enjoying himself under the ice last winter…okay, it’s not real…but it’s what we imagine he was doing!

Kristi’s Pond Tips

  Plug the de-icer into a different outlet than the pump. That way, if one goes out, the other is still working, taking care of the fish until you can remedy the issue.

Don’t brush the snow off the top of the pond except to keep a hole open. The snow actually insulates the pond, keeping the temperatures warmer and more consistent.

  Keep a hose in the house where it is warm. It will make adding water to the system easier midwinter. (Have you ever had to search under the snow for the hose, just to find it won’t work because there is ice inside blocking it? Not fun!)

It is so important to take care of your backyard ponds during the cold, Colorado winter months. If you need any help with pond repair, installation, or cleaning services, give your pond experts a call. And Colorado Pond Pros is your solution to all questions about winterizing your koi pond!

Check out our related blogs: What exactly is “Winterization” and does your system need it?

Should you run the pond over the winter? and Protecting the pond from cold weather-9 things to know.

Premier Ponds wrote a nice article on this too:

De-Icers For Ponds And How They Can Save Your Fish