Two pond contractors discussing repair strategies on a residential pond installation site. Caption: Expert pond contractors assess and strategize on maintaining the pristine condition of a backyard pond.
Colorado Backyard Pond, pond installation, Water feature homepage example

Should Your Pond Equipment Be Out in the Weather? No!

Covering Electrical Pond Equipment

Is the control panel of your Autodose or IonGen exposed to the sun? Did you know that after time, this will cause the panel to be unreadable? Leaving electrical pond equipment out in the elements shortens their lifespan. Rain, sun, snow, and harsh weather can be detrimental to the control panel’s function. 

In order to protect your equipment from atmospheric agencies, try hiding them! There are artificial landscape rocks and stumps that can look a heckuva lot like the real thing. Faux rocks come in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes; and they keep your electronics safe without drawing attention away from your curated landscape. 

Make sure to measure (twice) the height, width, and depth of the equipment you are looking to cover. Then check out The Pond Guy or stop by and chat with our friends at True Pump to see where and what suits your needs. If you’re having trouble finding what you need, give your favorite backyard pond service a call! Colorado Pond Pros will do our best to point you in the right direction.

So, don’t forget to COVER YOUR POND EQUIPMENT to protect and preserve it. And because the supply chain has slowed down these days, order your artificial landscape rocks now, so you’re sure to have it for the winter!

Kristi’s Pond Tips

   The sensor for your pond lights needs to remain outside the cover, or the lights will remain on all the time. The light sensor must be exposed to the sun in order to shut the lights off during the day.
   Some equipment needs to be put away for the winter: the Autodose and IonGen panels will fare better when kept out of the bitter cold.
   Remember to bring the liquid bacteria into the house, too. The freezing weather will kill the bacteria!

For more on prepping your outdoor pond for the cold weather, check out our blog—Preparing the Pond for Brutal Cold: Are You Ready? Or if you are looking for pond maintenance or installation, we’d be happy to assist you!

More Resources:

4 Things You Should Never Do To Your Pond in Winter by Atlantis Water Gardens

Pond Fish In Winter: How To Care For Your Fish When Winter Strikes by Just Add Water (in Iowa)

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?

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!.

koi pond backyard water feature

Winter is Finally HERE!

What are Winters Like for Ponds in Colorado?

Winters can be very mild in Colorado when you are on the plains. We are in gardening Zone 5 which means although it gets cold, it doesn’t stay for long. Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine a year and far less snow than most out-of-staters imagine. Though the mountains certainly get more snow than we do on the plains. 

That being said, if a pond is 36 inches deep, fish will overwinter in the pond just fine! 

Preparation- The Benefits

This winter has produced many challenges thus far, but Colorado Pond Pros has been prepared for each twist and turn! The preparedness within our company proved to be of great benefit. Preparedness in your backyard pond will do the same thing. It ensures that the pond will continue to run and keep the koi and gold fish healthy over the winter. Regular pond maintenance is important for winter pond health. Ignoring the pond completely could lead to issues later in the spring or even in the middle of the winter. 

When you know a snow storm is on the way take these basic steps before it hits:

  • Clean out the skimmer basket—no one wants this getting clogged right in the middle of a storm!
  • If the fall net is still up, take it down. The heavy snow will cause it to sag right into the pond. 
  • If the Autodose and Iongen are still in, remove them.
  • If there is beneficial bacteria stored outside, bring it in. Store it somewhere it won’t freeze. If bacteria freezes it dies, rendering it useless!
  • Take a look at the BioFalls® to make sure it isn’t too full of filter pads, lava rocks, or bio balls. Ice can divert water out so we want to make sure the water level isn’t overly high, causing water to escape over the side. This doesn’t usually happen, but it’s just something to keep an eye on.

Freezing Pipes? 

As long as the water is flowing in the waterfall/stream, leave the pump on! Moving water doesn’t freeze—so keep the pipes from freezing. Remember, even if the waterfall is frozen on the top, it is likely running underneath the ice.

Pro Tips:

Evaporation happens in the winter; however, you should not be adding as much water to the system as you were in the summer. 

After a month of not adding water, the pond level could be down by as much as 6 inches. If water is needed, make sure to use Detox dechlorinator when you have fish and are adding more than 20% of the pond volume. 

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! 

It’s cold and windy outside – so STAY IN!

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 for more tips on winter ponds, read our blogs What Exactly is “Winterization” And Does Your System Need It? and Preparing the Pond for Brutal Cold: Are You Ready? 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

backyard water feature

What exactly is “Winterization” and does your system need it?

The word “Winterization” can be confusing. Each pond or water feature needs to be ready for the winter whether they are being shut down or just serviced so they are ready to run for the whole winter. I am going to break it down into “Winter Ready” meaning the feature will be running for the winter and “Winter Shut Down” meaning the feature will NOT be running all winter.

Do you usually run your pond through the winter (meaning you let the pump run)?

Yes? Then the pond needs a Winter Ready visit. What happens in a Winter Ready visit?

  • Remove the fall net if the leaves have been removed from the yard.
  • Clean out the skimmer box and filters.
  • Plants -Cut back brown plants up to 50% of the pond.
  • Remove UV light to be stored inside – note- MOST UV LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR, even if it is stored, it may not work the next year. 
  • Remove, IonGen and Autodose, move to indoor location.
  • Turn pressure filter setting to winter. 
  • Add cold water bacteria.

Do you usually shut the pond down for the winter?

Then the pond needs a Winter Pond Shut Down.

  • Remove the pump to be stored where it won’t freeze.
  • Place aerators in the pond.
  • Remove the fall net if the leaves have been removed from the yard.
  • Clean out the skimmer box and filters.
  • Plants -Cut back brown plants up to 50% of the pond.
  • Remove UV light to be stored inside – note- MOST UV LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR, even if it is stored, it may not work the next year. 
  • Remove, IonGen and Autodose, move to indoor location.
  • Turn pressure filter setting to winter. 
  • Add cold water bacteria.

All outdoor water features need care in the fall and throughout the winter. When care is taken in Autumn, ponds start off clean and ready to go in Spring. Homeowners can certainly do this themselves, but if you would like assistance just give us a call!

For more tips on pond cleaning and maintenance for the winter, check out these!

Should you run the pond over winter?

Important reasons to add water to the winter pond

Getting your pond ready for winter

Should your pond equipment be out in the weather? No!

Preparing the pond for the brutal cold: Are you ready?

Colorado Pond Cleaning Services

Should you run the pond over the winter?

Answer these 5 questions to find out if your backyard pond be run over the winter!

  1. Are there fish, frogs, and other aquatic life in or at the pond?
  2. Is the system currently free from any water loss (besides evaporation)?
  3. Are you going to be home this winter (not gallevanting around the world)?
  4. Is it easy to add water to the pond with a hose in the winter time if it is needed?
  5. Do you love the look of flowing water surrounded by billowy snow?

If you answered YES to all these questions:

Running your feature is the way to go!

  • Once you decide to run the pump over the winter, make sure you run it continually all season long. Do not turn it off even if it gets really cold. Some people make the mistake of turning the pond pump off at night. This can be catastrophic during freezing temperatures. Moving water (i.e. the water in the pipes) won’t freeze as long as it keeps moving. If you have exposed pipes, the severe cold can cause freezing so covering or insulating them is a good idea.
  • Running the pumps over the winter helps keep the fish healthy by circulating the oxygenated water. Fish go into a dormant state called “torpor” during the winter. While they are in this state they don’t need to eat and will hardly move at all. They may stay at the very bottom of the pond or in a fish cave where you can’t see them—this is the warmest place in the pond.
  • Remember that if there is an air stone at the very deepest part of the pond it is bringing in the coldest air to the warmest place fish have. Place aerators on the higher shelves.

If you answered NO to any of these questions:

You may want to consider removing your pump for the winter.

  • This might be a good decision if it is difficult for you to top off the water when it is needed and if you travel often.
  • Also, if your system is losing water from the stream or waterfall and you are unable to remedy the issue, turning off the pump may help you get through the winter without worry over water loss.

What if I have fish?

  • If you have reasons to leave the pump off but there are fish, make sure that you have a floating de-icer to keep a hole open in the ice and aerators in the pond at an upper level. Although circulation is somewhat better, fish can overwinter without the pump running.
  • We do not recommend running an in-pond pump that merely moves the water without sending it over a stream or waterfall. This does not oxygenate the water and does little more than mix up the warmest and coldest water in the pond.

To put it simply:

Running the pump = Great! But the pond still needs aerators and a de-icer.

NOT running the pump = That’s fine, too! But the pond needs aerators and a de-icer.

Kristi’s Pond Tips

   Plug the de-icer (heater) and aerators into a plug separate from the one the pump is plugged into. That way, if the GFCI pops and the pump goes out, the fish still have aeration and an open hole for gas exchange. If the de-icer and the aerators lose electricity you will have a little more time to rectify the situation because the pump is running, providing oxygen and hopefully keeping an area of ice open near the bottom of the waterfalls.

  If the skimmer has an adjustable skimmer door, put it at its lowest point over the winter. When the pond ices over, the liquid water level may decrease, starving your pump of water. (This keeps you from having to go out into the cold to lower the skimmer door.)

   Keep a hose in the house (where it is warm) to use when you have to add water. This should not happen often, but when ice builds up water may need to be added. Remember: the hose must be detached from the spigot or it can freeze and cause a pipe break, potentially flooding your house!

 Switch to cold water bacteria as the pond temperatures reach 50 degrees.

   If winter pond care sounds like too much for you, call us! We offer winter pond care so you can keep cozy while the pond stays healthy.

If you’re looking to install an outdoor water feature, we can help! Contact Colorado Pond Pros for residential and commercial installation, renovation, cleanouts, and repairs.Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

10 Tasks to Get Your Pond Ready for Fall

Did you know that September 22nd was the first day of fall? It was! The temperatures have gotten colder at night, but it’s still nice and warm in the daytime. The leaves have begun to change and the morning dew has returned. The days have gotten shorter and the nights are darker. All the signs that fall is upon us are appearing! It’s the time of year to take care of your pond so it stays healthy for the winter and gets a leg up come springtime.

If you don’t properly prepare your pond now, organic material left in the pond over the cold season can cause winter algae blooms, which can throw the ecosystem off balance and negatively affect the fish. As the plants go dormant for the winter, they cease to process nutrients in the water. While the fish produce less ammonia, leaves and other debris slowly break down over the winter without the plants helping to break them down.

Here are 10 things you can do to get your pond ready for fall:

1. Trim the plants

  • Remove all floating plants
  • Clip plants down to 4 inches above the base of the plant
  • Make sure all water lily pots are at least 24 inches down. They can be moved to the lowest part of the pond for the winter, but make sure the fish are not being crowded out.
  • Cut back lilies once the leaves have turned brown.
  • Prune plants that may be growing outside of the pond but are hanging over it.

2. Net the pond!

There are a couple different ways to put up a net over the pond. Here are some things to know:

  • A small pond can be netted using a dome made of PVC. The PVC will hold up through the weather best if it is put onto rebar that is stuck in the ground just outside the liner. While sticking it between rocks works for a bit, if it snows the weight will easily pop it back out.
  • A larger pond can be netted using stakes and rope. Make sure to secure the sides with large rocks. Small ones will be pulled in by the weight of snow.
  • Make sure to net BEFORE the leaves start falling and don’t leave it on all winter.

3. Bring in equipment like the Autodose and IonGen

They don’t hold up well if left out all winter. See our blog on Should Your Pond Equipment Be Out In the Weather? No! for more info on how to protect your electrical equipment.

4. Make sure all electrical equipment is covered

Another reason to check out our blog on Should Your Pond Equipment Be Out In the Weather? No! is for the links to our friends at The Pond Guy and True Pump. They can help you find some artificial landscape rocks and stumps to cover and protect your electrical equipment.

5. Switch from regular to cold water bacteria

When the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you’re going to need to switch from regular to cold water bacteria. Try The Pond Guy or True Pump.

6. Bring liquid bacteria into the house or a garage where it won’t freeze

7. Remove debris from the pond

Try to net out any debris you can see. If leaves manage to get through the net, make sure to remove them.

8. Check your skimmer basket often!

The more trees you have nearby, the more likely it is that leaves will clog up the skimmer basket or net. Clean it out as often as you can. (And did we mention putting up that net?!)

9. Remember to slow down feeding the fish as we go into the fall

Starting now, give those fish a little bit less. Pay attention to how much they are eating and only give enough so they finish it within a few minutes. Switching to fall food helps, too. It has a lower protein content and is easier to digest. Once the water temperatures reach 50 degrees you need to stop feeding them for the winter.

10. Watch the water level

Remember that if you have an Autofill, it will no longer be filling up the pond when water gets low. Perhaps there has been water loss that has gone unnoticed. It will be noticed now. If the water level in the pond is going down more than two to three inches in one week, there could be a lower liner somewhere. Fix this before winter hits!

Pro Tips:

  • If there are smaller leaves that get through the net, double the net over to create smaller spaces for them to get through.
  • Keep an eye on the net. Sometimes small birds will get caught in them. Set them free!
  • Keep a hose somewhere in the house so that if the pond needs more water when it is really cold, you won’t have to deal with a frozen hose!
  • If you are putting in stakes for a net, never put them inside the liner!
  • Take care when trimming plants. Causing a leak by nicking the liner would be no fun!

Most importantly, if you have any questions about your backyard pond or water feature, contact us at Colorado Pond Pros today! Pond installation and pump repair are our business and we’d be happy to help!

And be sure to check out this helpful info on-

How to Clean Out Your Pond Pump

How to Do a Leak Test

10 Things You Need to Know if You Just Got a Pond