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winter pond waterfall

Preparing the pond for brutal cold: Are you ready?

 

Colorado Pond Pros:
Winterizing Pond Tips

Frigid temperatures should not worry pond owners. Preparing the pond for brutal cold can be the difference between snuggling under a blanket with a good book during extremely cold weather or searching for the long johns. Preparing the pond for brutal cold isn’t difficult!

 

winterizing koi pond

 

1. Make a decision about running the pond pump over the winter or not.  

 

We generally recommend that if the pond has fish, it should be run over the winter. Moving water in a pipe doesn’t freeze, so this will protect your pipes. Ponds and waterfalls covered in snow can be a beautiful winter sight. If you do not want to run the pond over the winter there are other considerations.  Give us a call if you want to talk about it. 

 

winterizing koi pond

 

2. Cover your pond outlets now.  

 

Electrical outlets will be less likely to have an issue if they are protected. There are a variety of fake rocks with different looks to match your pond rocks. 

 

winterizing koi pond

 

3. Pond Heaters.  

 

Heaters are great for two things:  Keeping a hole open in the ice for gas exchange over the winter to keep fish alive, and keeping the water from freezing right in front of the skimmer. A heater floating somewhere in the middle of the pond is helpful for gas exchange. 

 

Pond heater or deicer

 

4. Skimmer heater.  

 

Right before huge temperature drops, putting a floating heater in front of the skimmer can really help. When water freezes it could block the skimmer opening and thus starve the pump.  The heater on the far left is an Aquascape brand deicer.  It’s perfect for letting out gases and uses the least amount of electricity as it only comes on when there is a risk of freezing water.  The two on the right are fabulous for in front of the skimmer and short-term usage, as they use more power and keep more water from freezing. 

 

winterizing koi pond

 

5. Never put a heater inside the skimmer.  

 

Although it is unlikely, there was a pond a few years ago that suffered water loss when a heater was put inside the skimmer. The heater ended up touching the side of the plastic and melting it, catching it on fire. It melted the pond liner too.

 

winterizing koi pond

 

6. Aerator Placement  

 

Aerators are great for the winter to keep a steady oxygen supply to the pond.  However, they should not be placed on the very bottom of the pond because they bring in the cold air and this disturbs the water temperature.  Remember that the bottom of the pond is the warmest during the winter and the fish would like it to stay this way!

 

winterizing koi pond

 

7. Other Equipment – Preparing the pond for brutal cold

 

Remove other equipment.  UV lights need to be removed for the winter (noted, never touch them with your bare skin).  If you have an Autodose or Iongen it is a good idea to protect them during a cold snap or remove them altogether. They can be removed for the winter and put back in the spring.  If they were installed down in the dirt, put a large stone marker on top, so no one unknowingly steps into the hole and gets hurt. Sometimes it is difficult to tell where the pond is exactly! 

 

winterizing koi pond

 

8. Keep an eye on the biofall. 

 

Last year some ice formed at the top of the biofall.  It diverted water out of our system.  If the biofall is covered by a large rock before the cold weather hits, this can be avoided. 

 

winterizing koi pond

 

9. Don’t break the ice.

 

Remember that once the pond freezes over (except for the hole for gas exchange) not to break the ice. It actually protects and insulates the pond from the wind and harsh temperatures. Sometimes breaking the ice can lead to water from the waterfall ending up on top of the ice instead of under it, leading to water loss and a mad scramble to coax the water under the ice.

 

10. Set the lights up on a timer for the winter.

 

Softly glowing lights under the ice or against a backdrop of snow adds a point of interest in an otherwise white landscape.

 

More Pro Tips:

 

winterizing koi pond  If you add a second heater, plug it into a separate outlet.  The non- Aquascape heaters draw a lot of electricity.  Avoiding tripping a circuit is a good idea. 

 

winterizing koi pond  Keep an eye on dogs when they go out if it is difficult to tell where the pond is.  Usually when it is like that the ice is thick enough to hold a dog, but better to be safe!

 

winterizing koi pond  Plug the aerator into a different outlet than the pump.  That way if the pump has an issue, the aerator will still provide oxygen and a hole for gas exchange.

 

winterizing koi pond  If your skimmer has a height adjustable skimmer, put it down low when really cold weather is on the way. Although we normally want it higher, if the ice gets thick enough to block water flow into the skimmer, it is better to have it lower.

 

winterizing koi pond  Remember that even though there is no water loss, you may have to add water when there is a good amount of ice accumulation. As ice forms, there is less water to circulate. Keep a hose in the house so that if you need to add water there is a warm hose available that will be easier to work with.

 

Would you like to discuss the winter needs of your pond or would you like us to check your pond for you? Contact us now, just click HERE.

 Click here to learn more about our backyard pond services!

 

koi pond backyard water feature

Pond De-icers and Heaters – what you need to know

Gas Exchange

Oxygen needs to be able to get into the pond and fish create gases, as well as organic material in the water.  Proper gas exchange (gases out, oxygen in) needs to be possible even during the winter months.  Pond de-icers and heaters –  or stock tank heaters, are used to provide just enough heat so that the a small amount of water  around it doesn’t freeze.

While a layer of ice over the pond does not necessarily hurt anything, a hole needs to be maintained for gases to escape so that the fish don’t suffocate.

De-icers generally have a thermostat on them so that they turn off when the water temperature is up to 70 degrees. Make sure the de-icer you purchase has this feature!

Not in the skimmer!

Not a good idea to put a de-icer in a skimmer. If the heater comes into contact with the skimmer side it can actually start a fire!  We had a customer whose de-icer started his skimmer on fire.  The heat caused the skimmer to burn, which then led to water escaping the skimmer. The skimmer went dry and continued to burn.  Position de-icers away from anything that it may burn.

koi pond backyard water feature

Why does pond water temperature matter?

Why does pond water temperature matter?

Aerators

As the pond water temperature gets colder, the lowest levels of the pond are deeper in the earth and are actually warmer.  That is why the fish stay there for the winter.  When we add in aerators the frigid air pumped to the lowest water in the pond can disturb the temperatures.  Place aerators in an upper level in the pond.  If your pond doesn’t have built-in shelves, put a bucket or pot upside down and place the aerator on top of it to raise it up from the lowest level.

Feeding the fish

When the water temperatures reach 50° we need to stop feeding the fish.  Their metabolisms slow down at 50° and they are unable to digest food.  When they eat, it will sit in their digestive tract and rot if they cannot process it.  They may be found dead midwinter or even in the spring if they are fed past the point that they can process it.

Bacteria

Regular bacteria does not thrive when the water is 50° in the pond.  Use coldwater bacteria until the water gets down to 45°.  Then after that, stop adding bacteria until the spring when the water warms up!

Plants

Plants need to be cut back for the winter.  It is best to cut lilies and lotus back AFTER the leaves have turned brown.  Cut them to 4 -6 inches above the root ball.  Marginal plants (plants whose roots are in the water) should be cut back once they start to turn brown to about 4 inches above the root ball.  Putting your lilies at the lowest point in the pond for the winter helps keep them healthy because the water is warmest at the bottom of the pond during the winter.

Keeping leaves out

When the water temperature gets down to 50° you better believe the leaves are about to start falling.  Trim back plants that hang over the pond so they don’t drop in dead foliage.  To keep organic material out of your pond, put a net on it!

Equipment

Remove Autodoses, IonGens and UV lights from the pond for the winter when the water gets down to 50°.

Hail damaged lily pads

Hail – how it affects your pond

Hail – how it affects your pond

Now and then here in Colorado we may experience hail.  Several things can happen from hailstorms:

  • A lot of hail can suddenly drop the temperature in the pond.  Some hail is not a big deal but if you have excessive amounts floating in the water, you may want to consider scooping as much as you can out so that the fish don’t suffer from such temperature fluctuation.  (Imagine someone dumping ice water on you!)
  • Exposed liner can be damaged by hail.  Protect it by covering it with rocks and gravel.  Liner needs to be completely protected from the harsh rays of the sun, from the freeze and thaw cycle and from hail.
  • Hail can cause leaves, branches and other debris to drop in the pond.  Get out what you can and make sure to dump the skimmer basket a couple extra times to make sure it doesn’t get clogged with leaves caused by a hailstorm.
  • Lily pads can be damaged.  It is better to leave the damaged lily pads there because they are still converting sunlight to energy for the plant.  Wait until the whole leaf and even the stem turn brown and look mushy.  Then give them a quick tug and they will come right off.  It’s good to pull them off because they add nutrients to the pond as they decay and can cause more algae.  Luckily, lily pads send up new leaves pretty quickly and will look gorgeous before you know it!
  • Excessive rain and hail can upset the balance of the pond ecosystem.  Give it an extra dose of beneficial bacteria.

If you need help CONTACT US! 

Does My Pond Need a Cleanout?

Life in outdoor water featuresDoes my pond need a cleanout?

Balanced ponds may need to be cleaned out every couple of years. Ponds that struggle with balance may need annual cleanouts.  Take a look at your pond.

◊  Is the water brown, black or unclear?

◊  Do you see muck or sludge on the bottom of the pond?

◊  Is your pump struggling to work because of excess debris around it?

◊ Were the fires particularly bad this year, dumping ash in the pond?

Ponds are ecosystems.  When they are in balance, the water should be clear. There may be a touch of algae here or there, but not an excessive amount. When the water looks good and the plants and fish are thriving, you still might need to have the gunk cleaned out.  Ponds in Colorado need to run all year long to help keep the water clean.  Leaving the water stagnant over the winter can breed a slimy composted sludge that has to be cleaned out in the spring.  Learn more about ponds in our Ponds 101.  Wondering if your pond needs a good cleanout?
Contact us and text us over some pictures –  we’ll help you figure out if a cleanout is right for your pond.

What exactly is a pond cleanout?

When we perform a pond cleanout we:

  • Remove the water from the pond
  • Safely transfer the fish into a portable pond that we bring
  • Pressure wash every surface of the water feature including streams and waterfalls
  • Clean out equipment like skimmers, biofalls and canister filters
  • Check all equipment for proper operation
  • Check for any lights that may need to be replaced
  • Remove the gunk from the pond
  • Cut back plant material as needed
  • Fertilize water lilies
  • Put clean water into the pond
  • Add water treatments to establish a healthy ecosystem balance and to protect the health of the fish
  • Replace any rocks that may have been disturbed during the cleanout
  • Return fish to the pond
  • Consult you about the ongoing maintenance of the pond so that it will be beautiful all year long

What about barley straw?

clear pondBarley straw helps keep algae at bay.

When using this type of algae treatment, it is imperative that it is organic.  Straw that may have been treated with pesticides could kill the plant life and even the fish in the pond.  It usually comes in a small “bale” that can be placed in the pond and weighted down by tying a string to a rock that is attached the the barley straw bale. As it begins to decompose, it creates an enzyme that helps to reduce algae.

How long does it take to work?

You won’t get instant gratification here!  This may take 4 to 6 weeks to really get going, so we recommend adding it in early spring.  Adding it at the time of a cleanout is even better.  While a bit of patience is needed, it pays off. Barley straw can keep a pond looking great all season long, because it lasts about 9 months!

Make sure you are adding the correct amount of barley straw for the size (gallons) of your pond.  Directions generally come on barley straw that can be purchased over the internet.

Want to learn more about pond ecosystems, check out our Ponds 101 page!