Pond Care in Frigid Weather
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Pond Care in Frigid Weather
 During the winter months when temperatures plummet, winter pond care may need to be stepped up to prevent winter kill of your koi. Even though the frigid cold temperatures make it more difficult to maintain an ice-free area of your pond, the survival as well as the health of your koi rely on it. Consider the following tips to help your pond inhabitants stay healthy during frigid times. The thermo planter at left will extend the growing season for both tropical plants and water lillies. The rugged plastic planter is controlled by an integrated thermostat and features a 70 watt heater creating the ideal conditions for beautiful, thriving tropical water plants.
Use a De-Icer The easiest way to install a de-icer is to add it to your pond before you close it for the winter. There are many types of de-icers on the market to choose from. The main purpose of a de-icer is to keep a section of your pond from freezing in order to allow the proper exchange of oxygen and gas. For maximum efficiency, install the de-icer at the shallowest part of your pond. If possible, it should also be sheltered from the wind. A piece of plywood over a part of the pond with the de-icer will help the unit work more efficiently by keeping the warmth from escaping too quickly. Depending on the size of your pond, its depth and volume, more than one unit may be needed to keep a section clear. Thawing Out If you are facing a frozen pond emergency, don't panic. Thaw a shallow section of your pond first. Do not try to break the ice by force as the shock to your fish can kill them. Instead, try  Aerate The purpose of an aerator is to keep your pond well oxygenated and in the winter, to keep a section of your pond open. The reason the aerator works is because moving water resists freezing. There are a few things to keep in mind when using an aerator. If used when the air temperature is below freezing an aerator is capable of hyper-cooling your water. The best way  to avoid this problem is to keep the aerator out of the pond and in an insulated container. Another option is to keep the pump indoors with just the airline and airstones outside. By doing this, warmer air can be pumped into the pond and eliminate the risk of hyper-cooling completely. The OASE AquaOxy 450 is a powerful pond aeration pump for ponds and water gardens. Its reliable performance ensures proper pond aeration and supplies oxygen to ponds and water gardens up to 486 gallons. Remove Accumulated Snow from the Pond's Surface During the winter months, snow can accumulate on the pond's surface preventing light penetration thereby making it impossible for the microscopic plants in your pond to produce oxygen. These plants will continue to produce oxygen as long as they have light. Fish waste, decomposition of pond vegetation and a blanket of snow over the ice can be a dangerous combination as this can cause insufficient oxygen for fish, causing suffocation. Try to remove snow from at least part of the pond's surface to reduce this possibility. Be ready for the unexpected During the winter months severe storms can interrupt power supply. Preparing now for how you will power your de-icers and aerators can go along way in preventing a catastrophic event in your pond. Investing in a generator, or a UPS (Uniterrupted Power Supply) will help prevent this from happening. Depending on the size of your pond and the number of fish, a complete freeze can use up the available oxygen relatively quickly. Use the generator shown here as a backup in case of a power outage. Available from 1200 watts up to 4000 watts, it is sure to the the job winter or summer when it comes to powering your pond equipment. |
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