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WINTER
POND MANAGEMENT
Clean the pond if necessary. (See Pond Cleaning under Pond Maintenance.
When the water temperature drops below 50 degrees F, shut off all Pumps, UV Sterilizers/Clarifiers, Fountains, and Waterfalls.
Drain and thoroughly clean all external Filters, if applicable, and leave drainage valves open (if equipped).
Cut back all Hardy Waterlilies and Bog Plants except Cattail varieties and submerge them to the deepest part of the pond (or 3').
If desired, bring Tropical Waterlilies and Bog Plants inside for the winter and treat them as house plants. The waterlily will need to be submerged. Otherwise discard them.
WATER QUALITY
If the pond is in an area prone to freezing, the use of a De-Icer to keep an area of the pond ice-free may be required.
FISH CARE
Continue to decrease feedings until the pond's water temperature falls to 50 degrees F, below this temperature stop feeding entirely. Use a Pond Thermometer.
As the temperature of the water drops, fish metabolism slows and the Beneficial Bacterial colonies die off or go dormant. With nothing in the water to break down the fish waste, ammonia can quickly build up to a toxic level, causing serious health problems. It is therefore imperative that the fish NOT be fed during the winter. There is a school of thought, which says that heating the water is best, and the fish can eat all winter; but in reality, those fish are more likely to suffer from ill health. Heating the pond is costly, and it may not remain heated enough to make too much difference anyway. (Ever lose electricity in the winter?)
Instead of heating the pond, we suggest the use of a De-Icer, which, although sometimes costly to operate, are a much more economical alternative to replacing expensive fish year after year. Most are designed to operate within a certain range of temperatures and will usually last for 3-5 years or more if maintained prpoerly. Remimber, it's not the cold water that kills the fish - it's the lack of fresh air in the pond when it freezes over which does them in. Always be sure there is an adequate supply of fresh air to a pond in the winter, whether it is from a hole created by a de-icer, or by an Air Pump/Air Stone Combination. A hole in the ice will allow fresh oxygen to enter the pond and toxic carbon dioxide to escape.
SPECIAL HINT
Another good reason to turn off pumps in the winter...yes waterfalls look "cool" when covered in ice, but remember that electricity can and usually does go out when it is least convenient. Usually this isn't a problem when it's cold, but if the electrictiy is off for an extended period, the water in the lines to and/or from a pump or waterfall can freeze solid. If it thaws out quickly, that may not be a problem, but more often than not, the pump suddenly "kicking on" at full power may rupture the water lines, draining the pond, or possible burn out the pump motor.
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