It’s still warm out, but the planet is slowly starting to tilt the other way and our days are getting shorter. It’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to prepare your pond for the coming seasonal change.
Here’s a checklist to prepare your pond for the coming cold months:
Reduce it
At around 65ºF it is time to switch the frequency of your koi’s feeding schedule, as well as the type of food, to account for the koi’s lowered metabolic rate.
Get your lower protein and higher carbohydrate feed ready, and start to reduce feedings gradually until 50ºF where you can stop feeding altogether. It will reduce the amount of undigested food on the bottom, as well as the load on your filter and dissolved oxygen.
Trim it
If it is yellowing or browning, cut it back. Any plants that have the potential to deposit debris on (or in) your pond as temperatures cool should be trimmed. Fall is when plants start to move resources back to the root systems. It also has the benefit of helping new growth, as well as making the pond more attractive.
Bog plants—for the most part can be trimmed back to under the water level.
Hardy plants—Lilies can be trimmed all the way down to the crown above the pot (but leave any new growth as it will regenerate in the Spring).
If you want to give your plants a little boost before they settle into dormancy, later September and early October is a good time to give your plants one final supplement dose.
Net it
If you don’t already have a net covering your pond, now is the time to put it on. It will limit the amount of falling flora and the Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOCs) that end up on the bottom of your pond. Any and all floating leaves or debris should be removed. If you have a skimmer, clear it more regularly so as not to put extra strain on your pump.
Change it
Now is a good time for a substantial water change. With the cleaning you will be doing, you will stir up some toxins as well as unwanted debris. As long as the pond water temperature and pH is close to the water you are replacing it with, you will minimize stress on your koi. Don’t forget to dechlorinate.
Sweep it
If you have a pond vac (or some derivation thereof) get it out and suck up all the stuff that has settled on the bottom. To get suspended sediment to settle, try turning off the waterfall the night before you clean.
Move it
Potted plants should be relocated in the deepest parts of the pond where the water will be warmer.
Less hardy tropical plants, like cypress, papyrus, water hyacinth and water lettuce can be thrown out or relocated into a warmer environment (your own home or greenhouse) to keep them alive during the colder winter months.
Dose it
If you are into using cold water bacteria additives to help speed the breakdown of organic debris, remove them when the water temperature is consistently below 60. Make sure to follow the guidelines according to the size of your pond.
Clean it
As the waste load diminishes, the nitrogen cycle slows down and your beneficial bacteria will too. It’s now a good time to give your filters a once over. Clean all media that you need to or replace it.
Store it
If you have a submersible pump, pull it up and clean it, too. Once you’ve done all the hard work, store it per your manufacturer’s recommendations. Keeping it in a bucket of water (in a warm spot) will help keep the seals from drying out. If you decide to leave it in your pond, raise it so that it doesn’t pull the warmer water off the bottom.
By taking a more “every-season” approach, you can reduce the workload, as well as any stress on yourself—or your koi. Don’t wait for winter. Starting in the fall will set you up for an easier and quicker overwintering process.
If you are looking to add to your pond or tank when things start to warm back up, keep an eye on the koi fish for sale at nextdaykoi.com for ideas on your next Living Jewel. We will also run special discounts through email, as well as on our social media sites. Follow us on Facebook at NextDayKoi or @nextdaykoi on Twitter.
Does the reduced feedings and then stopping feedings go for goldfish as well? All we have in our pond are goldfish (no koi)…. and we are ordering a couple more from you tomorrow! 😉
Yes, the reduced feeding guidelines apply to goldfish as well once the water gets cool or cold.
My pond is above ground. I had to do this because of water lines for sprinkler system. I plan to take fish inside to a stock tank over winter. Is there a transition period for this as well? What about a feeding schedule, will it shorten too? The room is heated so it will be about room temperature. I plan on moving my filter and pump in there to supoort it. And cutting all my lilies back and placing them inside to. Without my tank being buried i just dont want to risk anything happening to my fish.
If you can match the water temperatures between your outdoor pond and your indoor pond, the fish should have no problem transitioning. Follow the normal feeding guidelines for when they are indoors:
https://nextdaykoi.com/koi-how-tos/feeding-schedules-koi-fish/
Let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks.
Hello, any tips on bigger ponds? We have a 1/4 acre spring fed pond 14 feet deep. Our bigger Koi wintered good last year and appear to be doing well. We bought some Koi from you this year and are looking forward to see them bigger and fatter next spring.
If you have a natural pond, there is not much you can do in the way of preparation, but the natural cycles of the pond should keep your fish safe. The depth of the pond will provide warmer areas for the fish while they lie dormant. Good luck!