Winter Pond Maintenance Tips
Maintaining a Healthy Pond in Winter
As winter weather arrives, it is important to get your pond ready for the season. Take these steps to keep your fish healthy, your water clean and clear, and your pond looking beautiful.
Winter Pond Operation
If you live up north where the surface of the pond freezes, prepare for winter by deciding whether you want to keep your pond running or shut it down.
To shut down your pond:
- Remove the pump from your pond and store it in a warm place like the garage or the basement.
- Drain the water out of the plumbing. This prevents standing water from freezing and expanding, potentially cracking the pipes that connect your filtration system.
- Remove and clean the filter media and spray them thoroughly with a garden hose. Store them in the garage or the basement along with the pump.
- If you have fish, it will be necessary to keep a hole open in the ice when the surface of your pond starts freezing.
Keeping your pond running:
- Check for ice buildup causing dams, which could cause water to run out of the waterfall area and pond.
- Monitor the water level periodically. Add water as needed to ensure there is enough water for the pump(s) to operate properly.
- Consider adding additional water circulation by incorporating a submersible pond pump such as an AquaForce® pond pump.
Health of Your Pond Fish
In climates where your pond ices over, low oxygen and the buildup of harmful gases trapped under the ice can create dangerous conditions for your fish. Your best defense is to oxygenate your pond and maintain an opening in the ice.
Gas exchange:
- Add the 300-Watt Pond De-Icer to keep a hole in the ice when more than an aerator is needed. Controlled by a thermostat, the unit only runs when the water temperature is at or below freezing, heats the surrounding water to just above that, and then shuts off again.
- Create bubbles at the water surface by incorporating a submersible pond pump such as the AquaForce® pump. A pond aerator can also be used to create water surface agitation. The bubbling action helps keep a hole open in the ice to allow for the exchange of gas.