Winter Care For Your Koi Pond Watergarden How To
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- During winter our koi ponds and water gardens do not go away! Our koi ponds and water gardens require care of a different type during those long cold winter months. Mike Gannon, The POND HUNTER, lays out some tips for pond owners on caring for your koi pond water garden during winter. Mike is owner of Full Service Aquatics, a New Jersey based koi pond and water garden company. FSA specializes in koi pond and water garden installations and pond services in the New Jersey area. Pond cleaning, installations, and pond maintenance services are available by visiting loveyourpond dot com.
www.fullserviceaquatics.com
Exactly. Now you're starting to see the bigger picture. Excersize, crisp cold fresh air, and fun; all revolving around the water garden and pond lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that.
keep shoveling that snow buddy
it's good exercise for you,
plus the kids will love you, for making them a skating ice ring
Hey POND DIGGER! when the day comes that you need the snow rake 'Ill send you mine! Coming out your way is on my short list and I am looking forward to that day!! keep your amazing vids coming too!
The "insulating" effect snow can has for a pond is a minor benefit at best. That "insulation" ALSO works to keep a pond colder, longer. When ambient temperatures start to rise, the cleared pond can respond to temperature changes faster. Keeping fish under snow and ice, in the dark, for longer than necessary can lead to a weakened stressed state which opens them up to sickness, and a shorter season of enjoying your pond. I want my fish, plants, and me to enjoy the beneficial effects of sun asap.
Good video, I don't have a waterfall as of yet, so the water comes out my filter and dumps into the pond through a pipe. I usually extend that pipe down below the water surface. A few years ago when I first had my pond we had a long hard freeze and I didn't think to extend the line below the surface. As a result the pumped water was pouring on the top of the ice. fortunately I caught it before all the water was pumped out. So now every year I extend that pipe to several inches below the water line. I also move my pump to a higher level just in case a line bursts. That way the entire pond doesn't get accidentally drained. I figure the flow from the pump an the extra aeration lines will help move any toxic gases in the water if that happens.
+Ted Flug Thanks for the feedback Ted! winter is a tricky time of year, be vigilant! Mike
Make sure the aerator is shallow in the water. Circulating the warmest water from the bottom of the pond will over cool the water and temperatures will drop too low and kill the fish.
Thanks! yes, the bubble diffuser should be about 8"-12" below surface of water during winter use.
Thanks for commenting Brad! The chill is setting in around my area. Enjoy the holidays!
In every video I hear people say "your fish will thank you for it" My fish have never thanked me for it..
Try developing a deeper relationship with your fish. They will thank you for it! ;) Enjoy
Seeing how frozen your pond is makes me feel confident in my koi's ability to survive this year's winter in Arkansas. I didn't expect it to be in the single digits in temperature this winter.
Brrr. Good stuff there Mike. I am so glad I do not have to deal with all that snow, so I can enjoy my koi all winter long. Merry Christmas ;)
Hey Darktrainer, I really don't do much to keep it from freezing. The velocity of the moving water keeps it from freezing completely even in single digit below freezing weather. However; what I do caution people about is when the weather is in deep freeze an eye needs to be kept on the waterfall and stream areas because ice formations can cause ice jams and direct water out of the path of the waterfall. I'm thinking that is what you may have experienced. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great video tips! We just got 12” of snow here in NW Ga. this past weekend. Very unusual fro us. My pond / Koi did great 👍🏼.
Hello Saman, yes using a bend hose should be no problem. Additional oxygen is always good for a pond. Thanks for commenting! Mike
Hey Giraffe, thanks for commenting. The pipes do not freeze when installed at the correct depth even where it gets as cold as for you. Also with the pond running the water is passing through at such a high rate of speed that it does not freeze. Some systems will ABSOLUTELY have problems but no the systems I install. take care.
Hi Thanks for the post. Normally I filter the pond manually couple of time a year But I just bought Sting Ray 12000 pump with UV filter for my ponds. For that Iam new to the pond pumps and filters
Thanks
Have a wonderfulday
M80's are a quick and easy way to open a breathing hole in the ice without having to stand there peeing in one little spot.
Your right to clear the snow off but pouring hot water to make a hole when it will only refreeze! It's much easier and less hassle to put a 300 watt low voltage heater in the pond and if you have a true koi pond you would have a skimmer, waterfall end eco system set up. I plug mine in right before the freeze and it only goes on after 32 deg and keeps a hole open in the ice for the fish gasses to escape so they will be alive and healthy in the spring! $ 99.00 is worth a whole lot more than a slip and fall in the snow trying to make a hole. I also keep my waterfalls going all year that rarely get freeze over so the fish have a moving water source to keep them healthy. My koi are all over 20 yrs old and make it through the winter every year no problems.
Great feedback Fred! that is some good information for pond keepers to know! thanks
Hey Fred, what heater element would you suggest? My folks use a pond heater for there 6' diameter pond and it still freezes up. So, just any 300 watt pond heater will work? Thanks Terry!
Hey Terry, for a smaller pond like that a 300W de-icer should be great. Don't forget the aerator!!
Great video I enjoyed it, but i was wondering shouldn't that tool's edge be covered in rubber or something like that? as the sound of the metal piece against the ice might stress the fish as much as opening a hole with a hatchet as you mentioned early? Thanks for your answer, greetings :)
Thanks for checking out the video. That is a great suggestion, I agree!
Hey Mike, it sounds like you should not have a problem wintering your fish outdoors with a depth of 3'. Make sure to use an aerator and a de-icer for your pond during the winter months and you should be good! Thanks for checking out the vids!
Hammering the ice will stress the fish
. Lol as he scrapping the ice
Oh Stephanie,... stop with the laughing out loud like a fool and take a moment to understand what you don't.. it is not noises (like scraping) that bother fish, they can handle noise, it is the percussive shock from banging ice with a hammer that stresses fish out. And by the way, learn how to spell too. LOL right back at ya
Ha!! yes sometimes that is exactly how the snow goes...gone in a day! I keep the waterfall running with full flow all year long and I increase aeration during the season with a nice pond aerator. I have started to just run my aerator year round as well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Do you shut down your skimmer. And just keep the bottom drain flowing?
Live in Central Illinois and this year I placed an aquatic air pump 1/2 way down in my pond and ultimately super cooled the pond water to around 30 to 32 degrees. I now have 11 fish in my basement hot tub (with cold water - treated) and 30 more still outside. I added treated tap water and have the sun out today. Water is back to 36 and the 30 fish in it seem fine. Aren't you afraid of super cooling, running the waterfall all year, To those that don't run waterfalls, how much air are the pumping down half way in their ponds without super cooling,.
Hey Dave, sorry to hear that. How deep is the pond? We usually bring our diffusers up higher for winter months so they are only about 8" or so below water level.
The pond is 3 foot deep and I was down about 18 inches. Once I saw the super cooling, I moved it up to a foot and I think it was too late. I Then brought the temp back up a little by adding tap water and water conditioner. Like a balancing act with the outside air going from 50's to 8 degrees in 2 days. The 11 fish are in 50 degree water in the house, But I need to get them back into the outdoor pond when it warms up Wed, Can I bring the indoor water temp down to a temperature that is close to what it will be in a few days ? What instant temp change is OK for them ??
Also, in a 3 foot pond, can you keep the water from super cooling having diffuser down just 8 inches when it is the same air pump I got to handle around 4000 gallons ?
Great video! I have a pond that’s 2 feet deep. I live in Canada where it freezes over the water. Would it be safe for the goldfish at that depth since I have an aerator stone that I could put at 12 inches for an opening ... any suggestions or should I just bring them indoors during the winter. Thanks for any suggestions!
Hey, glad you liked the vid. At 24" if you are using aeration, and I'd recommend a de-icer as well, you should be good.
Thanks for the tips. I lost all my fish last year here in Davison, Mi
Hello Davison from Rochester Hills. I used my 700gph pump in my small preformed pond to keep a hole in the ice.
Would that work in Minnesota winter are koi have gotten pretty big
Yes, Minnesota is not an issue. The depth of greater than 24" is what matters most for winter fish care.
How deep does your pond have to be for your fish to still be ok? Will it or has it ever frozen completely? Also, what koi are best for those type of climates. I live in NC and I'm trying to get all my research in because I want a koi pond for myself
I would think it would be a benefit to leave the snow on top of the pond to act as a blanket to insulate the pond from getting colder. Just a thought.
The ice provides that insulating benefit and acts as a tough layer of defense from the exterior conditions.
Hey thanks Frankie! hope you check out some more POND HUNTER!
And then all the snow was gone in a day or two! :) That is how it has been in my area of NJ this winter anyways. Thanks for the tip on the tool, I was wondering how I was going to get that done when I eventually get my pond up. Nice to know you keep your waterfall running too. Do you alter the flow at all for winter?
Got that right Kathy G!!
it my first time with a pond, i just built it, so i dont have any experience, i dont have any fish in it. I read in the winter is better to empty it, but what will happend when the snow fall and fill it out that will turn as water, what should i do, im afraid of bad odor if the same water is there for so long mine pond is 7x9 feet. please help
Hello Jordan. I would not drain the pond. As you mentioned it will fill again most likely anyway. We keep all the pond we manage full of water year round. During winter months you can simply aerate the pond to keep the water from going bad. Good luck and thanks for checking out the videos! -Mike
Hello Saman, typically I recommend that if you have a system that can run year round, then you should run it year round. There are many types of filters that need to be disconnected in winter so I can't recommend running the pond for every type of filter. How do you filter your pond?
We had -47 degrees in Indiana this Winter; absolutely awful. I lost all 20 of my koi, but NONE of my goldfish. I know that the gasses in the water are what normally kill fish, but do you think that koi just can't handle such temperatures? I find it strange that I lost every koi and not a single goldfish. I had never lost koi in previous years. Nevertheless, I am going to add an aerator to my pond this season and not just a de-icer.
Yes, snow does act as an insulator. I think that having your fish survive is pretty much everyone's goal and at the top of the list so I don't really get your point. Although having the pond "insulated" is helpful in SOME parts of the world I can think of more reasons to clear the snow than to leave the snow on for extended periods. Clearing snow will not kill the fish, but leaving a pond covered might kill a child in your neighborhood,.....ever think about that?
looks like i am the exact 100,000 viewer of this video.
Thank you Jude!!
It would be great if you could also put a heated cage in the pond. Not for the entire pond just an area large enough to hold your fish. I can't imagine any fish especially koi being exposed to extreme cold temperatures.
A heated cage would be pretty cool (no pun intended)! Extreme cold is brutal for any animal but as the grand design would make it, koi can handle cold temperatures without much issue. Extremes are different of course, but typical winter water temps are easy for koi.
Where is your waterfall pump? Reading that filters need to be shut down for winter. Seems conflicting. Which pimps where can be left running through winter?
The pump is kept in the skimmer box. There are many ways to build ponds... some can run year-round, and some will need to be shut down. I prefer the year-round option for my clients and myself.
@@thePondHunter Thank You. I am trying to build a fpond that can run all winter with external pumps, but can't find any information on it directly. I would appreciate your thought or experience on the subject.
@@sorce2175 External pumps or equipment will need to be protected from the elements if you live in a place that gets winter conditions. I use all submersible equipment which is easier for year round use.
@@thePondHunter the elements yes, is covered but seeing freezing temps ok?
What an excellent video. I have acquired koi fish and the pond with a house purchase, when should I start feeding them after the winter. I'm in NY
the water temp should be around 55 degrees.
Be sure that you begin feedin your fish based upon water temperature. Temperatures should be at least 55F on a consistent basis. As temperatures warm up, your koi will eat more so be sure to adjust how much you feed them!
Gracias
Hi! How deep does the pond have to be for the water not to freeze right through to the bottom? Asking from Toronto Canada where winters are long and hard. My pond freezes right through, so I bring my fish indoors but they are getting too big for that and I need to redo my pond
Hi Amonika. You could likely get away with a 3' deep pond if built correctly. Going to 4' deep would be that much better. No need to bring the fish indoors anymore!
3 feet minimum. However, speaking from central Wisconsin, the hard part is keeping an opening to allow gases from rotting leaves to escape or they'll kill fish. I tried a deicer one winter and it was overwhelmed. The water below it froze solid leaving a little pond above a frozen pond - no good. Last year I hung a little pump below the deicer and the 2 in combo did the trick. A few years ago a placed a larger pump near the surface and it worked ok but required some assistance from me and my ice chopper.
@@thePondHunter Im in Montana and I have 4ft pool for the summer I usually bring him in during winter could he survive in the pool pond during winter plz respond
@@carlo9725 Hello Carlo. Thanks for reaching out. With a 4 foot depth for an inground pond you should not have many issues over wintering your koi or goldfish. However, that is assuming that you have a well equipped with de-icers, and properly set up pond system.
Thank you!
Thank You Mike Do you think we need to run our pond pump and the filter in that time too.
Have a good day sir
Kind Regds
Wouldn't the pipes for the waterfall and filter freeze up in the winter? I always had to shut off the outdoor pipes during winter. That being said, I live in a place where it gets -15F regularly in the winter with wind chills in the -40's. Also, I never built a pond before. Not sure if I can up here... :(
Hi Pond Hunter. Iam from Essex UK Is it okay to insert a bend hose in the pond for getting more oxygen ???
Thanks
I was wondering how do you get your waterfall to not freeze during the winter. I came out last winter and saw that all of the water from my waterfall froze as soon as it was coming from the pond and ended up losing all of my water and koi.
I'm getting a koi fish pond, so I'm very new to this but I have other aquariums and I'm passionate about taking care of my fish. Are you supposed to use a heater?
Hey Kristen, typically you do not need a heater to keep koi unless your are breeding or showing your koi. During colder months your koi will not require feeding either. Thanks for commenting!
Do not use a heater. I almost kill 7 fish when the heater failed and they got thermal shock. Lost 1 barely saved the others.
the deicer scared me! lol :)
Hi, we are thinking of doing aeration this year, tried a heater last year and all it did was short out. Our pond is about the same size as yours, what size pump and how many air stones do you recommend? Thanks! Our waterfall is too far above ground level to run during the winter, alas.
+Ellen Kennedy Hi Ellen! thanks for checking out the video. I am using a 5000 gph submersible pump and (4) points or aeration for winter pond care. Mike
Hi there. Do you have to feed your koi in the winter?
Hello! No, koi do not feed during the winter months where I live.
Thanks for reply
How deep is your pond?
My pond is 3' at the deepest point.
thePondHunter ok thank you
To what temperature can they survive?
Most coldwater fish, like koi and goldfish, can take water temps into the high 30's. Water temps lower than 38F would be very dangerous and deadly. At 34F most fish would develop ice crystals in the gill tissue or other soft tissue and do deadly damage.
thePondHunter So what do you do with a pond at that tempature?
I am new at this (having a pond).My pond is about 4feet deep with a waterfall. Should I move my pump up close to the surface, to prevent water circulation in the deeper parts?
Hello Michael, yes it would be a good idea to move your pump closer to the surface of your pond rather than having it deep during winter months. Thanks for reaching out!
GANZBONI!!!!!
Do you have to use a water heater in the winter or no???
Hello Chucho. I use what are called de-icers in the ponds I manage for the winter months. It is not really a heater because it does not heat the water in the pond, but it does generate enough heat to keep a hole open in the ice covering of a pond. There are actual heating systems that will heat all the water in the pond but I do not use those for my pond or any of my clients here in the Northeast US.
@@thePondHunter ok I guess my question is do you need to buy a heater at all period? Or just let it be, what does the water temp need to be in all 4 seasons
@@chucho35pewdsmiester78 If your pond is in an area that freezes, and if you have livestock in the pond; then yes, I highly recommend a de-icer. I also recommend an aerator for the pond too if you have livestock. Those 2 pieces of equipment are not too expensive and are very important for the winter months.
@@chucho35pewdsmiester78 check out this podcast that I host as well. This has alot of good info for winter pond keeping. www.blogtalkradio.com/koipondwatergardenpodcast/2019/01/23/the-koi-pond-water-garden-podcast-ep57--pond-keeping-tips-during-deep-winter
So, I disagree. Clearing snow IS RECOMMENDED. Try broadening your view a bit Ziemek.
Hi
Hey!
thats because it is! lol :)
I have fishes that were supposed to be fed to other big fishes, can they even survive in winter??
+Saurya Shrestha Can you give me some more info, what kind of fish are you talking about??
Im sorry i don't know the type
hi...I think you are referring to feeder fish....I have the same, the first fish I bought, only one survived but when I purchased a few more they survived and grew almost 3 times their size, they are currently in my pond still alive and well, these are just ordinary gold fish....not sure if yours are the same but these fish were used as feed for others.....good luck!
Marilyn Keddy thanks for the feedback!
Clearing the snow off your "koi" pond is actually NOT RECOMMENDED, since the snow layer is a great insulator against the cold winter temperatures, which results in a thinner ice cover, and warmer temperatures down below where the koi fish are, the warmer the temperature the better the chances for the koi surviving the winter. So if helping your koi survive the winter is not at the top of your list, then go ahead and clear the snow of your pond.
how do i prevent kois from breeding?
is having only 1 sex of koi the only method?
sorry for the late reply,
You could try raping the fish, so they feel too used up and ashamed to breed.
You're wearing a sweater in that cold you are crazy
Yes, a little! I like the cold!
Funny kid
O pop p