GET YOUR POND READY FOR THE WINTER

Winter will be here before you know it and with it come falling leaves and cold temperatures. If you have a garden pond, there are a few important things Aquarium Adventure recommends doing before the cold weather arrives.

CHALLENGE:
Falling leaves in the pond will decay and produce tannic acid which will color the water, add organic waste and affect the pH.

SOLUTION:
Pond nets covering the pond help keep leaves out of the pond. Skimmer nets are great for removing leaves floating on the surface. Microbelift Autumn/Winter Prep will help accelerate the decomposition of leaves, sediment and other organic matter. The bacteria will then breakdown these by-products.

CHALLENGE:
As the temperature begins to get cooler your pond fish metabolism slows down making food digestion difficult and a health concern.

SOLUTION:
Begin now to feed a wheat germ food making digestion on a slow metabolism more manageable. Once the water temperature falls below 50 F. and stays there, stop feeding all together. Keep a pond thermometer handy in the pond to stay on top of temperature changes.

CHALLENGE:
As winter approaches the possibility of the pond surface freezing solid will be harmful to your fish. The frozen surface prevents gas exchange, no oxygen in and no carbon dioxide out. Your fish could actually suffocate.

SOLUTION:
Maintain a hole in the ice at the surface. This can be easily handled by a floating (low wattage) deicer (not a pond heater). Running a pump can also work, however it needs to be raised off the bottom (you want to maintain the warmer water at the bottom for the fish) and kept just below the surface. Under very severe winter conditions this could damage the pump.