Fall-How To Maintain Your Pond
Autumn can be the glory days of water gardening
Tropical water lilies and other plants have reached their maximum potential. Temperatures
have cooled a little, so you can enjoy being outside without sweating. Water clarity is usually
at its best in the fall because of fewer battles with algae. It truly is an enjoyable time of year.
Here are some things that you can do to keep your water garden looking good.
Pondering in the South
Aquatic Plants
Stop fertilizing as soon as the water temperature gets below 70°F and remove all spent leaves
off of the lilies, as they will continue to produce leaves. This is also a good time to take those
beautiful tropical lilies inside and store them in a water-filled container located in a place that
will not freeze.
Fish
This is the time to fatten up your fish just before old man winter comes back and puts them to
rest. Feeding your fish a little extra in the early fall will help with their growth rate and increase
their metabolism prior to hibernation. This does not justify over feeding – just a little extra will
do fine. When the water temperature reaches the mid 50’s, stop feeding all together.
Pond
Depending on the location of your pond, the No. 1 fall maintenance issue is falling leaves. A
large amount of leaves collected in the bottom of a pond will decompose and produce tannins
that can be harmful to your fish and also reduce the clarity of the water. Keeping the skimmer
basket emptied is very important, and the addition of netting over the pond will also reduce
the chances of increased tannins in the water.
Pondering in the North
Leaves
When the leaves begin to fall and blow, cover the water’s surface with a net to catch them.
The net discourages the debris build up on the pond bottom, which would otherwise
decompose, create toxic gasses, and prove harmful to the fish during their hibernation period.
Fish
Watch for the 55°F mark. Before that time, avoid missing any fish feedings because the fish
are in the process of packing on nutrition, and getting ready to hibernate. But when the temp
starts to regularly dip below 55°F, it’s a sure sign to stop feeding your fish because their
metabolisms have slowed down to a point where they can no longer handle the nutrition safely.
Plants
At this time, dying foliage on your aquatic plants should be removed. This helps to minimize
debris build up on the pond bottom. If you have potted tropical aquatic plants that you want to
save for next season, this is the time to remove them from the pond, and take them indoors
for the winter
Winter Shutdown
Owners of ponds in climates that reach and stay below the freezing mark for extended periods
of time have a decision to make each winter - keep the pond running or shut it down. Either
option will work, but both require steps to be taken in order to insure your pond comes out of
its winter slumber healthy and happy.
Winter Shut Down
If you decide to shut your pond down for the winter, you’ll need to remove the pump from the
skimmer box, place it in a bucket of water, and store it somewhere that is protected from
freezing.
You’ll also need to remove the filter mats from the skimmer and the BIOFALLSTM filter and
clean them off. Saving this task for spring could delay your spring cleanout. The water in the
skimmer and BIOFALLSTM filter takes longer to thaw and the filter mats could be frozen
inside. Place a small re-circulating pump (at least 150 gallons per hour) on the top shelf of the
pond. This will agitate the water’s surface, oxygenating the water and helping keep a hole in
the ice, which will allow gasses to escape while the pond is iced over. This keeps the fish safe
during their hibernation phase.
In extremely cold temperatures, a pump may not be enough to keep a hole open in the ice.
Under these conditions, it may be necessary to supplement the pump with a floating heater. A
low voltage heater runs only enough to heat the water that surrounds it to 32°F, ensuring that
a hole will remain open during most frigid part of the winter. Floating heaters should never be
used alone, as they do not oxygenate the water.
Keeping It Running
If you choose to keep the pond running all winter, you’re in for a treat when the ice formations
begin to take shape in and around the falls. This scene is tailor-made for an ambitious winter
photographer. You’ll also need to keep an eye on any slow-moving streams where ice dams
can form, diverting water out of your pond and creating potential problems you’ll want to avoid.
You’ll still need to employ a re-circulating pump or floating heater in order to keep a hole in
the pond’s surface for the sake of fish safety.
Tropical water lilies and other plants have reached their maximum potential. Temperatures
have cooled a little, so you can enjoy being outside without sweating. Water clarity is usually
at its best in the fall because of fewer battles with algae. It truly is an enjoyable time of year.
Here are some things that you can do to keep your water garden looking good.
Pondering in the South
Aquatic Plants
Stop fertilizing as soon as the water temperature gets below 70°F and remove all spent leaves
off of the lilies, as they will continue to produce leaves. This is also a good time to take those
beautiful tropical lilies inside and store them in a water-filled container located in a place that
will not freeze.
Fish
This is the time to fatten up your fish just before old man winter comes back and puts them to
rest. Feeding your fish a little extra in the early fall will help with their growth rate and increase
their metabolism prior to hibernation. This does not justify over feeding – just a little extra will
do fine. When the water temperature reaches the mid 50’s, stop feeding all together.
Pond
Depending on the location of your pond, the No. 1 fall maintenance issue is falling leaves. A
large amount of leaves collected in the bottom of a pond will decompose and produce tannins
that can be harmful to your fish and also reduce the clarity of the water. Keeping the skimmer
basket emptied is very important, and the addition of netting over the pond will also reduce
the chances of increased tannins in the water.
Pondering in the North
Leaves
When the leaves begin to fall and blow, cover the water’s surface with a net to catch them.
The net discourages the debris build up on the pond bottom, which would otherwise
decompose, create toxic gasses, and prove harmful to the fish during their hibernation period.
Fish
Watch for the 55°F mark. Before that time, avoid missing any fish feedings because the fish
are in the process of packing on nutrition, and getting ready to hibernate. But when the temp
starts to regularly dip below 55°F, it’s a sure sign to stop feeding your fish because their
metabolisms have slowed down to a point where they can no longer handle the nutrition safely.
Plants
At this time, dying foliage on your aquatic plants should be removed. This helps to minimize
debris build up on the pond bottom. If you have potted tropical aquatic plants that you want to
save for next season, this is the time to remove them from the pond, and take them indoors
for the winter
Winter Shutdown
Owners of ponds in climates that reach and stay below the freezing mark for extended periods
of time have a decision to make each winter - keep the pond running or shut it down. Either
option will work, but both require steps to be taken in order to insure your pond comes out of
its winter slumber healthy and happy.
Winter Shut Down
If you decide to shut your pond down for the winter, you’ll need to remove the pump from the
skimmer box, place it in a bucket of water, and store it somewhere that is protected from
freezing.
You’ll also need to remove the filter mats from the skimmer and the BIOFALLSTM filter and
clean them off. Saving this task for spring could delay your spring cleanout. The water in the
skimmer and BIOFALLSTM filter takes longer to thaw and the filter mats could be frozen
inside. Place a small re-circulating pump (at least 150 gallons per hour) on the top shelf of the
pond. This will agitate the water’s surface, oxygenating the water and helping keep a hole in
the ice, which will allow gasses to escape while the pond is iced over. This keeps the fish safe
during their hibernation phase.
In extremely cold temperatures, a pump may not be enough to keep a hole open in the ice.
Under these conditions, it may be necessary to supplement the pump with a floating heater. A
low voltage heater runs only enough to heat the water that surrounds it to 32°F, ensuring that
a hole will remain open during most frigid part of the winter. Floating heaters should never be
used alone, as they do not oxygenate the water.
Keeping It Running
If you choose to keep the pond running all winter, you’re in for a treat when the ice formations
begin to take shape in and around the falls. This scene is tailor-made for an ambitious winter
photographer. You’ll also need to keep an eye on any slow-moving streams where ice dams
can form, diverting water out of your pond and creating potential problems you’ll want to avoid.
You’ll still need to employ a re-circulating pump or floating heater in order to keep a hole in
the pond’s surface for the sake of fish safety.
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