Winter is on the way, and if you have just built your Koi pond this will be the first time that your Koi have had to make it through those extensive winter months. There isn't a whole lot that happens through the winter months with your Koi fishpond, so you can consider this as a down period for it. Nonetheless, there are special precautions that you need to take before Winter arrives, to guarantee that your fishpond and fish survive.
Clean Up- Normally it takes about an entire weekend to completely go over a fishpond. If your fishpond has bulk material that has built up around it or in it, you need to remove it. Inside your fishpond, clean up all leaves, silt, and other material from the bottom. If there are any plants or flowers in your fishpond that will not survive the winter months, you need to remove them. If there is any garbage around your pond that could blow into it, clean that up as well as you are not likely to notice any of this stuff until spring arrives. By taking this time and removing this garbage, you're helping to remove the possibility of potential bacteria and parasites damage from happening.
Stop Feeding- You must remember to stop feeding your Koi during the winter. As the temperatures start to drop, and get around fifty five or sixty°F, you only want to give food to the fish one time a day. Once the temperatures drop below 50 degree for the first time, stop feeding fully. You might think that it's okay to feed your fish when the temperature rises above 50° again, but don't. The majority of Koi, when healthy and the temperature is above 50 degrees, take at least 4 days to wholly digest food. Making this slip-up could cost you though the fish as the food will rot in their stomachs. You also need to realize that when a Koi is opening its mouth to you it doesn't necessarily mean that it is hungry. This is something that they do out of a learned reflex and not hunger. Don't be worried about not giving your fish eating food, as if your pond has any type of plant life and it, you are not their only source of sustenance. If they get hungry and you're not giving them food, they will eat the stuff.
Check Up- Make sure that you do a check up on all of your pond equipment.Be sure to include everything from your pond pumps and filters system to your store of medicines for your fish. Sometimes I can be difficult in the winter to find the supplies as most ponds go dormant so shelves aren't often kept stocked. Try to make sure that you have an emergency kit that is complete and up-to-date. This kit needs to include things like medications, bags, nets, and your kits for testing the water.
Get Ready for Cold Weather- Prepare for cold weather by investing in the items you will need during the summer. Koi have been known to endure constant temperatures as low 39 degrees, and temperatures slightly lower then 39 degrees, for short periods of time. If the area that you living gets extremely cold, it is going to be necessary for you to buy a fishpond heater. If you do not your pond can freeze over which will potentially trap dangerous amounts of gas inside the water. In areas where it gets extremely cold, it might be a really good idea to have an crisis tank inside available.
Turn Off All Water Sources- When temperatures get really low, your heater is going to have to toil extra hard in order to keep the water temperature at a point that will allow your fish to remain alive. If you have things like a waterfall or a stream that move through your pond, you need to make sure that you turn these off during those cold winter months. These features will distribute water, and constantly bring new, and cold water into your fishpond. With these switched off, the only water that your heater will be responsible for is the standing water in your pond.
I hope you can see how important it is to prepare your small garden pond for those lengthy winter months. Many species of Koi are extremely expensive, and it is very appropriate and wise for you to want to protect them. You can learn a lot more information about taking care of a Koi fish pond, and other garden pond tips by visiting gardenpondtips.com.
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