Automatic dosing systems help keep your water clear and your fish happy and healthy during the warm months. This system ensures your water always has the right balance of bacteria and enzymes to prevent algae, muck and other problems. As winter approaches, you need to make sure your autodoser is prepared for freezing temperatures.
At a Glance: Do I Need to Shut Down My Autodoser in Winter?
- Autodosers should not be run when temperatures are expected to be close to or below freezing.
- Winterize your autodoser by removing treatment bottles and ensuring that all tubing and pumps are drained and free of any remaining liquid.
- 1st Generation systems should be protected by moving the entire system to a frost-free place.
- Our newest systems are deisgned to better withstand the elements and can be left outside after winterizing.
- Manually add Cold Water Bacteria throughout the winter until Spring.
Why Do I Need to Turn Off My Autodoser in Winter?
Automatic dosing systems – also known as autodosers – send a slow, constant trickle of liquid pond treatment into your pond or fountain via tiny tubing. That slow trickle of liquid that goes through the system’s tubing is not moving quickly enough to prevent it from freezing. If it does freeze, it could potentially damage the system.
Here’s how to Winterize your Autodosing System:
First Generation Dosing System
G1 Systems we recommend moving the whole system into a warm garage or other area where it won’t freeze.
If you can’t remove the bottom canister for whatever reason, leave it in place and just move the top control panel and connected tubing. You can place a faux rock cover or other light object over the canister opening to prevent it from filling with snow.
2nd Generation and Newer Systems
Our newest Dosing Systems, the XT and SL, are rugged enough to remain outdoors all winter but we need to make sure all of the liquid has been drained from the tubing and any remaining treatment bottles are used up and removed.
When the weather starts to turn colder, simply remove the treatment bottles and run the system for a few days to run the liquid out of the lines. You may then carefully disconnect the tubing. When you are sure the tubing is completely drained of all liquids simply close the lid and replace the faux rock or other cover to prevent the unit from becoming directly buried in possible snow.
Winter Pond Care
Once you have your autodoser bundled up safely away from the cold, you’ll need to find another way to get all that good bacteria into your pond until spring (yes, algae outbreaks can happen in January).
Cold Water Bacteria
Cold Water Bacteria is similar to the products you’ve been adding to your pond via the autodoser but is specially formulated to work in the winter months. Simply add a few pumps of bacteria once a week per the dosing instructions on the bottle.
Cold Water Bacteria will help keep your fish happy and healthy throughout the winter and give your pond the best start possible in the Spring!
How to Reinstall Your Autodoser in the Spring
Reinstalling your autodoser in the spring is easy. Just attach your water treatment pouch (you’ll probably want to start with Maintain for Ponds or Prevent for Fountains) and put everything back where it was. Turn it on, and you’re good to go.
Your autodoser’s instruction manual has more helpful tips for installation and maintenance. Don’t have your instruction manual? No worries. We’ve got you covered.
You can also reach out to us with any questions about your automatic dosing system or anything else going on with your pond. We’d be happy to help.
More Winter Pond Care Tips
Ecosystem Ponds are easy to care for and beautiful to look at any time of year.
Here are some more tips for keeping your backyard oasis running in top condition in the cold months:
Do I need to shut down the whole pond in winter?
If you need to turn off your autodoser for the winter, does that mean you have to turn off the whole pond?
It’s up to you.
If you like hearing your waterfalls year-round, you can keep them running. The water runs through your pipes fast enough to prevent the plumbing from freezing.
For the most peace of mind, however, we recommend winterizing your pond. With the pump off, you don’t have to worry as much about water loss or other issues.
Check out our Winterization Guide for step-by-step instructions.
Stop feeding fish
Your fish enter a semi-dormant state called torpor during cold weather. They don’t need to eat while in this state, so any food you give them will either sit in their bellies (bad for the fish) or sit in the bottom of the pond – bad for your water.
Stop feeding your fish when water temperatures are consistently below 55 degrees. You can ease your fish’s transition into and out of winter with Cold Water Fish Food. Check out our seasonal feeding guide for more information.
Aerate!
Your fish don’t eat in winter, but they do breathe.
Install an aerator to add some much-needed oxygen to your pond and to help keep a hole open in any ice that forms on the surface. An aerator is especially important if you decide to shut off your waterfalls for the season.
If your pond ices over, gently create a hole to let oxygen into the pond and bad gases out. Don’t use blunt force to break the ice; anything too jarring could injure your fish. Instead, place a deicer or pot of hot water on top of the ice to gently melt it. You can also – carefully – cut a hole with a rough-toothed saw.
Speaking of deicers …
Deicers are floating heaters that keep a small hole open in an otherwise iced-over pond. These heaters are small enough that they won’t raise the overall temperature of your pond, and their thermostatic controls ensure they’re only running when they need to be.
Deicers are a great addition to your winter pond care arsenal. With a deicer running, you know a hole will always stay open in your iced-over pond – even if your aerator fails.
Always use a deicer in addition to an aerator – not in place of one. If you can only afford one or the other, an aerator should be your first priority.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Pond Fish Care for more tips.