It’s time to get ready for winter – and that’s exciting!
Unlike swimming pools, which don’t have much purpose after Labor Day, ponds provide the beautiful sights and sounds of water year-round. Just ask anyone who’s had the pleasure of gazing out over a snow-covered pond in January.
Wondering if you should keep your pond running all winter? It’s really up to you. Check out Tip No. 2 to learn more. If you do choose to shut down your pond, our November Deep-Dive will walk you through everything you need to know to do the job right.
3 Tips for November Pond Care
1. Stop feeding fish when water is colder than 50-55 degrees
Fish can’t digest food very well in cold temperatures. That means any food you give them during the colder months will either go uneaten (bad for water quality) or sit in the fish’s stomach (bad for fish health).
Gradually decrease the frequency and size of feedings throughout the fall, and stop feeding entirely when the water temperature drops below 50-55 degrees.
2. Decide if you want to winterize your pond
Some people keep their waterfalls going year-round. Others prefer to shut them down in winter to reduce the risk of damaging the plumbing in extreme cold.3. Continue weekly doses of Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria
Beneficial Bacteria is our go-to water treatment for keeping water crystal-clear and fish happy and healthy.
Bacteria do lots of helpful things for your pond, including consuming harmful ammonia and algae-causing nitrites. For best results, apply bacteria at least once a week throughout the season, or install an Automatic Dosing System that will do the work for you.
Pond Bacteria comes in lots of forms – so how do you know which one you need?
Just follow this guide:
- For water below 50 degrees: Cold Water Bacteria (Available at Splash)
- For water above 50 degrees: Beneficial Bacteria (Available at Splash)
- For new ponds, recently cleaned ponds or springtime ponds above 40 degrees: Pond Starter Bacteria (Available at Splash)
- For Automatic Dosing Systems: Maintain for Ponds Autodoser Pouch (Available at Splash)
In November, you’ll likely be ready to switch to Cold Water Bacteria.
Liquid Beneficial Bacteria comes in an easy-to-use pump-top container. If you buy an 8 oz, 16 oz, or 32 oz bottle, simply add one pump of bacteria per 100 gallons of water in your pond once a week. If you buy a gallon bottle, use one pump per 600 gallons.
(Dry forms of bacteria are also available. See your container for dosing instructions.)
To Calculate Pond Size in US Gallons: Length (in feet) x Width (in feet) x Average Depth (in feet) x 7.48
All of the Beneficial Bacteria products listed above are completely safe for fish and plants – making them a great alternative to potentially harmful algaecides.
November Deep-Dive
How to Winterize Your Pond
The temperatures are dropping and your pond is covered in a beautiful icy glaze. Your fish are nestled in for a nice winter’s nap.
But your pond ecosystem still needs a little help to make it through the subfreezing weather.
You need to consider two critical factors when preparing your pond for winter:
- Protecting your pipes, pumps and plumbing
- Keeping your fish happy and healthy
At a Glance: How to Winterize Your Pond
- Unplug your pump and drain your plumbing.
- Place an aerator about 10 to 12 inches below the water’s surface.
- Install a deicer.
