As water temperatures begin to dip, your pond fish will have to adjust to their surroundings. It is important to start changing fish diets to accommodate the changes these cold-blooded creatures will undergo. We recommend following a Seasonal Feeding Cycle. When temperatures are between 39°F and 50°F, a wheat-germ-based diet is best for your pond fish.
High-quality wheat-germ foods are formed from easily digestible plant ingredients, which enhance digestion and reduce the time it takes for the nutrients to be absorbed. Compared with an animal-protein-based food, a wheat-germ-based food will spend 25% less time in the intestine. This is beneficial since in low temperatures, metabolism in fish is greatly diminished. Since Koi and goldfish do not have true stomachs, a food with wheat-germ is the optimal diet to transition fish in and out of the season safely and healthily.
The Importance of Regular Water Testing
For a new pond, water should be tested once or twice a week for the first month. After the first month, once a month is acceptable, and always test after doing a partial water change. Regular testing ensures optimum water quality and also helps you to monitor the health of your pond and make necessary water adjustments.
If you suspect you have a problem with your water or fish, we always recommend testing the water first.
All tests provide valuable information about the health of your pond, and some come in easy-to-use test strips. Some all-in-one strips test for general hardness (GH), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), pH and Alkalinity (KH).
The Big Fall Clean-up
Preparing your pond for the fall and winter months is as essential as opening the pond in the spring. We call this the Big Fall Clean-up. The best time to clean the pond is before temperatures fall below 50°F, while fish are still active and will not sustain injury during the cleaning.
Cleaning the pond…
It is good to scoop out as much of the leaves and sludge as possible before winter. You may want to pump some of the water out of the pond to expose the planting shelves around the pond periphery. This will make it easier to hand-remove leaves that have adhered themselves to the pond edges and shelves. Using a hose nozzle, blast off the accumulated debris and sludge around the pond shelves and edges, and then remove remaining debris with a net or pond vacuum. When replacing the water, be sure to treat the chlorine and chloramines with a water treatment product.
Next, follow our Fall Prep Checklist:
– Cut back dead or dying aquatic plant foliage during the fall.
– Purchase a wheat-germ-based pond food developed especially for a fall diet.
– Disconnect the pump, filter and UV clarifier before water freezes. (Make sure that no water is left inside the device. Ice can damage the equipment.)
– Store UV clarifier indoors for protection.
– Store filters indoors (if manufacturer’s directions suggest).
– Sink a few clay pots or weighted-down, clean buckets into the pond to provide refuge (in place of the protective plant cover that will disappear). Frogs who have taken up residence in your garden will also benefit from a place to hibernate.
– Some breeds of fish are especially sensitive to the cold, like Fancy Goldfish. Bring them indoors.
– Purchase or have the pond de-icer ready for installation before your pond surface freezes completely.
– Sit back and enjoy the changes your pond will undergo.