Pond winterization

[ReyvinWolf]

I built a pond in the spring, 1250gals give or take a 100, has skimmer and bio waterfall all. It also has koi, some plants, and some snails and a frog or two have moved in. To winterized it I use microbe-Lift fall and winter, scooped out as much junk as I could, strung up a net to catch any more debris, turned off the water fall, moved the bio bags into the main pond, put in a de-icer, put in a small filter/areator, and a simple water pump to keep water circulation going on the top of the pond. I believe the deepest is about 3' but it's only a small area, but that is where the de-icer is located.

Think this will be okay for the koi for the winter? Current surface water temps are between 45-55 degrees. With the waterfall on it was between 40-60.

 

[jlk]

Sounds good! Just make sure the you keep an open area on the surface. The other important thing is stop feeding once the pond reaches @50f. Some people will stop around 55f, others feed down to 45f. If you are still feeding, keep the meals small-once a day or every other day at the warmest point in the day and make sure its a low protein food such as a wheat germ-based food.

If you have any tropical or seasonal plants, they either need to be moved inside or removed.

 

[ReyvinWolf]

Thankyou! Yes I removed all the tropical plants, and they rarely get fed anyway. If I give them any it's after work, and not even one handful for 7 koi and 1 shubunkin. And maybe a few baby koi. I gave seen 1 or 2 but I can't catch the fast buggers! And I figured between the aerator, the pond deicer, and the small pump (all three set up in an almost equal lateral triangle around the pond) should be sufficient.

Thanks!!!