Ponds are regarded as one of the most stunning and unique background features. If they are not effectively closed before freezing, the expensive equipment could get damaged along with the delicate plants and fish that are present in said pond. However, by adopting the right approaches to easily and safely close the ponds, you can ensure that none of the fish, plants and also electronic devices get damaged.

You can also save a substantial amount of time, effort, along with financial resources concerning the practice of pond maintenance if you make the right choices. In case you are curious to know how you can also ensure to close your ponds safely and securely in a flexible way, then keep on reading.

Light feeding when temperature decreases

As the temperature during the autumn season drops, the practice of feeding the fish should also slow down gradually. You must adhere to fish food that has relatively less protein and with that also reduce the frequency in which you feed the fish as the activity of the fish also starts to slow down as winter approaches. You must keep in mind that when the temperature goes below 50 degrees, the fish start hibernating and thus, all the feeding activities must lessen, for their well-being.

Move and trim the plants

The majority of delicate plants are considered as annuals and will fail to survive during the winter. However, the relatively hardy varieties of the plants can successfully thrive in winter and deep inside the water. Therefore, if you want to make sure that your fish are alive while closing the pond, one of the best things to do is trim the dead plants before you move them to the deepest region of the water body. That will prevent the water from being contaminated which will subsequently keep the fish alive and safe.

Keep the pond clean

One of the most effective ways to ensure that all your fish are safe and healthy throughout the winter and making the pond regenerate during the spring season is to clean the pond effectively during the fall. The activity of cleaning the pond at that time will involve tasks like discarding the excessive amount of debris, trimming the surrounding landscapes along with making sure all the necessary repairs are also conducted thoroughly.

Brush away the leaves

One of the best things to ensure that all the fish are safe during the winter season inside the pond is through the means of cleaning away all the leaves. The reason being, when leaves start to fall into the water, they start to gradually decay and that further leads to a significant rise of ammonia level in the water which is not a good thing for aquatic life. On a broader note, the increased level of ammonia in ponds can be extremely fatal and toxic to the fish and therefore, pond owners must clean away all the leaves or at least install a net approximately 15 inches above the water level to catch all the falling leaves.

Stop the flow of moving water and pumps

It is a known fact that fish that live in the pond tend to slow down during the fall season and it is the most suitable time to ensure that any or all fountains, waterfalls are shut down along with the pump that is installed within the pond to further store it for the winter season. By doing that, you can make sure that the warmest part of the water will remain at the furthest bottom of the pond where the fish could hibernate. However, if you continue to move the water during the cold season, it will make the pond cold as well which could endanger the lives of the fish.

Include a de-icer|| Closing A Pond For Winter

Even though fish have significantly low metabolism within winter season, they are still required to make exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen to ensure that they are not suffocating within the water. In case the pond freezes, the ice that is prevalent on the surface of the pond will prevent the exchange of gas and kill all the fish present in the pond. Therefore, the requirement of a floating de-icer is significantly high before closing a pond in winter as that will ensure that a small portion of the surface is in liquid form. It is recommended to not use any toxic substances and not use the de-icer on the entire surface as that might make the water extremely cold and harm the fish.

By ensuring to take the most effective approaches to finally close your pond before winter arrives you will be successful in keeping your fish alive until summer arrives. Thus, you should take leverage of the above-mentioned tips and tricks to achieve the most fruitful outcome and be the best pond owner. Read more>>