In the last couple of articles we have discussed winter time and you pond needs. Here, we will give you an idea of the various tasks that have to be completed to prepare for the harsh weather.

1. If you live in a part of the country that experiences extremely harsh winters, drink your fountain and pond pump so it does not freeze.
2. You should try to raise the level of the pump from the bottom of the pond so only the higher level colder water it being circulated this will leave the warmer water at the bottom of the pond undisturbed so the fish can overwinter.
3. Check the surface of the pond regularly on winter mornings to check for formation of ice, always make sure an area of your pond in not frozen so harmful gases can escape.
4. If you experience harsh winters consider installing a pond heater, this will mean you can relax a little if you are going on holiday or will not be able to check the pond for a period of time.
5. You could try to cover the pond surface with a roll of bubble wrap making sure there is ventilation between this and the pond surface. This can be removed when the weather warms up a little and reinstated if cold weather is expected.

We discussed what happens to your pond if the water freezes in the last article, so here we will discuss what you can do to stop the big freeze and what happens to your fountain or pump during the winter months.

If you have fish like koi in your pond, it is always a good idea to try to stop ice from forming or melt a section it if it is already frozen over. You can buy pond heaters from most online aquatic websites that will float on the water. The device is of course powered by electricity but will keep an area of the pond free from ice.

If the pond does freeze, you should always try to melt a section holding a hot pan of water on the surface. If you try and smash the ice the shock could kill the fish. It goes without saying that even if you think the ice on your pond is quite thick you should never try to stand on the ice. Apart from the injury you may sustain as a result, the compressed ice will damage the pond liner and lead to leaks.

You can still use your fountain during cold weather but if the chances of severe weather are high, there is the possibility you will have to turn the pond pump off. If cold weather is expected for long periods or you live in a region that experiences harsh winters, a good idea is to remove the pump completely and reinstate it into the pond next spring.

It may be a little early to start discussing winter but the weather has now really started to turn and there is a distinct chill in the air that was not noticeable just a few weeks ago. In fact it will not be long until parts of the country start to experience their first frost.

If you live in a town or city then the chances are your pond will rarely freeze iover due to the latent heat from surrounding buildings but if we have a really cold spell ice can cause problems to not just the pond inhabitants but also the pond itself.

Ice can cause damage to pond liners due to the expansion around the surface edges of the pond. If the weather is really harsh it can even crack pre-formed pond liners and hence cause your pond to be permanently damaged. If the entire pond surface is covered with ice dangerous levels of gases and noxious substances can build up. This means whenever possible you should try to stop part of the pond freezing. If you do this your fish should survive the winter months, unless of course the entire depth of the pond freezes.

In the next article we will discuss winter problems with pond pumps and pond fountains.

Some people believe koi carp to be difficult fish to keep. But as with anything, so long as you look after them and maintain their environment, there is no reason why your koi can’t enjoy long and healthy lives.
The most important thing to remember is to keep the water clean. Maintaining the water involves removing ammonia and nitrates and ensuring that the PH levels are kept neutral. Investing in pond filters is essential for this.

You need to ensure that your koi are also regularly fed. As with all pedigree breeds, the immune system of koi carp is not the most effective, so they need to be fed a specialised diet to give them all the nutrients they need in order to stay healthy. You can even get food developed especially for koi carp.

Koi carp need to be looked after and this means giving them enough room. So ensure that you don’t overstock your pond as this could lead to increased levels of ammonia and nitrates.

If you follow these simple rules, then you should be on your way to a healthy pond and more importantly, healthy fish. But, if you do come across any infections or diseases, it is important to treat them straight away.

As the winter months slowly creep up on us, our gardens will soon be turning into winter wonderlands. The grass will be covered in a sparkling white blanket, the trees will be glittering in the morning sun and our garden ponds will be frosting up.

But in the winter months, pond maintenance is even more crucial. The first thing to remember is not to switch off the pumps and the filters. But you do need to turn off your waterfalls. This is because your waterfall will act like a large radiator and cool your water quickly to the same level as the air temperature. Fish are very good at adapting to changes in temperature so long as the change wasn’t too sudden, so you need to try to keep the temperature as stable as possible.

You will need to reduce the feeding of your fish in the winter months because as the temperature of the water cools, the fish will be seeking less food and they will not be processing food as quickly either.

Although fish are good at withstanding low temperatures, if the temperatures remain low for a long period of time, they may start to experience problems. So it is a good idea to protect your pond from wind chill using bubble wrap to cover the surface. But always leave a section uncovered so that gases can escape from the pond.

Building a koi pond is not a two minute job. But remember, time spent building a koi pond is worth it because this pond should be in place for years to come and you will certainly get lots of pleasure from it.

With koi carp ponds, it is always a good idea to build it as close to the house as possible. With all those beautiful fish swimming about, you don’t want to miss a chance to make the most of them.

It is also essential to consider any trees that you may have in your garden. Don’t build your pond under overhanging trees or in a shady spot because leaves will become trapped in the pond and the sunlight will be blocked meaning that the water will not warm at all during the summer.

Knowing what size to make your pond is the next hurdle to overcome. Koi carp need roughly ten gallons for every fish inch. You should also try to make your pond three to four feet deep.

All these considerations and you’ve not even lifted so much as a spade yet! Koi carp ponds can be time consuming and difficult to build. But once you’re at the finish line, you will see that it was all worth it.