Autumn has come: the moment came to prepare the pond in the winter. With the plan in following steps, we put you in any case on the way to both keep the pond, than your fish healthy during the harsh winter months.
First it's a good idea to test and correct your pond water as fall equinox approaches. Poor water quality is one of the main causes of diseases in fish and pond problems. It is therefore an absolute necessity to test the water values and correct if necessary. A inexpensiver box set containing all necessary tests to test the main values of the water are a great tool for the pond caretaker.
If the values of water are good, you can stimulate the quality of water with a cold water bacteria stimulant or additive to enhance dcold water cleanout of pond water via biological filtration. With this mix of bacteria you accelerate during the autumn and winter the decomposition of leaves, waste and other organic materials, and creating the basis for a healthy start of spring.
Do a thorough clean and covering with netting of the pond. Autumn is the ideal time for a last 'great housekeeping' before winter. Remove all algae and organic material rotted, clean the pump and filtration system and turn off the UV lamp. Nets covering of Superfish, available in several sizes, keep your pond free of leaves and protect, in addition, fish, reacting in this slower period, herons and cats.
Keep the free ice pond. We strongly advise you to prevent the pond freezes. Install a bubbler in deeper ponds at one end to provide ventilation before the freeze period, to prevent that the pond freezes across its surface. A hole in the ice allows in fact that water feeds fresh oxygen and harmful gases escape. A floating low wattage heater is a great solution as well. Keep a spare on hand in case of failure.