care during winter

It can be very rewarding for owning a fish pond. You can relax by the water with a freshly squeezed orange juice and favourite snack especially in the warmer summer weather and maybe ( or maybe not- it depends on your countries climate ) on the fine days the colder winter. But the care for your pond differs between the summer and winter months. This article is about the comparison of fish pond care between summer and winter.

1. Fish Need Air: There are variations between the two seasons.

Summer: Fish pond water in the summer has the tendency to increase in temperature which decreases the oxygen levels. In warmer waters fish have the tendency to metabolize their food faster which will require an increase in oxygen hence decreasing oxygen levels. But the overall effect of oxygen in the pond will depend on fish numbers. If you overcrowd your pond, oxygen will be depleted and fish can become stresses, maybe get sick and with complete neglect from the owner, die.

To solve this:

• use aerating devices.
• clean the fish pond from algae and debris on a regular basis.
• decrease the numbers of fish if there are overcrowding issues.

Winter:: Depending on where you live, fish ponds can ice over in cold climates. This could lead to a build-up of toxic gases over a period of time which makes the air is unable to circulate properly. Therefore it is important that at least a part of the pond’s surface be exposed to allow the toxic gases to escape and oxygen to enter.

To do this you can use:

• aerator: This large air stone operated by a pump creates a small opening in the ice. It needs to be placed halfway from the deepest part of the pond to the surface. This is important to get accurate because if it is placed too deep then there is a tendency for the pond to become chilled and if it is placed too near the top then the aerator could freeze.
• de-icer or heater: These puncture a hole through the iced pond so the fish can breathe. There are several varieties with the most efficient ones creating an ice-free pond.
• water pump: This produces an opening to the surface of the pond. There are surface pond pumps and submersible pond pumps, both of which need to be checked regularly to make sure they are working correctly. They have their own disadvantages and advantages.

2. Fish Need To Be Fed Correctly: This differs between summer and winter as fish change their metabolic rate.

Summer:

1. Feed them protein-rich foods as fish metabolize food faster in the summer. This will help with their growth development, overall health, and the ability to store fat in preparation for the winter months.
2. Give them frequent smaller feeds as opposed to one big helping. This is because large amounts of food could kill them.
3. Introduce new foods a little at a time with their usual foods.

Winter:

Fish have slow metabolism in the winter and hence have a tendency to ignore food. However if they are interested and to help prevent starvation, give them foods made from wheat germ.

3. Cover Your Pond In The Winter

This will help protect your fish and devices from extreme cold weather.

The cover needs to be:

• sturdy to withstand the long cold days and possible snow accumulation
• made of materials like plywood
• built like a wooden frame raised over the pond to enable gas exchange

4. Keep Your Pond Clean Especially In The Summer

This can be done running the filter to remove the debris, fallen leaves, and algae. A dirty pond can cause bacteria to grow, which can cause your fish to become sick and very irritated.

This is a comparison of fish pond care between the summer and winter. As you can see there are different things you need to do between the warmer and colder seasons. However, the overall end effect is similar to them with the need to make sure that the fish have enough oxygen, are fed properly and that the equipment and pond are kept clean.