Remove the pump from the pond and store it away for winter. Otherwise, water drops can freeze into ice drops. Remember, do not feed your fish when water temperatures are below 39o F. Such as the climate, the pond size, and the type of koi fish. Well, the answer is no. Now that your filtration system and pump have been disconnected, use a submersible pump and drain hose to lower the pond level below the opening of the skimmer. As fish slow down in fall, it is time to shut off any waterfalls, fountains or bubblers and remove the pond's pump to store it for winter. Should I turn my pond pump off for the winter? A 100 to 250 watt de-icer is recommended. If your pond has fish in it do not turn the pump off at night! Check the Circulation of Water Pump size is important when determining a waterfall's ability to operate during the winter. Either set the timer to allow it to run 24/7 or turn it off until the hard freeze is over. Ponds which are protected from wind are most at risk. For most ponds a good rule of thumb should be to circulate the pond once every hour. Snow also remains on these ponds longer with less wind to blow the snow off the ice, which cuts off light to the aquatic world, reducing photosynthesis. Start Pump If your pump has been off for the winter, spring is the time to start it back up. The freezing point for water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In the past, some heat pumps thrived even in extremely cold temperatures while others were disadvantaged. I have lost fish when I have failed to add aeration on a timely basis. If you leave the pump in the water garden it has the potential to freeze, which can cause irreversible damage. If you turn the pump off, REMOVE it from the water feature and keep it in a dry secure place. When winter comes, you will need to have enough heat in your home to avoid . You can . Do not start the pump and then leave. 2 to 3 feeds per day is enough for most of the year, but in the summer it can be increased to 3 to 4 if necessary. It will help preserve the life of your UV lamp. If you have a fish pond you are probably aware that your pond system pump, UV, filter costs money to run turning this off for the winter months will help to keep that cost down. If your customer decides to turn the system off for the winter, most of the water in the pipe will drain back into the pond when the pump is removed. 2. ** Phil. This will maintain the life support system the pond needs during the seasons. I leave my pump running 24/7/365/<infinity>; if I were to turn it off in winter, there would be almost a 100% certainty that the pond would ice over, and an almost equal certainty that the beneficial bacteria in the filter would die (I do not know if I could keep the latter alive by inserting an airstone). Dissolve 2.5 cupfuls of Pond Salt in 10 U.S. gallons of pond water making a 2.0% solution. It isn't necessary to completely shut down your pond pump over the winter in order to prevent the water from becoming super chilled in our climate. Never leave your pump in the pond if it's not running or you risk costly or irreversible damage to the equipment. this time in the year you should be feeding wheatgerm. In my experiments the water will get to 32.1F on the bottom of a 5.5 pond in a typical aerated Midwestern Koi pond in the middle of winter without. Should you discover any problems, turn the pump off until you can make repairs. If the temperatures in your area don't drop below freezing during the winter, you should feel free to keep the pond running. During the winter the fish are not as active. Make sure your equipment is drained of any water and that you're filter and media is cleaned before starting back up in the Spring. If your customer decides to keep the pump running all winter long, there will still be a constant flow of water traveling through the pipe and the moving water will not freeze. Also question is, what do I do with my pond pump in the winter? Store your pump in a dry place. Ensure the entire pond is covered. It's hard to predict what type of winter we may have. No, pump and filtration systems work best if they are kept running throughout the year. Generally speaking, it's not uncommon to have to go out a few times a month during the winter to "top off" the pond. Finally, turn off the water supply to the fountain and remove any plugs or screws that may be holding the pump in place. It's when the snow covers the pond problems do arise. If you don't have live animals in the pond, you can turn off the pump. So having it on intermittently is even worse than not at all! Your Pond is alive! However a pond without fish can safely be turned off at night. Keeping wanted submerged plants alive. The amateur has some more questions. A garage or storage shed for example. You do not need to use the UV lamp when the temperature is low, as the fish might be in a hibernation state. Hi guys this is Mark from anypond.com your trusted resource in the UK for ponds and water features.and today's question is "when should I turn off my pond . While it is not necessary to remove them from the pond, water should . I realize that less water movement would . I have been reading several different opinions about stopping a pond filter during the Winter or letting it run. Today, all heat pumps function optimally in extremely cold temperatures. if you have any air pumps leave them on aswell. Keeping a pond open in winter requires continued maintenance. Summary It is generally recommended to turn off koi pond pumps in winter, as the fish do not need to be aerated and the pump can freeze. For the same reason, you will also want to turn off your surface skimmer. Oxygen Depletion: Still, quiet water - even just . Pro: Winter aeration can provide your fish added oxygen to keep them thriving even when they slow down for the cold season. Once all the leaves have fallen, simply roll up the net, discard the leaves, and put the net away until the next time it's needed. (back in the pond). You can turn off your UV light during winter because of the low water temperature. Internal filters should be removed and cleaned as well. Next, cover the pond with a tarp or other waterproof material to help keep moisture and debris from accumulating. In winter, you should turn the flow of the water on your pump down by about 50%, this is to stop too much flow while your fish are in a state of hibernation. Feb 19, 2009 #1. Balance: Koi (and many other fish) go into a sort of dormancy in the winter, using less oxygen and naturally settling to the bottom of the pond where the water is warmer. Bang on the ice - everyone knows you need a hole to allow harmful gasses to escape but if the surface of your pond fills in you should never bang on the ice to create a hole. However, if you have a particularly large or deep pond, you may need to keep the pump running to prevent it from freezing and damaging the equipment. Will a pond aerator alone keep my fish alive in winter? It's a good idea to keep an eye on the weather reports. You can choose to shut it off, in which case you can simply turn off and remove the pump until spring. Then, put solar cover over being held down by the weighted objects. If you turn your pump of at 9.00pm at night and turn it back on at 9.00am in the morning that means your pump and filter system is only cleaning your pond water for 12 hours a day which can lead to trouble further down the road. Most people do this when the water temperature increases to around 50 degrees. A wheatgerm-based pond food such as Tetra Pond Wheatgerm Sticks, explicitly designed to aid digestion during colder periods, should be used. when the water gets to 5 degree's stop feeding all together S Keep the Pump Submerged When Storing: Remove the pump, submerge it into a 5-gallon bucket filled with water.Store the bucket in a place where the water will not freeze (i.e. Watching weather reports, to see whether you should turn your pump off or not though. The majority of pond owners prefer to close ponds and waterfalls down in winter to avoid frequently venturing out to the pond in frigid temperatures for upkeep and any required troubleshooting such as adding water which usually needs to be carried out in buckets since outdoor pipes . That kind of activity can cause sound waves that are extremely harmful to fish. Secondly, check the discharge hole to make sure it is not blocked. If the air pump is circulating water at the bottom of the pond it will push the warmer water to . Install pond netting Putting a pond net over your water feature before leaves start falling from trees is the easiest way to contain and manage leaf control. If you are in a region. Shut your pond off and remove the pump. Keep your air pump running to de-gas and prevent pond from completely freezing. This could damage or even destroy the pipe entirely. Here are 8 things you should NEVER do to your pond in the winter: 1. Pond fish depend on pumps both to filter their excrement from the water and to keep the level of . Start Filter The base answer is yes, it's a good idea to aerate a pond all year round. you do not have to turn the heat pump off in the extreme cold. When should I turn my pond pump off in the winter? If your pond is open to the elements,the less you mess with the pond in the winter, the better your fish will do .As the water temperature approaches 40 degrees, turn off your pumps and filters, and either drain them or protect them from freezing. . Is it possible for goldfish to survive without a pump in a pond? Start by laying rocks, pipes, or lumbers such as 4"x 4" across the pond in 1-2 feet apart. Should I leave my pond fountain on in winter? View complete answer on livingwateraeration.com Some fish, such as fancy goldfish, should be brought indoors during the winter. Be sure to store the pump in a bucket of water in a garage or shed where it won't freeze. Check with your local fish dealer for advice on your specific fish. Make sure you decrease the flow rate and move the pump away from the bottom of the pond. For that reason, if you have a lot of fish in the pond, the pump must run all the time. Many people know the value of aeration during the hotter summer months, and sometimes they end up learning the hard way that oxygen can get depleted in very warm weather and they lose a large number of big fish as a result. Rinse the pump thoroughly with water and place it back in the water about 12 inches or 30 centimeters below the water surface. It is absolutely necessary to have the pump working 24 hours a day - every day. Step 2: Lower the Pond's Water Level. To do this you can put in a floating de-icer or put a pump in the bottom which shoots a jet of water . As such your pond should be covered with a . If you have no aquatic life in your pond, it is . The pump in the pond needs some attention before winter kicks in. 300 watt de-icer for 250 to 500 gallons. Wheatgerm-based food is ideal for when the water temperature is between 4C and 10C as they contain less protein, which makes it easier for your fish to digest at lower temperatures. In a fish or Koi pond, it is a good idea during winter to elevate the pump around 30cm (1ft) from the base of the pond so that the lower section remains tranquil and slightly warmer than the surface water which will be of benefit for the fish entering into semi-hibernation.