This will maintain the life support system the pond needs during the seasons. basement, heated . Keeping wanted submerged plants alive. Check with your local fish dealer for advice on your specific fish. This could damage or even destroy the pipe entirely. 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. I have lost fish when I have failed to add aeration on a timely basis. Oxygen Depletion: Still, quiet water - even just . The main purpose of a pump in a fish pond is to circulate the ponds water through some kind of filtration. 3. 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. You can . For the same reason, you will also want to turn off your surface skimmer. Keep your air pump running to de-gas and prevent pond from completely freezing. An aerator adds oxygen to the water. Remove leaves and debris In winter it is best to lift the pump off the bottom and onto the marginal shelf as this allows the lower layer of water in the pond to remain still for the fish. But if the pump is turned off, that debris will settle to the bottom of the pond and build up, creating a dense food source for nuisances like algae. You do not need to use the UV lamp when the temperature is low, as the fish might be in a hibernation state. You can choose to shut it off, in which case you can simply turn off and remove the pump until spring. Finally, turn off the water supply to the fountain and remove any plugs or screws that may be holding the pump in place. i have a 60 ltr per min of air going to the bottom drain and have 60 ltr's of air per min in the filter aswell and it will all be left on this winter. It's a good idea to keep an eye on the weather reports. Should you discover any problems, turn the pump off until you can make repairs. When should I turn my pond pump off in the winter? Some say turn the filter off during the winter. Skim leaves off the pond regularly, or install a net at least 15-18 inches above the water to catch leaves. A garage or storage shed for example. 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. Remove the pump from the pond and store it away for winter. During the winter the fish are not as active. You don't want the pump to run during the winter because the moving water mixes up thermal layers, making the water near the bottom colder (where fish will be). Definitely don't turn your filter off and on, its recommended to keep it on since you do need filtration all the year round. I have been reading several different opinions about stopping a pond filter during the Winter or letting it run. Finally, cover the fountain with a layer of sand or gravel. when the water gets to 5 degree's stop feeding all together S Should you decide to turn off the filter for winter, make sure to completely drain all your pond pump accessories: Plumbing pipes External pumps UV supplies If you're storing your supplies in an unheated area (like a garage or shed), double check that every last drop of water has been drained out. Ponds which are protected from wind are most at risk. The base answer is yes, it's a good idea to aerate a pond all year round. Keeping a pond open in winter requires continued maintenance. The warmest water will be at the bottom of the pond where fish are hibernating, and continuing to . If you have no aquatic life in your pond, it is . If you have a waterfall you can leave this running as the water falling of the edge into your pond will help keep an area of your pond open even if the rest of the pond has frozen over. The pump in the pond needs some attention before winter kicks in. When to turn off UV in a pond Written by Kev in General Info, Problems/Solutions, Water health It is most common to turn a pond UV clarifier off during winter. Start by laying rocks, pipes, or lumbers such as 4"x 4" across the pond in 1-2 feet apart. 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. 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. 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. What happens when you turn your pond pump off at night If your pond has fish in it do not turn the pump off at night! You can turn off your UV light during winter because of the low water temperature. 1. Because of these factors green water is less likely to be a problem over winter. Should I leave my pond fountain on in winter? If the winter temperatures in your area tend to be freezing disconnect the pump, filter, and UV clarifier before water freezes. Considerations with Pump On If you leave the water pump on you need to look into a water heater or de-icier. When a fountain timer is set turn a fountain off at night, during the cold winter months, the water around the fountain motor can freeze and prevent the fountain shaft and propeller from moving when the fountain tries to restart the next morning. If the air pump is circulating water at the bottom of the pond it will push the warmer water to . Will a pond aerator alone keep my fish alive in winter? Be sure to store the pump in a bucket of water in a garage or shed where it won't freeze. Check the Circulation of Water Pump size is important when determining a waterfall's ability to operate during the winter. If you have a pond with fish, you must make sure there is always an opening on the surface for oxygenation should the pond freeze over. These ponds freeze sooner and longer than their windy counterparts. You may even want to empty your pond of water as this can prevent damage from ice buildup. Water can be supplied via a hose run from inside the house or by making multiple trips with a large bucket. Pond Aerators provide oxygen to your pond in winter and are necessary for keeping fish alive through the winter. ** Phil. However, it is generally recommended to turn off the waterfall during the winter months to prevent the koi from becoming too cold. No, pump and filtration systems work best if they are kept running throughout the year. It's when the snow covers the pond problems do arise. Fish. Ventilation: If you're aerating the water, all you need is a small hole or two for the bubbles to escape. The pump ensures that the water keeps flowing but let the pump run at half speed. Some fish, such as fancy goldfish, should be brought indoors during the winter. Summary Such as the climate, the pond size, and the type of koi fish. Settled Debris: Moving water helps to keep debris suspended in the water column and pulled through the skimmer and filter for efficient removal. However a pond without fish can safely be turned off at night. A recirculating pump such as the one pictured above can be used to provide necessary oxygen to your pond in winter in place of an aerator. Next, winterize your pond waterfall or skimmer box by pumping out the water. It will help preserve the life of your UV lamp. If the debris from this "die back" is allowed to remain in the pond over winter, it will start to decompose, this decomposition will release a variety of undesirable chemicals in to the pond. Use a pond de-icer to keep an area of the pond ice-free to allow toxic gases to escape. While it is not necessary to remove them from the pond, water should . In this instance I did not get my aeration going until after a layer of ice had developed. 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. How do I get rid of parasites in my koi pond? If you turn it off for any length of time the bacteria die and you also risk pumping stagnant water into the pond when it goes back on. If you are in a region. Most people do this when the water temperature increases to around 50 degrees. If the current aeration system is still running and the water temperature has dropped to 50 degrees. Looking After A Pond In The Winter. If however you experience very cold winters, or icy temperatures have been forecasted for an extensive period, you might consider switching your pump and filters off and removing them for routine maintenance while making sure the water surface doesn't freeze completely. A 100 to 250 watt de-icer is recommended. 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. this time in the year you should be feeding wheatgerm. Switching off a pond also aids fish as still water becomes colder a the top than it does the bottom. mcdonapm Dragonfly Posts: 25 In the past, some heat pumps thrived even in extremely cold temperatures while others were disadvantaged. No. You have to turn it off and remove the lamp from the pond when you are not using it. Subsequently, question is, can fish live in a pond without a pump? 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. if you have any air pumps leave them on aswell. Either set the timer to allow it to run 24/7 or turn it off until the hard freeze is over. When winter comes, you will need to have enough heat in your home to avoid . If you have no aquatic life in your pond, it is safer to have the pump off when temperatures fall below freezing so you can avoid damage to the pump. For that reason, if you have a lot of fish in the pond, the pump must run all the time. Start Pump If your pump has been off for the winter, spring is the time to start it back up. Dissolve 2.5 cupfuls of Pond Salt in 10 U.S. gallons of pond water making a 2.0% solution. Otherwise, water drops can freeze into ice drops. First, based on the size of your pond, we recommend de-icers that can last up to 250 gallons. Ensure the entire pond is covered. The freezing point for water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. edit: yes you should stop feeding. Store your pump in a dry place. Remember, do not feed your fish when water temperatures are below 39o F. Make sure that it itself is also dry so that no internal water can freeze and cause damage. Once the ice forms over the pond we're still good to go since the sun light can penetrate through the ice to keep the plants alive, but once the snow covers the pond the light is . By letting a filter/water fall run during the winter, you are putting stress on fish. Whether you should leave your pond pump running in winter or turn it off depends on your climate and the needs of the aquatic life, if any, in your pond. 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. ANY loss of fish. Pond fish depend on pumps both to filter their excrement from the water and to keep the level of . If the pump is not properly seated, it will not be able to draw water from the reservoir. . As such your pond should be covered with a . If you don't have live animals in the pond, you can turn off the pump. Pro: Winter aeration can provide your fish added oxygen to keep them thriving even when they slow down for the cold season. If the temperatures in your area don't drop below freezing during the winter, you should feel free to keep the pond running. 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. Then, put solar cover over being held down by the weighted objects. When should I turn off my pond pump? 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. It is absolutely necessary to have the pump working 24 hours a day - every day. If you're in a colder climate, however, shutting your pump off may be the safest option. Frozen water expands significantly and will explode your piping. First, check to see if the pump is properly seated in the base of the fountain. To do this you can put in a floating de-icer or put a pump in the bottom which shoots a jet of water . It will also help circulate the water, preventing toxic gas from settling at the bottom of the pond near your fish. They aren't eating and the sun isn't as intense. If the temperature at night drops lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit, switch the pump off. 2. Today, all heat pumps function optimally in extremely cold temperatures. Experts recommend shutting off the pump and removing it from the pond when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.