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How To Stop Feeding Koi in Winter
I have mixed emotions this time of year. The days are getting shorter, the nights a little longer and a little cooler. The fall colors are beginning to show and warm summer water temperatures beginning to slip into the lower 60's. What can or should we be doing to ensure a smooth transition into winter?
Well as always we need to keep up with general cleanliness in and around our ponds. Don't stop filter maintenance and do keep performing weekly water changes. Some people believe that this is the perfect time to do major (50%) water change. The reasoning being that the pond water temperature is the same as the water coming out of the tap, so not to create a large temperature drop. So fall and spring would be good times to do large water changes. Watch your water temperatures and when your tap water is the same as your pond water it's safe to do a large water change if you choose to do so. I'm going to do a large water change this year, but thanks to our extended summer weather we're still at 65 degrees. We need to wait until it drops to 55 degrees.
I know it's hard to do but now is the time to cut back on the feedings. Cut back on both the number of times that you feed and the amount that you feed at each feeding. The fish are going to act like they're starving but they're not, trust me on this one, there is plenty of stuff in the pond to supplement what you're feeding them. You need to remember that your ponds filter determines the amount that you can feed and as the water temperatures continue to drop so does the amount of fish waste they can handle. Another reason to do water changes, each water change dilutes the amount of fish waste and other bio loads on your filter.
Some people switch to wheat germ food but save yourself some money and continue what you normally use just use less. When the daytime temperatures start to drop keep a close eye on water temperatures because once they start to drop they can drop pretty fast. When water temperature drops below 50 degrees you should stop feeding for the year. Even if it warms back up over 50 degrees don't try and start feeding again, you are just asking for trouble. Your fish are in the best shape of the year and they are ready for winter. If you start feeding again you risk ulcer issues later when their immune system slows or shuts down. Then you're screwed and have to doctor fish in cold water, good luck with that.
If the top of your filter is uncovered or open to the elements you might consider throwing a tarp over the top to keep tree crud from falling into the top of your filter and adding unwanted bio load to your filter.
If you turn off any pumps make sure that you disconnect and drain any plumbing that might freeze. During freezing weather keep a close eye on exposed filters especially gravity flow, they're prone to freezing and dumping the pond water where you don't want it. That's when you wake up and there is only 3"-4" of water left in your pond and your fish are not happy. Make sure that you drain your garden hose after each use, it really sucks when you need to use it and it's frozen solid. Four inches of hot water in the bath tub works well to thaw in a hurry, I know this one all to well. If you use a UV light you can turn it off and drain it as soon as you stop feeding. If you can disconnect it and store it inside it helps extending the life of the quartz sleeve.
In real cold areas lots of people build PVC structures over their ponds and cover them with clear plastic to keep them warmer during the winter. Just make sure that it's anchored well so it doesn't turn into a large yard ornament in your neighbors yard.
One thing you never want to do this time of year is add new fish to your pond. There is not enough time for their immune systems to adjust to new fish around them and mid winter could very well be a disaster, again good luck with that.
Hope this helps. Now is the time to get prepared for winter, when it's snowing it's too late.
Dave Smieja
Copyright © 10-5-09
All rights reserved
Well as always we need to keep up with general cleanliness in and around our ponds. Don't stop filter maintenance and do keep performing weekly water changes. Some people believe that this is the perfect time to do major (50%) water change. The reasoning being that the pond water temperature is the same as the water coming out of the tap, so not to create a large temperature drop. So fall and spring would be good times to do large water changes. Watch your water temperatures and when your tap water is the same as your pond water it's safe to do a large water change if you choose to do so. I'm going to do a large water change this year, but thanks to our extended summer weather we're still at 65 degrees. We need to wait until it drops to 55 degrees.
I know it's hard to do but now is the time to cut back on the feedings. Cut back on both the number of times that you feed and the amount that you feed at each feeding. The fish are going to act like they're starving but they're not, trust me on this one, there is plenty of stuff in the pond to supplement what you're feeding them. You need to remember that your ponds filter determines the amount that you can feed and as the water temperatures continue to drop so does the amount of fish waste they can handle. Another reason to do water changes, each water change dilutes the amount of fish waste and other bio loads on your filter.
Some people switch to wheat germ food but save yourself some money and continue what you normally use just use less. When the daytime temperatures start to drop keep a close eye on water temperatures because once they start to drop they can drop pretty fast. When water temperature drops below 50 degrees you should stop feeding for the year. Even if it warms back up over 50 degrees don't try and start feeding again, you are just asking for trouble. Your fish are in the best shape of the year and they are ready for winter. If you start feeding again you risk ulcer issues later when their immune system slows or shuts down. Then you're screwed and have to doctor fish in cold water, good luck with that.
If the top of your filter is uncovered or open to the elements you might consider throwing a tarp over the top to keep tree crud from falling into the top of your filter and adding unwanted bio load to your filter.
If you turn off any pumps make sure that you disconnect and drain any plumbing that might freeze. During freezing weather keep a close eye on exposed filters especially gravity flow, they're prone to freezing and dumping the pond water where you don't want it. That's when you wake up and there is only 3"-4" of water left in your pond and your fish are not happy. Make sure that you drain your garden hose after each use, it really sucks when you need to use it and it's frozen solid. Four inches of hot water in the bath tub works well to thaw in a hurry, I know this one all to well. If you use a UV light you can turn it off and drain it as soon as you stop feeding. If you can disconnect it and store it inside it helps extending the life of the quartz sleeve.
In real cold areas lots of people build PVC structures over their ponds and cover them with clear plastic to keep them warmer during the winter. Just make sure that it's anchored well so it doesn't turn into a large yard ornament in your neighbors yard.
One thing you never want to do this time of year is add new fish to your pond. There is not enough time for their immune systems to adjust to new fish around them and mid winter could very well be a disaster, again good luck with that.
Hope this helps. Now is the time to get prepared for winter, when it's snowing it's too late.
Dave Smieja
Copyright © 10-5-09
All rights reserved
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