When cold weather hits we always get quite a few phone calls about what to do with a koi pond waterfeature during the winter months and the need to heat koi ponds to keep them from freezing over. There seems to be some confusion out there about what is needed.

• ​Does this need to be done to protect the fish?
• Do I have to keep all the ice off the pond all winter?
• Is it ever safe for the pond to be iced over and if so how long?
• If my pond needs to be deiced, how can I do this?

Generally speaking, ice on a backyard koi pond for a week or so is not a problem for the fish because at this time of year, you should have already stopped feeding the koi and they have gone into hibernation. This means that their metabolism has greatly slowed down and they are producing very little waste. Plant life has died back and vegetative material has hopefully been removed from the pond so there is little to decompose. The biological processes in the pond have also slowed down significantly because of the temperature decrease and the toxins that are being formed from fish waste and plant decomposition are doing so at a very slow rate.

ACCU Weather 2016 Winter Forecast (CLICK HERE)

However, in Central Pennsylvania, we often get extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures in the months of January and February, often leading to inches of ice on ponds. Even though being produced at very low rate, toxins created from fish waste and plant decomposition can accumulate over time and stress or kill your pond fish if not handled correctly or in a timely manner. When ice freezes over the pond for multiple weeks without thawing, those toxins have no way to escape the pond (which is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT). Unfortunately, because this build-up causes stress that is hard to detect while the fish are hibernating in the deepest part of the pond under the ice, you may not notice a difference in your fish’s health until spring welcomes Pennsylvania in April. It is also important to note that gasses trapped under the ice for too long can be fatal to your fishy friends.

A pond deicer, also referred to as a pond heater, is designed to keep a hole open in the ice to release those harmful gasses from underneath the ice and can be as small as a half a foot wide.

Now you may be asking yourself, do I really need a pond deicer? We have heard numerous stories about pond owners not having used a pond heater and not experiencing any fish loss either.
The most important reality in the watergardening world is that every pond is different based on the pond size, amount of plant life, number of fish, size of fish, amount of accumulated fish waste and dead organic matter, balance of the nutrients in the water, you name it --- all are contributing factors to the safety of your pond fish under all that ice.

The bigger the fish in length, the more waste is produced, the more stress is created in response to trapped toxins. Therefore, if you didn’t use a pond de-icer in Lebanon County and surrounding areas one year and had no issue but your fish have grown, it is important to realize that larger fish are more sensitive to the conditions underneath that ice. Our recommendation is also to add winter aeration for koi that are 10” or longer.
 
For more information on pond de-icers (pond heaters), aeration for koi fish or winter care in general, please contact us directly!

Dreamscapes services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown

The weather may still be bitter cold BUT the end is in sight! Soon, you will be enjoying the wonder and excitement of your beautiful pond again.  Which brings us to the topic of preparing your pond for Spring.

Mother Nature prepares natural bodies of water by flooding our waterways with fresh rains and melting snow, pushing old water out.  In your Pond or Water Feature, this service will need to be done manually yearly to help maintain its low maintenance and beautiful appearance.

Over Winter, dead leaves and plant foliage make settle and decay between rocks and in the bottom of your pond. By removing decaying plants and other debris from your fish pond, it ensures better water quality and a chance for your ecosystem to get started. Decaying plant debris, leaves may create harmful nitrate spikes in your pond. Over-exposure of this may cause your fish and other aquatic life to stress and possibly die.

The very best time to perform an annual Pond Cleanout is in the Spring, before all your plants and fish have come out of their state of dormancy - ideally before the water temperature in the pond creeps above 55º F. If a clean-out is performed when the water is warmer, after beneficial bacteria colonies form, the balance of the ecosystem will again be thrown off and your pond will go through another “green phase” before the beneficial bacteria colonies re-establish themselves again.

Dreamscapes will begin Pond Cleanouts for the 2016 season in the Lebanon - Harrisburg - Mechanicsburg (PA) and surrounding areas late March-beginning of April. We also carry a full line of water treatments, pond supplies, aquatic plants, koi fish and gold fish. If you think you need it for your pond-we probably have it! Water treatments and pond supplies are also always available on our trucks when we perform Spring Cleanouts- just ask a team member!

We strongly encourage you to retrieve and review the Spring Maintenance Contract and schedule your appointment AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Dreamscapes performs 200 pond cleanouts yearly and many of our customers sign up early. All of our scheduling is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  

We look forward to working with you to help make your 2016 water gardening & outdoor living experience the most relaxing ever! Please Contact Us if you have any questions!