Preparing Your Pond for Winter
From Laguna, A Beginner's guide to Opening and Closing a Water Garden
The month of October brings about a change in weather that signals the need for winter preparation in colder climate zones. Skim your pond at least once a week, removing any leaves or plant matter. Ponds should be covered with netting in order to catch the leaves and make them easier to remove. Leaves or plant matter left in the pond will deteriorate over the winter producing organic waste.
TIP: A patch of leaves left in the deepest part of the pond can help to provide shelter when fish are being kept in the pond for winter.
This is also a good time to start introducing spring/fall formulated fish food. Make sure to have a good thermometer on hand so you know when it's time to stop feeding.
Depending on the climate zone you live in, November is when you will start to see the water temperature in your pond drop below 43°F. When the water reaches this temperature, submersible pumps should be removed, cleaned and stored for winter. Completely take apart and clean your pump, especially the impeller. Check the owner's manual for instructions. Storing your equipment without cleaning it would result in damaged equipment or a broken impeller shaft when you restart in the spring.
You will also need to disconnect, clean and store pond equipment such as UV Sterilizers and external filters. If you have a waterfall, you will also have to disconnect it for the winter months.
In colder climate zones, an air hole needs to be kept open to allow for gases to escape from your pond. If your pond completely freezes, fish may suffocate and die. A de-icer and/or aeration kit should be added to ensure proper oxygenation and gas exchange.
Laguna Premium Floating Koi & Goldfish Food Sticks
Ingredients
Fish Meal, Wheat Flour, Rice Flour, Soy Protein Concentrate, Wheat Gluten Meal, Spirulina Wheat Germ Meal, Shrimp Meal, Soy Flour, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dried Yeast, Dried Seaweed Meal, Fish Oil (preserved with Ethoxyquin), Fish Liver Meal, Rice Bran, Choline Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, Lecithin, Citric Acid, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C activity), Inositol, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyriodoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Extract and Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product.
| Guaranteed Analysis |
| Crude Protein |
30.0% Min |
| Crude Fat |
4.0% Min |
| Crude Fiber |
5.0% Max |
| Moisture |
10.0% Max |
| Ash |
15.0% Max |
| Calcium |
1.0% Min |
| Vitamin A |
15,000 IU/kg |
| Vitamin D3 |
2,100 IU/kg |
| Vitamin E |
100 IU/kg |
| Ascorbic Acid |
35 mg/kg |
|
 "Laguna Pond Winterizing Kits")
Prepare your pond for winter with greater ease AND savings! Laguna Pond Winterizing Kit packages together seasonal essentials to save you time and money. Complete winterzing kit includes products designed to help maintain a healthy pond environment for koi and other pond fish. Laguna Pond Netting, Aeration Kit and Power Heat Pond De-icer are the core products that ensure a smooth transition from fall to winter and a successful spring opening. Available in two styles to suit your winterizing needs.
