Jeff D asked:
I am thinking of making a Koi pond in my backyard but want to get some input first. What do you need to do for Koi fish in the winter?
I am thinking of making a Koi pond in my backyard but want to get some input first. What do you need to do for Koi fish in the winter?
I live in a area that can get to be as low as around 5 F but is usually mid 20s F. Medium snowfall. Woodsy area so there are animals. In the summer it is usually around 70s or 80s F. Thanks a lot.
I use a pond heater. It comes on automatically depending on the temp.
In wisconsin i bring them in the basement.Bought a plastic stock tank to keep them in.Every 3 weeks drain out a third of the water and refill.
With it getting that cold, I would definitely plan supplemental efforts like bringing them in or heating the pond, but please don’t neglect basic pond design for them. In case of an unexpected cold snap or an early spell, be sure to build the pond so that it is deep enough to provide a good amount of water below the freezing line on the surface of the pond so there are not sudden temperature change shocks (note, this applies too if you are bringing them inside – don’t wait until it’s 20 degrees and then bring them inside to 70 degrees abruptly). Four feet is a good depth if it is really cold. Less than two or two and a half, don’t even think about leaving them out. If the pond is freezing over completely, melt the top with a heater to allow gas exchange so the fish don’t build up too much ammonia.
Feed fish less as the temperature goes down and they become more dormant. Several places I’ve read say to stop feeding at 50 degrees, one said if you have a large pond you can feed down to 46 degrees. If you feed them when they go torpid, they can’t digest, so the food sits in there and breeds bacteria to kill them.
Clean everything in the pond thoroughly during the warmer fall weather to reduce biological decay during the winter. As the fall continues, clean the pond of fallen leaves so that they do not grow bacterial colonies or harbor parasites. If you have plants around the edge, move them or otherwise ensure they are not dropping things in the water to rot and kill the fish. Move your equipment so that the top waters of the pond are circulating instead of from the bottom up, and slow it so the water is not circulating as fast – this will help to keep the bottom water warmer and is ok to do because colder water does not need as much oxygenation. No waterfalls or flows of water outside the pond in the winter, it will chill the water!
Are you somewhere that the climate stays cold for a very long time? If it warms up occasionally that’s not so bad, but if it stays very low for months at a time, you definitely want to go with the heater or the move of the fish. If you can’t move the fish, think about building a shelter over the pond instead – don’t forget ventilation for the ammonia and such. If you go with the heater, be very certain to use it in a way that you keep the water at a consistent temperature, no on again off again use, and try to arrange something so it heats in a filtered area and releases the water instead of just having a heater sitting in the water that will cause weird currents and may wake the fish up so they get weaker from needing to eat.
This site has a bunch of detailed and easy to read recommendations:
You might also want to search the web to see if there is a koi club in your region which might have members who would be happy to get to know you and excited to give you advice on your project while looking at the actual site, or alternately, show you the arrangements they have made for their fish in your same climate.
they don’t sleep
In this area, a mite bit chillier than where you are, many of the pet stores have tanks that people take their Koi and large ornamental goldfish to stay out the cold, for a minimal charge. When we lived in the larger house, miss that house but the kids are gone, don’t ya know! the goldfish were brought in to a fifty gallon tank and the Koi were put in the pool below the waterfall, both constructed to overwinter them in, and to enjoy. The pleasurable benefits of having the sweet music of the waterfall and water-plants in the living room were a plus all during the year.
During the cold month’s i use a floater. It is a heating element designed to float on the surface of the water to keep the water from freezing over. I have kept my Koi in there pond now for 8 years with out ever bringing them indoors during the winter months. My pond is 19 feet long 8 feet wide and roughly about 4 feet deep. I keep my pond pumps going during the winter months because the moving water helps keep the water from freezing. Rememeber even though it is winter time you still have to take care of the pond just like you would during the rest of the season.
As long as your pond is deep enough that it wont freeze all the way to the bottom,all you need to do is keep a hole open for air.A de-icing heater works well and can be ordered from many places.We have a smaller pond and we simply cover it with plastic.I use 4 layers of the .35mil thick plastic,cover the entire pond,and weight down the edges good and tight with rocks,boards,etc.It acts like a greenhouse,it warms the water and air during the day,and will keep it from freezing at night..In extreme cold climates,a small heater set to come on at about 36 degrees can also be placed inside the plastic.It wont run very often,and if it does it will usually only be during the very early morning hours.Just be sure to secure it well so it cant be knocked into the water.A piece of 2×6 lumber with weight on each end works well.
as a side note,if your pond ever does freeze over,DO NOT make a hole in the ice by using a hammer or anything else to pound on it.The shock can kill your koi.Use hot water and make a hole,then pull up pieces by hand to make it bigger.
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