Autumn Care Calendar
Autumn is the time to start preparing your pond for winter making sure your fish stay healthy over the colder months. Not only will this ensure the health and safety of your fish but also keep your pond thriving throughout the winter season.
Here are some of the important steps you can take for effective autumn pond care:
Fish should be prepared for Winter by feeding them with a high quality food. As the temperature drops, below 10°c you should stop feeding your fish.
Treat the pond with Pond Guardian Tonic Salt to support the fish as the temperature drops and reduces the freezing point of water.
Cease feeding plants. As the trees surrounding your pond begin to lose their leaves, it is important to stop them polluting the pond water. This is best done by using a cover net to keep them out or alternatively remove them manually every day.
Net out half hardy/non frost resistant floating plants which are unlikely to survive the winter.
It’s common for blanketweed and duckweed to fester in the autumn months. Be sure to remove any excess growth that can wreak havoc on water quality.
When we think of autumn, one picture that is sure to paint in your head is the leaves falling from trees – which can be a pain for pond owners.
Fallen leaves, twigs, and other organic matter can gather and decay, damaging your pond’s water quality. Use a pond net or rake to remove these materials regularly. This will also help prevent a build-up of sludge at the bottom of your pond.
Give your pond a good tidy up, removing sludge from the bottom or planting shelves using a pond vacuum. Make sure filters and pumps are running well and use treatments like Sludge Buster or Clean Pond Pods to put healthy bacteria into the pond to help with processing waste.
Your pond’s air pump is crucial for maintaining oxygen levels in your pond, however, fallen leaves and debris can quickly clog up the pump if left. Check your air pump regularly to ensure it’s working properly and not obstructed.
Keeping the air pump in good condition is essential for preventing stagnation and provides your fish with the oxygen they need to survive during the colder months. You may want to turn off the pump to give it a good clean, just don’t forget to turn it back on afterwards!
Thanks to the UK’s typical weather you can expect a fair amount of rain this autumn, which can affect your pond’s water quality. Rainwater, in particular, can reduce the pH levels in the water which can cause stress in your fish.
Regularly test the pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels to ensure they remain within safe ranges for your fish and plants. If you notice any imbalances, take corrective measures promptly.
As the temperature continues to drop, your pond is in danger of freezing, which can harm any fish inside.
Add an energy-efficient heater like a Blagdon Affinity Ice Vent to prevent freezing. When temperatures drop below 4℃ in winter, warm water sinks so the bottom of the pond becomes the warmest place where the fish tend to gather.
To prevent mixing the cold surface layers and lowering the overall pond temperature reduce pump flow rates and move them to a shelf within the top 30cms (12 inches) of water in Autumn.