How to Prepare my Backyard Pond for Winter

When I first moved into my house, it was August.  The sun was shining and my visions were running rampant on designing my backyard to become my oasis.  Almost immediately I decided the sights and sounds of a backyard pond were a must.  I picked the spot in the backyard and put in a 192 gallon pond.  A week later, I added fish.

Fast forward to the end of October.  The weather was getting colder and I needed to research the how's and why's of what to do with freezing temps rapidly approaching.  As I search in the internet and talked to people, there was not a single source for all the information I needed.  So here is a compilation of my research.

As the trees were losing their leaves, the falling leaves were finding their way into my pond.  This became an everyday chore of skimming them out.  Using some scrap wood, build a frame that is slanted on two sides to make a tent shape.  Attach wildlife netting to the frame and put over your pond.  This isn't fool proof but it does help considerably and if you leave at least one side open, birds will still bathe and drink from your pond.

A layer of ice eventually will form on top of the pond.  But hopefully will stay thawed underneath for the fish.  For optimal results your pond must be at least two feet deep in the middle. 

Throw a fish aquarium thermometer in the pond to check the water's temperature.  The optimal temperature coming into winter is 40-45 degrees.  The fish's metabolic rate will decrease considerably until is just stops until spring.

Water Temperature and Feeding:
55 degrees plus - feed normally
46-50 degrees - feed once or twice per week as long as the fish are moving a lot
40-45 degrees - feed wheat germ based food once per week if the fish are still moving
39 degrees and lower - do not feed
The most important thing to do is to ensure you will always have a hole through the ice when it forms.  This hole is essential to allow exchange of the gases for the fish.  I put a water tank heater in my pond.  This heater will keep a hole present around it at all times.  Without the exchange of gases, your fish will die.

Do not skim all the leaves from the bottom.  You could have frogs hibernating under them.  Come spring, look in the water closely before skimming.  You might find tadpoles.

Adjust your fountain so no part of the plastic pole is sticking out of the water.  Leave your pump running though.  Water movement creates oxygenated water and will help keep the water from freezing.

Good luck tucking your fish in for the winter!