As you know from our wonderfully unpredictable weather patterns we have in the UK and Ireland, you don’t always know what you are going to get.
This is now a quiet time in the garden pond.

Here are a few things that you can do:

• Regularly check your equipment, look for any damage and leaks.
• As in the autumn remove any dead and decaying foliage from the water.
• Keep pumps and filters running 24/7. If you can, move your pump closer to the filter outlet and into a shallower area to reduce any unnecessary cooling of the water. The water movement will help to stop water freezing over in this area too, allowing oxygen in and toxic gases out. This is especially important in shallower ponds, at 60cm or less depth.
• If your pond does freeze over do not be tempted to forcibly break the ice or use hot water to melt it. This can send shock waves through the pond severely disturbing and upsetting the fish. A pond heater is the best option, they keep a small area of water free of ice although some people use an air pump, a tennis ball or a piece of wood which they can take in and out as required. Ice on the pond for a few days isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it will act as barrier and insulate the pond from the cold temperature outside. If you get snow on the top, carefully sweep some off to allow daylight in.
• If you have one of those portable put-up ponds such as an Affinity pool, you can put some protective lagging around it for extra protection. They can be covered at night too if you wish but remove this during the daylight hours.
• If you know your fish, and they know you, feed them on ‘an as and when required’ basis. You will need to feed them some lower protein wheatgerm based sticks/pellets or the excellent and more advanced probiotic all year round foods such as Medikoi Probiotic. Ideally only feed during the middle of the day, between 12 & 2pm when the water will be at its warmest and only a small amount too. They then have plenty of time to digest it before it gets cold again.

Other Top Tips:

• Evolution Aqua Pure Pond Balls and Bombs are great for helping to maintain water quality. Bacteria levels in pond filters goes up and down in relation to fish feeding (which varies with water temperature) but sometimes they can get caught out. These balls and bombs break down ammonia and nitrite as well as cleaning up organic waste. They dissolve as they do this, so if they don’t break down there is a good chance (not guaranteed) that you water may be ok. Use all year round.
• Ideally these need to be placed in your filter or failing that in a net bag in moving water. They are brilliant!

Recommended products for this time of year: