I know in one of you videos you mentioned where you are some where in Canada, but I do not recall where. How cold does it gets in your area? I'm in Minnesota, typical winter gets down to -15 -20 deg F, has been down to -30. I really do not do much for winter prep. I probably will not start my pond and plant clean up around November 1st, if the plants will tolerate it (my lotus does not like it). The hardy plants stay in their normal location. I lower some of the tropical plants to the bottom a few go into the house. Most years the tropical I winterize on the bottom of the pond come back with a bit of a struggle in the spring. Moving water does not freeze, so I keep my skimmer running all winter, it outputs on my water fall. Creates a nice looking Ice Waterfall look. The pipe is as shallow as 6" below the ground surface. I do add two air stones, just to ensure the shallow water near the skimmer does not freeze up. I have a 1500 watt pond heater, but I have never installed it, its in the garage as a backup. Good luck with the mink gaurd.
Thanks for the info! I am in south western Ontario where the winter temperature would go down as low as -25°C. Pond water would freeze up 2 feet below the surface. The aerator wouldn’t be strong enough to keep an open hole with the help of the deicer. So I usually shut down everything just to prevent damage to the equipment and to prevent cold water circulation in the pond.
Is the pond guard main purpose to protect the fish from predators? I don't have a pond yet but I'm in the process of building one. I just decided to wait till next spring to complete and add fish. So during the winter you shut down every thing? Do you leave the fish in? Could you make a video talking about the process for those of us who never had a pond but wants to. Thanks for sharing your amazing pond knowledge and beautiful scenery with us,. It brings much joy and peace watching your videos.
If you can, I would recommend finishing the pond this fall. My big pond approx. 2500 gallons I filled in late October 3 years ago. That first winter was what I called a learning time, no fish, just water. I've had small (less than 300 gallons) ponds for decades. I run my big pond all winter just like in the summer with one addition, I add two air stones, to ensure water stays open in route to the skimmer box. I visit the pond nearly every day in the winter, underwater lights are on, lights flickering thought the ice water fall. Fish stay in my ponds all winter, do not feed them if the water temp drops below 55 deg F. My small pond, I take out the filter box on the bottom of the pond and install a DIY aerator/pump. Last year was the first year, I lost one fish in that pond, otherwise I have not lost any fish in that pond in the last 8 years. The big pond, I lost a few fish that first winter, not sure why, but they were found in the skimmer early in the winter season. I don't do UA-cam, but was thinking about documenting my big pond this winter. Have fun with your pond, filtration is key to a health pond.
@ranjanty Yes, the main purpose of the pond guards is to protect the fish from predators, specially mink. Mink came and got all koi last year. 😩 I usually shut down everything for the winter except the aerator and adding the deicer. Aerator is set about 2 feet below the surface of water with the deicer just floating directly on top. Yes, all the fish stay in the pond and go into hibernation at bottom when the weather get colder. I will have another video when I shutdown my skimmer and will outline the process soon. Thanks for your interest!
Yes, I will finish it up with another layer of plastic cover to make it harder for the mink and keep the pond a bit warm this year. Yep! The whole pond and fish will go in hibernation with feeding.
nice video keep them coming
Thank you!
I know in one of you videos you mentioned where you are some where in Canada, but I do not recall where. How cold does it gets in your area? I'm in Minnesota, typical winter gets down to -15 -20 deg F, has been down to -30. I really do not do much for winter prep. I probably will not start my pond and plant clean up around November 1st, if the plants will tolerate it (my lotus does not like it). The hardy plants stay in their normal location. I lower some of the tropical plants to the bottom a few go into the house. Most years the tropical I winterize on the bottom of the pond come back with a bit of a struggle in the spring.
Moving water does not freeze, so I keep my skimmer running all winter, it outputs on my water fall. Creates a nice looking Ice Waterfall look. The pipe is as shallow as 6" below the ground surface. I do add two air stones, just to ensure the shallow water near the skimmer does not freeze up. I have a 1500 watt pond heater, but I have never installed it, its in the garage as a backup. Good luck with the mink gaurd.
Thanks for the info!
I am in south western Ontario where the winter temperature would go down as low as -25°C. Pond water would freeze up 2 feet below the surface. The aerator wouldn’t be strong enough to keep an open hole with the help of the deicer. So I usually shut down everything just to prevent damage to the equipment and to prevent cold water circulation in the pond.
Do u have a video how u built the pond
Low budget DIY Koi Pond
ua-cam.com/video/SpZsQvnRJlQ/v-deo.html
Is the pond guard main purpose to protect the fish from predators? I don't have a pond yet but I'm in the process of building one. I just decided to wait till next spring to complete and add fish. So during the winter you shut down every thing? Do you leave the fish in? Could you make a video talking about the process for those of us who never had a pond but wants to. Thanks for sharing your amazing pond knowledge and beautiful scenery with us,. It brings much joy and peace watching your videos.
If you can, I would recommend finishing the pond this fall. My big pond approx. 2500 gallons I filled in late October 3 years ago. That first winter was what I called a learning time, no fish, just water. I've had small (less than 300 gallons) ponds for decades. I run my big pond all winter just like in the summer with one addition, I add two air stones, to ensure water stays open in route to the skimmer box. I visit the pond nearly every day in the winter, underwater lights are on, lights flickering thought the ice water fall. Fish stay in my ponds all winter, do not feed them if the water temp drops below 55 deg F. My small pond, I take out the filter box on the bottom of the pond and install a DIY aerator/pump. Last year was the first year, I lost one fish in that pond, otherwise I have not lost any fish in that pond in the last 8 years. The big pond, I lost a few fish that first winter, not sure why, but they were found in the skimmer early in the winter season. I don't do UA-cam, but was thinking about documenting my big pond this winter.
Have fun with your pond, filtration is key to a health pond.
@ranjanty
Yes, the main purpose of the pond guards is to protect the fish from predators, specially mink. Mink came and got all koi last year. 😩
I usually shut down everything for the winter except the aerator and adding the deicer. Aerator is set about 2 feet below the surface of water with the deicer just floating directly on top. Yes, all the fish stay in the pond and go into hibernation at bottom when the weather get colder. I will have another video when I shutdown my skimmer and will outline the process soon.
Thanks for your interest!
Yes, I will finish it up with another layer of plastic cover to make it harder for the mink and keep the pond a bit warm this year. Yep! The whole pond and fish will go in hibernation with feeding.
Cross my fingers the mink(s) don’t come back this winter.
@@KoiRun50
🤞👍