Landscaping & Gardening Information

Overwintering Pond Fish


The metabolism of koi and goldfish is controlled primarily by water temperature. As the water cools, pond fish require less protein in their diet. When koi and goldfish are fed high-protein food in cool water, the excess protein is excreted as ammonia from the gills. The microscopic organisms that make up the biological filter (and consume ammonia) also slow down in cooler water.

Improper seasonal feeding can lead to a build-up of toxic ammonia, which stresses fish and reduces their winter survivability. When the water temperature drops to approximately 65° F, start feeding with Spring & Autumn Pond Food. This type of fish food is better suited for the dietary requirements of pond fish in cool water and won't pollute the water with excess ammonia. Some water gardeners continue to feed their fish until they no longer come to the surface. I stop feeding my pond fish when the water falls below 42° F.

There is no need to worry about "frozen fish" if a section of the pond is at least 18 inches deep. Pond fish will seek the deepest part of the pond and over-winter there until the water warms in the spring. If your pond is less than 18 inches deep, the fish may freeze during a harsh winter. Check with your local pond supplier if you live in an area with harsh winters.

Some water gardeners with shallow ponds attempt to keep their koi and goldfish in kiddie pools or aquariums set up in a cool basement or garage. This is not recommended because of the extra stress involved in netting, transporting, and re-acclimating the fish to the new environment.

However, if you dont have a choice, and need to bring your fish inside for the winter, be sure to have an aquarium air pump or small fountain to provide oxygenation. The fish should be fed infrequently, if at all, depending on the water temperature. pH, ammonia and nitrite, which should be monitored weekly and especially if the fish are fed.

Small water changes (20%) each month will keep the water in good shape until spring. Koi are "jumpers"-so be sure to cover the pool with bird netting!

**************************************************
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several
other pond-related websites including MacArthurWatergardens.com
and Pond-Filters-Online.com. He also publishes a free monthly
newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over
9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE
'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur Water Gardens today!
**************************************************

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Get Outdoors: Gardening Calendar
Tampa Bay Newspapers, FL - 8 hours ago
LARGO – A Landscape Design Clinic, part of the Florida-friendly Landscaping Series, will be offered on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 6:30 to 9 pm, at Pinellas County ...


A garden and a park threatened
Christian Science Monitor, MA - 21 hours ago
Some of the most popular articles on the Monitor’s gardening site recently have been about edible landscaping and the increase in home gardens. ...


Fall gardening workshops set by Lee Co. Extension
Amboy News, IL - 4 hours ago
30, discussion will focus on low maintenance, hardy evergreens that can be added to landscaping such as yews, hemlocks and arborvitaes. ...


Landscaping with love for the Chesapeake Bay
Baltimore Sun, United States - Sep 4, 2008
... and requires nontraditional gardening techniques. Fourteen other Maryland counties and Baltimore City offer certification in Bay-Wise landscaping, ...


Garden events coming up for Sept. 5
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - 2 hours ago
Sale of native plants, plus info on sustainable landscaping, water and soil conversation, rain barrels and gardening with natives. Free. Call 954-970-0150. ...


Landscape construction class offers students a hands-on gardening ...
StarNewsOnline.com, NC - Aug 29, 2008
Some of them will complete two semesters and hope to earn State Certification in Landscape Gardening or State Certification in Retention Pond Management (an ...


The beauty of art and nature come together in Bisbee
Arizona Republic, AZ - 6 hours ago
Each garden has its own character, such as vegetable beds, high-desert landscaping, fruit trees, deciduous trees, flowering plants and water features. ...


The Landscape Design Site.com Adds More Design Plans, Landscaping ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Sep 4, 2008
With the addition of new pictures and videos directories, the site has become a popular resource for landscaping and garden design ideas. ...


GARDENING Q&A
Richmond Times Dispatch, VA - 3 hours ago
Q:We recently built our retirement home and have quite a bit of landscaping to do. We live in South Boston now but lived in Richmond for 10 years. ...


Calendar: Shows and sales remind us that fall is near
Dallas Morning News, TX - 1 hour ago
RAINWATER HARVESTING: Organic-gardening expert Susan Gregory explains the best methods. 11 am Sunday. Free. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road. ...

landscaping gardening - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.