A mild winter can bring beautiful weather. However, the reality of every winter is that those subzero temperatures will eventually arrive. Temperatures below freezing may only last a few days or even months, depending on where you live. Therefore, you should prepare your pond to safeguard your fish from winter fish kill.
What Is A Winter Fish Kill?
When temperatures reach the freezing point, which affects pond water, this is known as winter fish kill. It impacts it, allowing it to freeze the surface completely. Dissolved oxygen levels decrease as a result. Your fish, in a sense, become entrapped beneath the ice without enough oxygen to survive. Winter fish kill can also occur in deeper ponds, even though it typically occurs in shallow ponds.
What You Can Do
Ponds, lakes, and other water features where fish live can experience winter fish kill. Keeping an open hole in the ice that allows trapped gases to escape is the first step in preventing a winter fish kill. Additionally, this permits oxygen to flow within the waters. A small hole can be kept open throughout the winter with an Ice-Away De-Icer. In addition, ensure that you operate an aeration system throughout the winter. If you want the fish to have a warm place to spend the winter, you can move your diffusers to the pond’s shallow end.
Keeping the Bottom Layer Warm
Even though the pond’s top layer may freeze over, its bottom usually runs at a warmer temperature. To maintain a constant temperature, you must keep the water moving. Keep in mind that fish can be affected by sudden temperature changes. The fall and winter months are ideal for air bubblers or fountain pumps. Keep the deicer at the top if you intend to use it.
Maintaining a Clean Pond
Naturally, you want to maintain a clean pond as well. In the winter, you can keep a collection of aquatic plants. This can boost good bacteria to help eliminate any accumulated pond muck. However, you need to maintain a healthy balance of plant life throughout the winter because plants go through the natural decomposition cycle. A pond that has too many plants can be bad for it. The balance is the key here.
Keep an eye out for the possibility of dirty pond muck forming during the winter. In subzero temperatures, thick sludge that forms deep in the pond can quickly grow out of control and choke your fish. Pond enthusiasts should use surface aeration techniques to keep their ponds from freezing as winter approaches across the nation. This will help prevent a winter fish kill.
