8 Pond Products You Need for the Changing Seasons

Once again we find ourselves preparing for the upcoming autumn season. School is back in session, the leaves are changing colour and starting to fall, and a big pond clean is scheduled in the diary! We pondkeepers know that September is big month for cleaning out the pond and preparing it for the freezing months – because as much as we do not want to think about it, winter is coming.

You probably see ‘essential pond cleaning checklists’ everywhere this time of year. This is because it is very important, especially if you have koi or other fish in your pond. So yes, we are going to remind you of cleaning procedures, but we also want to bring your attention to products that will be vital for making your life easier this autumn/winter.

Wheatgerm Fish Food

Now is the best time to start switching your koi to a wheat germ diet. Start off September by mixing your koi carp’s current food with a high quality wheatgerm food. As the temperatures drop further in October & November, feed your pond fish a wheatgerm only diet and feed them less frequently. Wheatgerm pellets are low in protein which koi will not be able to digest in cold water. Wheat germ based food will get their metabolism used to the slowing down that will occur in winter. The rate at which fish digest their food depends on the temperature of the water they are in. When water reaches 10°c the fish’s digestive systems essentially shut off and will not digest food – So stop feeding at this temperature. Undigested food in their bodies can end up being fatal.

Sludge Remover

Pond sludge is build-up of several organic materials such plants/leaves that fall into the pond water, fish waste, dead algae and dirt, as well as inorganic matter like uneaten fish food. The falling leaves in autumn explain why you may experience an influx of pond sludge around this time. Treat your pond with Anti-sludge - this will give you a lot less muck to handle when you begin your big pond clean. You can continue to dose your pond with Anti-sludge through autumn to prevent sludge from building up again.

Pond Gloves

Prevent any cross contamination between you and your pond fish by wearing pond gloves when you are performing your pond maintenance. Full arms-length pond gloves are a great way to keep your hands from coming in contact with bacteria in your pond and from exposing your koi or goldfish to any human bacteria that could be harmful to them. While a major pond clean means you will inevitably get dirty, pond gloves will keep you covered a little.

Dirty Water Pond Pump

A thorough clean will entail getting to the bottom of your pond and scrubbing your pond liner of the silt that has built-up. If you have a larger pond, you will need the assistance of a pond pump to remove about 2/3 of the water. As you start pumping water out of your pond, remove any fish when they become visible and place them in a temporary holding tank.

After you remove the water and give the bottom of your pond a good clean, you will need to refill it. For those of you with koi or other fish in your pond, it is super important to have a water dechlorinator on hand. Adding koi to a pond filled with tap water will be dangerous for the fish. Luckily, dechlorinators have an instant impact and will make the water safe for when you re-add your fish to your pond. 

Pond vacuum and Dirt Collection Bin

One of the most effective pond clean-up tools is a pond vacuum. With more power than a pond net and manual scrubbing, you will thoroughly get rid of leaves, sludge and other waste in no time.

Pond Salt

Adding salt into your pond in winter is a good idea if you do not have a pond heater. In winter, salt helps koi carp by replacing salt that the fish naturally produce themselves. As we have established, when pond water gets colder a fish’s metabolism slows down and their organs function less than they would in warmer water. Using a small amount of salt helps to replace the natural salt they would normally produce but are unable to due to the slower functioning – this would in turn make the winter time more bearable for them.

Pond Cover Net

After a big clean up with a pond vacuum and a dose of anti-sludge, you will want to make sure that the pond is kept nice and clean. This is where a pond cover net works wonders. Simply attach the netting to anchor pegs and place over the pond. The gaps in the netting will be small enough to catch leaves before they get into the pond and cause water quality problems.

Spare Parts

If anything goes wrong with your pond equipment during the winter months, you will want to have a selection of spare pond parts at hand. Impellers, shafts, UV light bulbs, o-rings and connectors are just a few of the many common spare parts that are needed for pond equipment repairs. Our spare parts section will ensure that you are well prepared for any incidences that may occur.

Now that you know which products you will need to be ready for autumn, it is time to get started with cleaning. Do not rush through your pond clean – take your time and make sure everything is taken care of properly and completely. We know there is a lot to remember, so as promised, here is your essential pond cleaning checklist: