matt’s fish

Feeding Your Fish in Cooler Months

In most parts of North America, water temperatures start to dip in early fall. Prepare for this shift by understanding how to start changing fish diets to accommodate the changes these cold-blooded creatures will undergo. We recommend following a Seasonal Feeding Cycle. When temperatures are between 39°F and 50°F, a wheat-germ based diet is best for your pond fish.

Wheat-germ is ideal to transition fish in (and out) of winter because it is highly digestible at low temperatures. This is especially important because in the colder months, fishes’ metabolism and the pond’s ammonia-reducing biological activity are greatly diminished. Additionally, a food that is highly digestible minimizes waste, allowing the filtration system to work more effectively for a cleaner ecosystem.

Your Green Pond

September’s Green Pond Reminder: Water gardens influence young people to help create a better future for the planet. Including children in the building of a water garden or pond helps them gain an interest in science and environmental issues. Water gardens are complete ecosystems, which educate children on how natural systems work and can influence them to help create a better planet.

Preparing Your Pond for the Next Season

As fall closes in, it is important to prepare the pond for the coming months. It is also very important to protect the fish from their changing surroundings, including falling debris and decaying leaves. The best time to clean the pond is before temperatures fall below 50°F. Fish are still active and will not sustain injury during the cleaning.

To ensure your pond is protected, follow our Fall Prep Checklist:

Reduce the number of leaves falling into the pond with netting or remove them with a net.
Clean the pond by removing all debris that has accumulated in the bottom.
Cut back dead or dying aquatic plant foliage during the fall.
Purchase a wheat-germ based pond food developed especially for a fall diet.
Disconnect the pump, filter and UV clarifier before water freezes. (Make sure that no water is left inside the device. Ice can damage the equipment.)
Store UV clarifier indoors for protection.
Store filters indoors (if manufacturer’s directions suggest).
Sink a few clay pots or weighted-down, clean buckets into the pond to provide refuge (in place of the protective plant cover that will disappear). Frogs who have taken up residence in your garden will also benefit from a place to hibernate.
Some breeds of fish are especially sensitive to the cold, like fancy goldfish. Bring them indoors.
Purchase or have the pond de-icer ready for installation before your pond surface freezes completely.

The Importance of Water Testing

Wondering if your pond equipment is working properly? Not sure why your fish look listless? Did you just do a water change? Before the weather changes, test the water by using an easy-to-use test strip. Some all-in-one strips test for General Hardness (GH), nitrite (NO₂), nitrate (NO₃), pH and Alkalinity (KH). Testing your water makes it easier and faster to monitor the health of your pond and protect your fish. Additionally, testing your water once a month helps you to make necessary water adjustments before your fish are in danger.

Pond Pointer: Is it evaporation or a leak?

It has been an unusually hot summer, and with September historically being a drier month in much of the country, you may be asking how much water loss is normal? Many variables contribute to evaporation, such as the size of the pond, surface area, wind, temperature, shade or no shade, length of dry spell, etc. However, if you notice a water level drop of 1″ or more within a 24-hour period, you may want to check for a leak. The most common leaks are water splashing or blowing out of the pond from waterfalls and fountains, streams clogged with debris or algae, and edging rocks that have settled.

Caring for Koi

By Keith R. Heberling, Water Garden Expert Koi and goldfish, thanks to nature’s design, are very hardy. Compared to other fish species, they can tolerate less than optimum conditions. However, they can tolerate only so much. Ponds are a self-contained ecosystem, so it’s up to us to do the best we can to keep it as clean as possible to ensure our finned friends can live an active, healthy life. Unclean waters can lead to propagation of bacteria, which can be either fungal or parasitic, which in turn will adversely affect the health of your fish. The result can be a range of diseases each with their respective cure, which are best discussed with your water garden retailer or vet. Rather than try to discuss the ailments resulting from unclean water, let’s be more proactive and talk about prevention. A few tips on healthy practices:

Make sure your filtration is rated for the size of your pond and operating efficiently. If you see a reduced water flow, it’s time to clean your filters and any bio-materials that are designed to remove waste from the water.
Bacteria does not like moving water because it prevents it from staying in one place, allowing it to grow, especially in hot weather. Add a fountain, waterfall and/or spitter to keep it moving. This will also add beneficial oxygen to the water and to your fish’s gills so they can breathe.
A common preventative against many bacteria is common salt (pond salt can be purchased at your water garden retailer). It can be added at the rate of 1 oz per every 7.69 gallons.
In addition, a partial water change each month will also help. Be water-wise and use the water you drain on your plants; it is high in nutrients. And remember, if you are using municipal water, treat it first with a dechlorinator such as TetraPond AquaSafe®.

Despite all of our best efforts, issues do occur from time to time. If you happen to notice your fish are not acting quite right and all of them are affected, you can treat the entire pond with a broad-spectrum remedy such as TetraPond’s Pond Fish Treatment. If an isolated fish is showing signs of trouble, then remove that fish and treat it in a separate container with water the same temperature as the pond. Again, describe the condition to your local pond retailer or vet to determine the best treatment. Be proactive. Keep it clean, and keep them healthy. Happy ponding.