| Depending on the climate in your area you will | | | | damage that can be caused to your filter and |
| need to decide if you are going to run your pump | | | | plumbing system by a power outage that lasts |
| and filter system through the winter. | | | | for any extended period of time. |
| If temperatures mostly stay well above freezing | | | | If you aren't home to make sure that no water |
| then it would be advantageous to keep your | | | | remains in the filter and plumbing, and it freezes |
| pump and filter running throughout the winter. The | | | | UV's and filters, they could break. This would |
| bacteria in your biological filter will be inactive at | | | | mean costly replacement expenses of your koi |
| low temperatures. But, as long as you keep it | | | | pond equipment. |
| supplied with oxygen-laden water the bacteria will | | | | There are two alternatives to allowing this to |
| remain alive. | | | | happen. First, you could install a check velve in |
| The advantage of this is that when spring comes | | | | your system, using a long piece of tubing or wire |
| and the water temperature rises, the bacteria can | | | | to hold the valve open, thus allowing the water to |
| immediately begin working to keep the water | | | | drain out. Or, if your system is designed to allow |
| quality good for your fish. It will also be helpful in | | | | the water to flow back into the pond in the event |
| controlling algae. | | | | of a power outage,you wouldn't need to make |
| If you do run your filter through the winter it | | | | any alterations at all! |
| would be best to minimize the water circulation in | | | | Of course, you can choose to do the complete |
| order to take advantage of the layering effect of | | | | opposite of this with your koi pond equipment |
| the water. You don't want to stir up the warm | | | | during the winter, and totally shut down your |
| water from the bottom and chill it by mixing it | | | | pumps and filter. |
| with the cold water from the upper regions of | | | | Cold water holds much more oxygen than warm |
| the pond. | | | | water and your koi's respiration is slow. You really |
| Some of the things you can do with your koi | | | | shouldn't need aeration or circulation. |
| pond equipment to minimize the water circulation | | | | It's not essential to keep the bacteria in your filter |
| is to turn off bottom drains, place the intakes to | | | | alive either, which is the only reason for running |
| pumps/filters at mid-water rather than close to | | | | the filter in the first place. |
| the top or bottom of your pond, place your | | | | If you turn off your koi pond equipment for the |
| intakes for waterfalls or fountains closer to the | | | | winter be sure to drain all plumbing. External filters, |
| outlets, turn off surface skimmers, and/ or turn | | | | UV's, and external pumps all need draining. Since |
| the pump down. | | | | you don't want the seals to dry out you should |
| Doing these things will allow the bacteria in the | | | | leave submersible pumps in the pond or in a |
| biological filters to stay alive without interfering | | | | bucket of water in a warm place for the winter. |
| with the layering of the water. The water is | | | | If this is what you choose to do, be sure to clean |
| densest at 39 degrees. As long as your pond is a | | | | the filter thoroughly before starting things back up |
| minimum of three feet deep you will have a layer | | | | in the spring. |
| of 39 degree water at the bottom of your pond | | | | If ice will freeze over the pond in your area you |
| where your koi can hang out during the cold | | | | will need to add a floating de-icer to keep an area |
| months. | | | | free of ice. This opening is necessary during |
| Too much circulation of water in the winter can | | | | periods of ice cover to allow an exchange of |
| super chill the water by exposing warmer pond | | | | gases. You don't want noxious gases trapped |
| water at the bottom to the below freezing | | | | under the ice with your koi, or they may not be |
| temperatures near the top, thus causing the | | | | alive in the spring! |
| death of your koi. | | | | If you follow these simple tips during the winter |
| One problem to watch out for if you run a pump | | | | you should have no trouble with your koi pond |
| and filter in the winter is the potentially major | | | | equipment. |