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A lot of pond experts will tell you that after you pull out the pump and filter for the winter, you can forget the pond -- act as if it doesn't exist until early spring. The theory is that the pond isn't biologically active, so you don't have to worry.

Speaking from personal experience, here's the case for not doing that:

I live in NJ, and my pond has been frozen for much of the past couple of months except for the space around the heater. We've also had a lot of rain and snow.

During a recent thaw, I noticed a fair amount of what appeared to be algae growing in the pond. A veterinarian who specializes in pond fish recommended I do a water test to check for nitrates -- a sign of biological activity -- and also for alkalinity (buffering capacity) because if the algae is photosynthesizing, the pH could be swinging if there weren't enough buffering capacity in the water.

So today I checked -- and almost keeled over when I discovered that the buffering capacity of the pond registered at zero -- undoubtedly because of all the rain and snow.

So the pH could potentially be swinging wildly and stressing the fish even in their quasi-dormant state.

I'm in the process of bringing it up gradually with baking soda.

But I've been keeping pond fish for several years now, and it never occurred to me to test the water in the winter. Now I know better.

Good info and tip lmuha! I think Ill test mine this weekend after we have this big snowstorm tomorrow! (I too live in NJ with a pond, what part do you live in?)

-Jim

Last edited by jimg87 at 27-Feb-2005 21:14

I live about halfway between Trenton and Freehold. (Well, I actually live in the sticks, but those are the two closest places that people have actually heard of.) Exit 7A off the Turnpike, since that's how we Jersey-ites fix our locations!

Where are you?

I usually add water to my pond to the winter to fill it up and clean it up a little

im in gloucester county right over the bridge from philly. What fish do you have in your pond right now, and how big is it?

-Jim

I have 500 gallons, and I have six goldfish in it, all under six inches. (I started the season with five, but they apparently liked the pond because the next thing I knew five had become six, and the frogs were a lot fatter -- I'm guessing they had loads of fry to snack on!

They're pretty big on koi by you, aren't there? I think someone told me they were starting to breed them commercially in Gloucester Cty.

What do you keep, and how big is your pond?

My pond is 2000 gallons. Your right about the koi around here. I have koi and common goldies. This year I will finally be able to breed my awsome koi.

-Jim

Laura - I was waiting to see if you had nitrates? Did they register

No, not even a trace of nitrates registered.

The only thing that was way off was the alkalinity, which was essentially zero, but which I've gradually brought up to an acceptable range with baking soda.

The pH was also a little low, but as I brought up the alkalinity, that improved also.

I did net off the biggest floating clumps of algae, because there was so much of it on the surface of the pond that I couldn't get a good look at what was going on with the fish. But the pond vet I talked to said not to go wild because it's important for a pond to attain a biological balance, and every time we hobbyists tinker with something, we interfere with that process ...