1) The first practice we recommend is to remove any leaves that have fallen into your pond. Getting rid of these leaves before they begin rotting is crucial as they can contribute to sludge development and ammonia build up in the water. There are several methods we can use to remove dead leaves, including, manual removal with a pond net , investing in a pond skimmer, or placing a net (AquaNet 2 for example) over the entire pond until the following Spring.

2) Remove blanket weed in the pond. It is recommended to remove blanket weed as it can also sink to the bottom of the pond and decompose. At Pond Hobby, we always use bacterial blanket weed treatments like Blanket Answer or Algizin P which are environmentally safe and not harmful to any form of wildlife.

3) Reduce the amount of fish food you use. As we enter the colder months of the year, koi and other pond fish’s metabolism slow down, therefore, if you continue to feed them, they do not break down and excrete the food correctly and this can lead to harming your fish, and eventually death.

4) Remove any sludge already present in the pond. This sounds like an enormous task, but it can be very easy! Whether you are using a Pond Vacuum (PondoVac 3, for example) or using our approved sludge treatments and silt treatments, eradicating pond sludge has never been easier!

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us!