How to cover a pond for the winter. Preparing a country pond for winter. What is needed for wintering

Each new owner, before the first wintering, worries about how to prepare it so that it successfully survives the winter and does not require much trouble by the beginning of the summer season. In fact, autumn "pond" work is not difficult, it is only important to do it carefully and carefully. Let's analyze the main nuances of measures to prepare the pond for winter, using the experience of FORUMHOUSE users.

With the onset of autumn, it is important to ensure that debris and fallen leaves do not accumulate on the surface of the reservoir, which quickly pollute the water and form a layer of silt at the bottom of the reservoir, which contributes to the formation of toxic gases. The water becomes cloudy from this, and plants and fish die. Therefore, during the period of leaf fall, it is better to cover the mirror of the pond with a special fine-mesh net, which must be regularly cleaned from a layer of leaves. The mesh is removed with the arrival of night frosts so that it does not freeze and is not damaged.

On sale there are special nets for ponds with pegs, but you can use other suitable ones.

Hyperborej FORUMHOUSE user

During leaf fall, try pulling a strawberry net over the surface of the water (a green one is sold, it can be in two layers) or sink it 5-10 centimeters into the water so that it does not spoil the view. And when the leaves have fallen, you raise the net, and the leaves are all in it, and not in the water.

The inconvenience of the mesh is that if there are a lot of leaves, then under their weight it sags, and the garbage still ends up in the water, where it begins to rot. On a small pond, you can get out of the situation by placing transverse bars under the net, but on a bigger pond it is difficult and inconvenient to “catch” leaves in the net.

The best option is to use technical devices such as water vacuum cleaners or skimmers (surface suction pumps). A skimmer of suitable power, floating on the surface or installed permanently on the bottom or wall of the reservoir, saves it from the same leaves and large debris.

Member of FORUMHOUSE CorsaC939 advises to facilitate the collection of debris and leaves from the surface and, at the same time, to prevent waterlogging, to ensure a constant movement of water in the pond using a pump.

CorsaC939 FORUMHOUSE user

Equip the water drain stream at its end with a bowl and a pump - the usual, for dirty water, five to seven cubes per hour, so that there is a constant movement of water and its aeration - and you will collect the leaves in one place.

Cleaning the reservoir is the most important event, on which its external attractiveness and the safety of its inhabitants - plants and fish - directly depend. Even with the use of filter pumps, debris from the bottom will still need to be manually removed from time to time. Among the owners of ponds, there are many who prefer the annual spring cleaning. However, if the pond accumulates a lot of garbage during the summer, autumn cleaning is simply necessary, otherwise the rotting biomass will cause trouble over the winter, for example, it will lead to a freeze on the pond.

If the pond has been cleaned at least a couple of times during the warm season, for example, with a vacuum cleaner, there is no need to drain the water - it will be enough to clean the bottom and banks of debris. This is best done with a water vacuum cleaner, but you can also manually comb the bottom in all directions with a conventional or double-sided rake.

In case of severe pollution, it is better to approach the issue on a large scale - drain the water, wash the bottom and banks under pressure, remove debris and sludge, and then fill the pond with clean water. CorsaC939 shared the intricacies of cleaning activities. This process is simple, but quite “fragrant” and dirty, so you will have to stock up on rubber gloves and fishing waterproof overalls.

CorsaC939 FORUMHOUSE user

I lower the pump for dirty water with a capacity of 15m3 / hour into the pond with a hose with a diameter of 32mm for pumping water. The more powerful the pump and the thicker the hose, the faster the water is pumped out.

While the water is draining, it's time to connect the high pressure washer (preferably with pressure control) and the pond vacuum cleaner. If the reservoir is inhabited by fish, a 200 l barrel with water and an aquarium compressor (approximately 300 l / min) should be prepared for them in advance.

During the pumping process, sludge can be drained on the site, for example, under trees or into a ditch for drying: dried sludge is a valuable fertilizer - sapropel.

After draining almost all the water, the fish is caught and transplanted into a barrel, and silt is pumped out of the pond with a vacuum cleaner, silt deposits, algae and other dirt are “beaten off” with a sink, if necessary, water lilies and other plants are thinned out and planted.

pavlovich64 FORUMHOUSE user

If you leave fish for the winter, try to prune aquatic plants. This winter, a dozen and a half carp did not survive with me: I was too lazy to cut the leaves of aquatic plants (water lilies, irises) in the fall. As a result - rotting, mustiness and freezing. I cut off all the leaves last winter, and the result was different.

The final stage is to fill the pond with clean water and return the fish to it. Depending on the composition and hardness of the water (checked by tests from aquarium stores), the forum member advises using products for preparing tap or rain water. You don’t have to worry too much about biobalance: if there are water lilies or other plants in pots in the pond, then a huge number of microorganisms and algae are hiding in their roots, and the balance will be restored after a water change within two to four weeks.

Another important measure is the conservation for the winter of the equipment installed in the pond, which is not intended for wintering and does not have frost protection. It is important to monitor the air temperature in order to turn off and disconnect the pumps from the filters at the first established cold (up to +5 C). After dismantling, the filter media must be washed with a weak saline solution. Store filters and UV blocks in a carefully packed form so that moisture does not get into them. After cleaning, the pump is stored in a heated room, immersed in a container of water. All hoses, nozzles, fixtures, etc. should be washed and dried properly.

Preparation of the pond for wintering depends on its size and type. A small (up to 0.8 m deep and up to 20 square meters in area) reservoir is considered non-wintering. In cold weather, it can freeze to the bottom, so in the fall, all plants and fish must be removed from it. Experienced members of the forum, by the way, do not accidentally advise planting pond plants in pots, filling them with gravel on top, and then periodically replanting or adding soil. This method will not only keep the reservoir clean and reduce the formation of a nutrient medium for algae, but also greatly facilitate cleaning and cleaning.

The cleaned pond needs to be filled with water by half or two-thirds: snow and ice will still accumulate at the bottom of the lowered reservoir during the winter, which will melt for a long time in the spring. A pond filled with water in winter will freeze only from above. In frosty winters, part of the water can be pumped out from under the ice through a drilled hole so that the resulting air cushion does not allow the pond to freeze to the bottom.

Owners of the so-called "shaped" plastic reservoirs should definitely think about the use of ice expansion compensators. As you know, water expands when freezing, and the walls of plastic ponds are sensitive to increased pressure, so ice can not only break waterproofing, but also “break” the banks, which will result in costly repairs in the spring. To avoid this, compensators are installed in the pond bowl - they can be specialized purchased, but more often members of the forum use improvised items, for example, PET bottles with sand.

For many owners of private estates, the process of preparing a decorative reservoir for a cold snap is important. By performing the right actions, the owner will be able to purify the water, protect fish and plants from the winter cold.

Pumping water or protecting a pond

• Before the onset of cold weather, fish and plants are taken out of the pool.
• The walls and bottom of the pond are thoroughly cleaned of accumulated dirt and sediment. Common brushes are often used.
• Pipelines must be purged and securely clogged with foam. Wooden corks are not recommended, as they swell in water. Increasing in volume, they can damage the pipe structure.

Before the appearance of sub-zero temperatures, a deep pond is filled with water by about 2/3. Water is necessary so that the snow falling in winter and turning into ice in spring does not delay the spring filling of the pond. If the liquid is pre-filled, then ice is formed only in the upper part. In the spring, a small layer of ice will quickly melt, winter water can be pumped out and the reservoir filled again.

If during wintering the temperature becomes too low, then an ice hole is made in the ice, from which the remaining water is pumped out.

The air cushion will protect the reservoir from further freezing, which will also ensure the rapid melting of ice in the spring.

If the reservoir is made by hand, its concrete walls are protected by high-quality waterproofing, then it is not necessary to pump out water. If building codes were observed during the construction of the film pond, then it can also be left completely filled for the winter.

Owners of shaped reservoirs are forced to carry out a series of operations in order to prepare for the winter. Its walls are able to collapse from the action of frozen water, which increases in volume, turning into ice. In such a pond, you need to lower plastic bottles and sand, they will compensate for the pressure of the ice.

Protection of water from pollution

• In autumn, before the leaves begin to fall, it is necessary to close the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe reservoir with a net. Many people prefer to admire the fallen leaves that are located on top of the bluish surface of the backyard pond, but for the safety of plants and fish, care must be taken that no organic matter enters the water. In spring, fallen leaves will begin to rot, releasing ammonia and swamp gas. The water will immediately become cloudy, lose its fresh blue tint, and the fish and plants in the reservoirs will die.
• Before frost, you need to remove the mesh, since when an ice crust forms, it will freeze and tear.
• To clean water from dirt, you can use a floating or stationary skimmer, which will quickly, without harming fish and plants, remove dirt that enters the pond.

We prepare a pond for winter with our own hands (video)

Wall and floor cleaning

Both wintering and non-wintering reservoirs must be cleaned of the walls and bottom. Garbage that gradually accumulates on surfaces begins to decompose.

As a result, harmful gases are released that adversely affect flora and fauna.

The fastest and most convenient way to clean is to use a water vacuum cleaner.

If the owners did not purchase it, then in order to fully prepare the pond for the winter, you need to clean it yourself with a double-sided rake. The bottom and walls are worked out in various directions, the garbage is raked ashore and disposed of. It is necessary to bypass the places where wintering plants grow. The dirt next to them is removed manually. If the area of ​​the pond does not allow manual cleaning, it is necessary to carry out work from a boat. You can find out more by reading the article caring for an artificial reservoir.

Equipment preservation

• When the temperature reaches +5 ° C, you need to turn off the pumps, disconnect them from the filters and remove them from the water.
• The filter system must be disassembled into its component parts; before wintering, they are thoroughly cleaned with saline.
• UV lamps and filters are completely dried, they are neatly stacked in boxes. Equipment is stored in a dry, preferably heated room.
• The pump is cleaned and then lowered into a container filled with water. If the reservoir is equipped with a pump that is equipped with a system that protects it from deformation due to freezing of water, the device can be left in the pond for the winter.
• Various devices for underwater lighting, fountain nozzles, all kinds of hoses are cleaned of contaminants, if necessary, checked for malfunctions.
• They must be processed with compounds that help to completely eliminate lime. All devices are dried and left in a specially designated room until spring.

wintering plants

• Plants that cannot tolerate winter frosts should be covered with burlap or fallen leaves. In the second case, you will need to clean the leaves in the spring so that they do not rot.
• Plantings that are forbidden to be stored in water during frosts must be carefully removed from the reservoir without damaging the components and roots.
• All plants must be kept in a room where the temperature is quite low, but not sub-zero. There must be lighting, but bright light is contraindicated. In containers, you need to constantly moisten the ground at a frequency that is shown for a particular plant.
• Reed is recommended to be left in the water without cutting, as its tubular stems supply oxygen to the water, which is necessary for wintering fish.

Preparing the reservoir for winter (video)

wintering fish

• During the preparation of the pond for the winter, the fish are provided with complete protein nutrition. In winter, they do not need to be fed.
• Fish that cannot live in a pond in winter are placed in a large aquarium. In the spring they are released back into the pond.
• In winter, the access of oxygen from the atmosphere through the ice to the inhabitants of the reservoir is difficult, so a person must independently establish gas exchange using an ice hole.
• To maintain the polynya all winter, you can purchase devices that heat the pond. Sometimes they are built into special pressure filters that can work all year round.
• An aerator is used to leave room for air access. The water is artificially saturated with oxygen, and the rising bubbles prevent the ice crust from closing. This device must be selected and used carefully. The opening should not be too wide, and the diffuser should not be installed in the deepest part of the reservoir.
• To prevent the fish from freezing, you can use a floating heater, but it is only available with a slight minus, which is not suitable for all regions.
• The water heating system will cope with the problem of additional insulation.

Before the winter cold, a decorative pond needs special care. If all the norms and regulations are followed, the owners will be able to properly clean it from pollution, prevent the deformation of the walls, keep the flora and fauna healthy during frosts, and in the spring again enjoy the beautiful view of the pond.

Even the smallest pond farm needs cleaning and care. Moreover, the larger and deeper the reservoir, the easier it is to take care of it - natural self-regulation takes place here. And only you can help a small plastic pond survive the winter.

How to prepare a pond for winter?

1. Start preparing for the winter before the onset of cold weather. Before the start of leaf fall, cover it with a net so that leaves do not fall into the water. If this is not done in time, then the leaves will sink to the bottom, in the spring rotting vegetation will lead to an increase in the concentration of swamp gas and ammonia. From this, the water becomes cloudy, and the fish, if any, may die. With the onset of frost, remove the mesh so that it does not freeze.
   

   Advice! Try using a strawberry net. It is green inconspicuous color, and it can be slightly drowned in water so that the fabric does not spoil the look. Only the grid needs to be regularly lifted and the leaves removed.

2. Any pond needs cleaning in autumn and spring, even if it is equipped with a filter. From time to time, debris from the bottom has to be removed manually. Many prefer spring cleaning, but sometimes during the season biomass accumulates in the pond, which begins to decompose. It is recommended to collect garbage from the day with a net and take it ashore. If the pollution is severe, then drain the water, manually clean the bottom and banks of silt, and then fill the pond with clean water.
3. Keep a close eye on the night air temperature. If it reaches 5 °, all equipment, if any, must be turned off and stored in accordance with the instructions. Filter fillers are washed in a weak salt solution, the pumps are stored until spring in a frost-free room, completely immersed in a bucket or tank of water. This will preserve all the functions of the equipment.

It's all about volume

The owners of plastic molds that act as a mini-reservoir are worried about the question: do they need to drain water from them for the winter or not. Sellers who advertise the product assure that this is not necessary. But is it?

All ponds are less than 1 m deep and have an area of ​​2-3 sq. m in winter they will definitely freeze, cracks may appear in the structure, or it will deform. Such a pond will definitely need to be drained, regardless of whether the structure is made of plastic or concrete. And, of course, we free such a pond from fish and plants, if they are there.

If the depth of the pond is at least 1.5 m, and the volume is more than 20 cubic meters. m, then such a reservoir can be left for the winter without pumping out water. So that the pond does not burst in winter, for reliability, lower empty closed plastic bottles (4-6 pieces) into the pond. To sink them, put them in a bag with some kind of cargo or partially fill them with sand. Leave a couple of bottles or plastic cans floating on the surface. In winter, as the ice expands, it will push against the bottles, not the walls of your mold. For 1 sq. m area of ​​the reservoir enough 2-3 bottles with a capacity of more than 1 liter. Even a few logs or rubber balls are thrown into the wintering pond. They will not allow freezing ice to damage the walls of the pond.

You can't spill!

Attention! In addition to the recommendations given above, or rather, even in contradiction to them, I can give one more piece of advice, but based on my personal experience. Even if the pond is very small, it is possible not to drain the pond for the winter and not to transplant fish from it, if there are any.

I will just share my experience, and you yourself, at your own peril and risk, decide whether to use it or not.

The secret is simple: install a heater in the pond.

A regular aquarium heater with a power of 200-400 watts will do. With this solution, the pond will not freeze, and the fish can not be transplanted to the aquarium for the winter, they will winter well, because the water temperature in the pond will remain +5..+10 degrees, even in the most severe frosts. But for such a solution, a 220V network supply is required. The downside is also that the heater will eat electricity almost around the clock, which may require certain costs from you. However, its power is equivalent to only 2-3 light bulbs.

Despite the fact that such a solution does not fully comply with safety standards (usually it is recommended to use reduced voltage for outdoor use in the garden), and the aquarium heater is not intended for outdoor use, I have been using just this option for organizing the wintering of two small ponds with a volume of 250l and 300l for many consecutive winters. Koi are doing great, even though they sometimes don't eat for weeks in the winter. I also leave pumps with filters turned on for the winter, which work around the clock. The water remains absolutely transparent.

In the spring, a general cleaning of the bottom, walls and filter will be required. However, such cleaning can also be done without draining the water, which greatly simplifies the care of the pond. After all, when fresh water is added, it will take several weeks for the biological balance to be established in the pond - as when starting a new aquarium.

The decorative pond has become a very popular element of the backyard landscape. It is beautiful and helps to create a pleasant microclimate on your hundred square meters. It must not only be correctly positioned and made, but the most important thing is its conservation for the winter. We will talk about how to properly prepare a pond for wintering in this article.

Pond wintering

In the warm season, the pond pleases its owners with a beautiful view. Special care during this period is not required, only if the days are hot, it is necessary to clean the reservoir and refresh the water. Otherwise, it will bloom. With the onset of cold weather, the pond must be prepared for winter.

How much this process will be laborious depends on:

• vegetation;
• animals inhabiting it;
• waterproofing quality.

If your pond is not inhabited by vegetation and animals, then the task is quite simple. First you need to remove all equipment (hoses, pumps, etc.). After that, clean the bottom and walls of the pond with a water vacuum cleaner. If the reservoir is small, it must be drained, regardless of the material of manufacture. In large ponds, boards or pieces of foam can be placed to prevent damage to its bowl from ice. It is they who will take on the tension of the freezing water. If plants grow in the pond, they must be removed and moved to a cool place, such as a basement. In the case of living in a pond, fish must be caught and placed in an aquarium. If the depth of the reservoir allows, they can be left. The main thing to remember is that the water column must be at least 2 m. You will also have to cut a hole in the ice to provide oxygen to the fish. Preparing a pond for winter is quite difficult, if you doubt your abilities, you can turn to professionals for help.

decorative pond

An artificial reservoir is not only an element of landscape design, but also a decoration for any site. It can be placed next to the gazebo or veranda.

To build a pond, it is not necessary to dig a pit or purchase special plastic containers. You can make a reservoir from an old bathtub or trough.

You can decorate the pond to your taste. The main advantage will be low financial costs. About how, and most importantly from what you can make an artificial reservoir in the country, let's talk further.

decorative pond in the country

So, you have decided to equip a pond on your site, and if there is an old bathtub somewhere, then everything is much simpler. To equip the reservoir, it is necessary to dig a hole 10 cm larger than the bathtub on each side. After that, we place the bath in the recess and fix it.

Now you can move on to decoration. White walls do not look quite natural, so they need to be decorated. To do this, you can take tile glue and add beige color to it. Apply the resulting mass to the surface of the container. Hands must be protected with rubber gloves. After that, you should wait until the solution rises. If you plan to plant aquatic plants, their roots need to be established. To do this, stir the clay with water to a thick consistency and coat the bottom of our pond with a thin layer. Some plants can be immediately fixed in a clay solution. Thus, you can get a pond with water lilies, which will please the eye. Next, pay attention to the edges of the bath. A metal mesh must be laid around the entire perimeter and poured with a concrete solution. After the solution rises, you can decorate with natural stone or small cobblestones.

A metal barrel is also suitable for a reservoir. It must be dug into the ground so that its edges protrude slightly. Do not forget to pre-prime the pond tank, this will extend its service life. After that, we place soil for aquatic plants at the bottom of the barrel. To avoid injury, the edge of the barrel is best covered with a hose. When the reservoir is ready, water is poured into it and the area around it is decorated with decorative stones or plants are planted. This is how easy it is to make a pond from very simple materials, showing a little imagination.

Pond in winter

It would seem, why take care of an artificial reservoir in the winter. It is covered with a layer of ice. But biological processes are still going on, albeit at a slower pace. And the life of the reservoir in winter also needs support, as in the warm season.

To do this, a number of questions need to be addressed:

1. Should I feed the inhabitants of the pond in winter? If there are fish left in your pond for the winter, the question arises whether you need to feed them. It's simple, the fish approaches the winter with an accumulated supply of fat for the warm period of the year, so you don't need to feed it. Due to winter feeding, the fish may die, because. due to a slowdown in metabolic processes, it will not be able to digest food.
2. Should I make a hole for the maintenance of the reservoir? In the warm season, we clean the pond from debris and dead plant parts to prevent rotting processes in the water. In winter, biological processes continue. Dead parts of plants decompose in water, releasing harmful gases. A hole on the surface of the pond will allow you to remove unnecessary substances and saturate the water with oxygen, which is very useful for plants and animals living in the pond.
3. Is it necessary to saturate the water with oxygen and mix its layers? As already mentioned, the biological processes in the pond continue even in winter. This is not good for water quality. To do this, it is necessary to aerate the reservoir (saturate it with oxygen). Compressors can help with this, which will also contribute to the circulation of liquid and oxidizers, these are devices that do not require mains power. Both types of devices saturate the water with oxygen, thereby preventing decay processes and creating comfortable conditions for the inhabitants of the reservoir.

If you follow all the points, then the pond will be in good condition even in winter. And most importantly, it will delight you and your loved ones for more than one season.

How to save a pond in winter

Preparing a pond for winter is a laborious process consisting of several stages. The main thing is to do everything consistently and accurately. How to prepare a decorative pond for the winter we will tell further.

decorative pond in winter

All work can be divided into the following stages:
Removing water from the pond. If your reservoir has a depth of less than 80 cm and an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 20 square meters, then the water is pumped out of it completely. Otherwise, it will damage the walls, completely freezing. Before the onset of frost, water is pumped out, after which plants, fish and equipment are removed. Next, clean the pond from the accumulated dirt. If the pond is of impressive size, then just before the cold weather it is filled by 2/3. Due to this, a layer of ice forms on the surface, which quickly melts in the spring. With a strong drop in temperature, it is necessary to make an ice hole on the surface of the pond and pump out the remaining liquid from it. If your reservoir has concrete walls, then it can be left with water. Those who have a pond trough made of plastic must protect it from destruction. To do this, you can put plastic bottles or pieces of foam in the water, they compensate for the pressure of ice on the walls of the container.

Protecting water from pollution. Even in autumn, do not be too lazy to stretch a net over the surface of the pond so that the falling leaves do not clog the pond. Once in the water, they will rot, releasing ammonia and marsh gas, due to which the water will become cloudy and an unpleasant odor may appear. When it gets colder, the mesh is removed so that it does not freeze to the ice.

Equipment storage. Do not forget about the engineering systems of your pond, they also need conservation. When the temperature outside does not rise above + 5 degrees, it is necessary to remove pumps, filters, nozzles for fountains. Before packing, everything must be thoroughly washed. Moreover, the filter must be disassembled into its component parts, and then washed with a salt solution, which will serve as additional disinfection. The pump is best stored in a container of water.

Storage of plants and animals. Carefully remove all plants from the pond and place in a cool room. It is necessary to provide lighting, the main thing is that it should not be bright. In containers where plants sit, it is necessary to periodically moisten the ground. If fish live in your pond, then they also need to be moved to a specially prepared aquarium. This will keep them safe from death. If the pond is deep, then the fish can be left in it for the winter. The main thing is to periodically make holes in the ice for oxygen access. If desired, you can purchase a water heating system that will save the inhabitants from severe frosts. The main thing to remember is that fish do not need to be fed in winter. They have already accumulated a sufficient supply of nutrients and will calmly endure the winter.

An artificial pond must be carefully prepared for the cold. Having completed all the points, you can not worry about the safety of the equipment, as well as the flora and fauna inhabiting the reservoir. They will perfectly endure all the hardships of the winter period and will delight you with a beautiful view in the spring.

Pond in the country house in winter

It has already been said before how to protect the pond bowl from damage, keep the water in good condition. But it is also necessary to pay attention to plants growing near the pond and in the reservoir itself. Coastal plants must be cut flush with the water. If there are frost-resistant representatives, you can cover them with foliage and cover with any material. Sedge and irises can be taken out of the pond and placed in the basement for the winter, the main thing is that the room is cool and not much light. Water lilies are also desirable to remove from the reservoir. They can be left in the pond only in regions with mild winters. There are some tricks for storing water lilies. They can be placed for the winter in the nearest swamp or lake that does not freeze. You can also dig a hole and bury the plant in it.

Which of the winter conservation methods for this species is up to you to decide. There are plants that should not be harvested. For example, reeds will easily survive the winter, and will still saturate the water with oxygen. That will favorably affect the quality of the water in the pond.

A school of cranes flying away into the distance, once again reminded of the approaching harsh winter. It seems that everything has already been done on the site: the harvest has been harvested, the house has been prepared for wintering. The case was left behind an artificial pond. What to do, to drain the water or not to drain from the pond, and where to place the plants and fish? The answer, as always, you will find here!

Autumn - preparing the pond for winter.

For romantics of all times, the coming of autumn is an inspiration that gives birth to wonderful lines:

Noisy geese caravan

Stretched to the south: approaching

Pretty boring time;

November was already at the yard ...

However, for the owners of suburban private houses, autumn is the worries associated with preparing the site and the artificial reservoir for winter. In the autumn period of the year, nature prepares for overwintering, therefore, for pets of reservoirs and plants, it is necessary to create a gentle “hibernation” mode to replenish strength by next spring.

What measures to prepare for the winter will need to be done personally?

Measures to prepare for the overwintering of the reservoir

Recall what will need to be done:

Clean the water surface, banks and bottom of the pond

Stop, retrieve and store pond equipment

To protect the reservoir from deep freezing

Ensuring the integrity of the waterproofing coating of the reservoir bowl

Create conditions for wintering plants of the reservoir

Take care of the inhabitants of the pond.

We'll have to work hard to create the most comfortable conditions for overwintering, so that there are no doubts about the question: "How to save the pond in winter."

we clean the reservoir

Until the moment when the water is removed from the pond, it is necessary to stretch a net over the water mirror to collect fallen leaves from the trees. Collecting daily with a net of leaves, now you will understand why it is not recommended to create artificial reservoirs on sites where trees grow nearby.

All these crimson, yellow and wind-shrunken sketches of the sorceress will float safely on the surface of the water in autumn, delighting frogs and spiders. Therefore, while the spiders have not made their nests in the leaves, hurry up to remove everyone, leaves and spiders.

stop and remove pond equipment

Many are interested in the question: “Is it necessary to drain the pond for the winter?”. If the pond has a small area (up to 20 sq.m) and a depth of up to 0.8 m, then such a pond will freeze to the bottom in winter. Therefore, it is recommended to pump out and drain the water, and after a few days to clean the bottom and walls of the reservoir from silt formations.

After cleaning the bowl of the pond for the winter, the pond is again partially filled with water.

It is recommended to remove the equipment for the filtration system (pump). The pump is disconnected, cleaned and transferred to storage. By the way, you need to store the pump in a bucket of water, but not in a dry state.

Do the same with an ultraviolet filter and a water pre-treatment device. They are disconnected from the system, cleaned and stored in a dry room.

protection of the reservoir from deep freezing

If the reservoir has an impressive depth, more than 1.0 m, then the innovative technology of protecting the reservoir from freezing will take care of the integrity of the equipment - OASE Aquamax .

ensure the integrity of the waterproofing coating

Depending on the type of waterproofing coating of a pond or reservoir, the nature of its safety will depend. If a non-decorated film or rigid PVC coating was used for the pond, then it will be necessary to reduce the risk of damage that can be caused by the pressure of the ice layer on the bottom and walls of the pond bowl.

To do this, it is recommended to float a drifting station called "Plastic Bottle-1". An empty bottle, preferably a "one and a half" or "kopeck piece", is filled halfway with sand and left in the pond. The number of drifting stations is calculated from the area of ​​the reservoir (1 plastic bottle per 1 sq.m.).

The appearance of the bottles will ensure the freezing of ice and thorism near them, extinguishing excess loads on the film edges of the reservoir. Thus, the waterproofing coating will be saved.

When using an HDPE geomembrane for waterproofing a reservoir, there is no point in worrying about the integrity of the layer.

we create conditions for wintering of plants and inhabitants of the reservoir

In the shallow zone of an artificial pond, plants are recommended to be cut off at the edge of the water. Reed coastal plants are not cut, but tilted and crushed into the water. The hollow stems of these plants will be a kind of outlet and conductor of oxygen to the remaining water.

Non-hardy plants, located at the depth of the pond in special containers, are taken out of the water and cut off mature blossoming leaves. Then they are placed in a room with a minimum amount of sunlight and heat. Thus, the plants will be offered a gentle hibernation regime.

Winter-hardy plants least of all need an additional autumn-winter regimen. It will be enough to remove old shoots and leaves, cutting off the stem almost to the root.

The most difficult thing is to create wintering conditions for flowers. Flowers (water lilies and water lilies) are transferred to a room where they are kept in a tank with water at a temperature of plus 10 degrees.

For shallow reservoirs up to 0.8 m deep, the kept fish must be caught with a net and transferred to a prepared aquarium. If the depth of the pond reaches more than 1.5 m, wintering of fish can be provided on the spot. Fish can be in a reservoir at a water temperature at the bottom not lower than plus 5 degrees.

In the autumn-winter period, the amount of food for fish is reduced. This is explained by the fact that the metabolism of fish is slowed down in winter. But providing the reservoir with oxygen will be required.

Therefore, aeration nozzles are installed on the pump that remains in the pond and a compressor-type aerator is used for supply.

Preparing a pond for winter is a necessary event if you want an artificial reservoir to please the reviving nature again in spring.

How long is that winter?