How to prepare a pond for wintering fish. How to prepare a decorative pond for the winter cold: recommendations and rules How to cover a plastic pond for the winter

One of the last stages of pre-winter preparatory work on the site is the care of a natural garden reservoir (lake, pond or stream system).

Streams, as a rule, are cut off from the lake and freed from water - they are small and if they are not drained, they will freeze to the bottom, this can damage their bed.

The pond hibernates dry and covered (if it is small acrylic), with ice - if it is freezing of any type (concrete or film), or with water and animals - if its depth is more than 1.5 meters, and the mirror is more than 15 sq.m. At the same time, the material that forms the bottom and walls of its bowl is insignificant.

1. Preparation of the reservoir, dismantling of equipment.

AT autumn time protect the pond from falling leaves, drowning they will spoil the water in the pond

At the very beginning of leaf fall, it is important to protect the pond from falling leaves. It certainly looks beautiful on the surface, but, having sunk, in the spring it will spoil the composition of the water: warming up on spring sun, the foliage will begin to rot, taking in oxygen and releasing marsh gas. The water in a small reservoir, already deprived of oxygen during the winter, will become almost unsuitable for the life of fish. An aesthetically justified, but unreliable way is to catch the leaves that have fallen into the pond every day with a net. If there is no such desire, or the pond is left unattended for a long time (for example, summer cottage), then a thin mesh is pulled over it. At the end of leaf fall, the mesh is removed and dried, and the leaves are sent to the compost pit.

If the winter is mild and water bodies in some area practically do not freeze, it is enough to cover the surface with a net and leave a working aerator or pump for forced water circulation. Acrylic and PVC containers of small ponds are drained before frost, cleaned, equipment is disconnected and either covered and left to winter in place, or dismantled and brought into a technical room.

It is better to dismantle equipment that is not winter-hardy, rinse it and store it in a cool room until spring: dry filters, and the pump itself in a container with water, otherwise dry storage might ruin it. Hoses, nozzles, fountain nozzles, lamps, aerators - that is, all summer equipment - winter dry in a dry room.

2. Cleaning the reservoir

At the beginning of the seasonal cooling, the water temperature is measured daily. Serious preparation for winter begins when the water temperature drops to +10 ºС. At this time, the fish are fed less and less - it still almost stops eating when low temperatures, and an excess of uneaten food will only lead to rotting of the water. Moreover, at this temperature, if not planned winter heating water in the pond, it is already necessary to dismantle most of the equipment - aerator, pump, filter. Some pumps and filters can winter in a non-freezing pond if they are located at a depth of 50-60 cm and below, and can even turn on for several minutes in winter, aerating and mixing the water, so this moment must be taken into account when constructing a pond.

Small freezing pond less than a meter depth) are lowered, manually cleaned of dirt, leaves, silt, and fish and plants are transferred to home aquariums. The pipes are blown and sealed with plugs, then the reservoir is filled with at least two-thirds of new water. This will simplify wintering and spring defrosting. Such a pond is prepared for wintering with ice in the same way as a swimming pool - that is, the water level is adjusted in accordance with the ground level and expansion joints are placed in the water - slightly submerged plastic cans, 1 canister per square meter of water table. Can be used rubber balls or several thick sheets of foam.

Usually, preparatory work are held in November-early December, when the average daily air temperature ranges from zero to +5 ºС degrees. At this time, the water begins to come to its constant "winter" temperature, and fish and aquatic animals - in their usual, natural mode, settle down for the winter. At a water temperature of +5 ºС, the reservoir is cleaned for the last time from silt (it is left only in the wintering pit), the remains of dead plants, and debris. During the winter, fish need oxygen. Therefore, in winter, there should be plants in the pond, and the freezing process of the reservoir will have to be controlled. When the bottom layer of water cools down to +4 ºС, the fish will finally stop eating and go to the very bottom, digging into the silt. Wintering will begin for them, even if the pond is not frozen. After that, it is undesirable to disturb them.

Rake with frequent teeth - ideal for manually cleaning the bottom of the reservoir from debris before wintering

The bottom is cleaned with a water vacuum cleaner or manually, leaves and debris are removed from the bottom with frequent rakes with rounded flattened teeth, then, if possible, silt is removed. The main thing is not to overdo it - aquatic plants drop wintering buds to the bottom in autumn. If possible, they should be left in the pond, and a few, for insurance, should be placed in the same place where heat-loving water lilies will spend the winter. In the spring, these "reserve" buds will help restore the population, even if all the other buds die. It is possible to lower the water level in the reservoir for several hours needed for cleaning, then it is desirable to return it back - and return the same water.

3. Preparation for wintering of fish and plants.

Heat-loving fish species (for example, Japanese carps, swordtails, goldfish) in without fail are caught and wintered before the water reaches the lower limit of their endurance, otherwise, when transferred to a warm aquarium, they will get sick due to impaired preparation for wintering and a malfunction in the biological program.

To fish of local breeds in middle lane normally overwintered in the lake, its depth should be at least one and a half meters. Even one such deep wintering hole with an area of ​​about a meter per meter (or even less, depending on the number of fish) in the center of the pond is enough. If the depth of a small (less than 15 square meters) pond is less than a meter, and it is built with sloping walls and a flat bottom, then during the winter it will most likely freeze to the bottom and the fish will not have a chance to survive. In this case, it would be more humane to catch and eat it in the fall or arrange it for a warm winter in the house.

Carp, perch and other "local" fish can winter in both quite comfortable room conditions, and in conditions “close to front-line”, for example, in a large barrel or bath in the basement - the main thing is to ensure sufficient aeration, water temperature within 10-15 ºС, and low lighting. She will not fall into hibernation, but activity will slow down, the fish will be “autumn-spring”. It is advisable to use only high-protein food at this time and in small quantities.

Heat-loving fish only hibernate in aquariums, all the rest can survive the winter if there is a depression in the pond up to 1.5 meters, and plants in freezing ponds do not hibernate

Fish from a warm aquarium, of course, can be released into the pond only when it is fully warmed up.

Local aquatic plants are able to overwinter in a non-freezing pond (baskets with them are moved to the very deep place, where there should be at least a meter from the top of the basket to the surface of the water), and more heat-loving water lilies, lotuses and other exotics should winter either in the house in water at a positive temperature, or in water in a cool room.

As a rule, they are initially planted in mesh pots, in the summer they live in a pond, and for the winter the pots are pulled out, placed each in a bucket of pond water and placed in the cellar. Some of the leaves are cut off. You can keep the plants just in damp soil, but there is a risk that they will dry out. Most plants do not need strong lighting at this time; their natural winter lighting is dusk.

4. Formation of ice cover and provision of comfortable wintering for fish

Do not leave fish to winter without oxygen

Reeds and cattails are cut to a height of 15-20 cm above the water table. To provide the fish with an influx of oxygen, it is important to place bundles of straws or reeds vertically in the water - around them the water freezes more slowly, carbon dioxide leaves the water, and oxygen enters the water through the hollow stems, even when the ice becomes thick. From time to time, you can drill a hole and also insert a bunch of straw into it.

For the first time, you need to leave several pieces of polystyrene foam and bundles of straw on the surface of the water.- they will slow down the freezing of water, and then make air in the ice. Ice cannot be crushed, it can only be drilled, and not above the wintering pit: from the shock wave and a sharp increase in pressure in wintering, hibernating fish, the swim bladder can burst. In addition, under the ice, the water maintains a constant temperature of +4 ºС, if the ice is broken on large area, in this place the water begins to cool rapidly and the ice thickens too much. It is even better to create products by simply spilling them with boiling water- and there is no shock water, and some kind of none, but the movement of water, and a slight heating.

You can use a portable aerator on batteries(or on an electric carrier stretched out from the house), lowering it briefly into the drilled hole. De-icers have also been created that are placed in a pond. For example, deicer German company"OASE" is a pump connected to a float that delivers slightly heated water to the surface, while mixing it, so that the polynya can not freeze at -15 and even at -20 ºС. Approximately the same effect is given by a backlight placed in the pond - it heats the water a little, keeping the polynya.

5. Care of the wintering pond

It is undesirable to walk on ice, and it is necessary to remove snow from it, therefore it is best for technical purposes, if there is no bridge, to throw a wide board across the pond.

In severe frosts, ice is covered with straw and burlap, or rolled insulation, but you can’t keep it covered for a long time - and plants and fish need light.

In extreme cold you can drill through the ice and pump out some water, and then close the hole, creating a cushion of air that will prevent the thick ice from freezing and give the fish oxygen. If necessary, the lack of water can then be replenished, the main thing is to add water with approximately the same temperature so as not to cause thermal shock in the fish.

A large pond in winter is very decorative and can be used as a skating rink.(especially if it freezes to the bottom or, on the contrary, is very deep and the fish spend the winter in a hole in its central deep part). On the surface of the ice, you can create a kind of 3D masterpiece by freezing leaves, pictures, small objects or coins and even transparent hoses into the ice. led garland(the decor is laid out on ice, and then it is poured with water from the hose from above, so that a transparent and voluminous composition is obtained).

Winter care for a garden pond in itself is small and not complicated, and spring re-preservation requires a minimum of effort. If you take care of the garden pond in the fall and do everything right, and he and his inhabitants winter easily, without loss, and all year round delight the owners.

Each new owner, before the first wintering, worries about how to prepare, so that he successfully survives the winter and does not require much trouble to start 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 the pond small size you can get out of the situation by placing transverse bars under the net, but on a larger reservoir 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

Retrofit the water drain stream at its end with a bowl and a pump - ordinary, for dirty water, cubes for five to seven 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 clean water. CorsaC939 shared the intricacies of cleaning activities. This process is simple, but quite "fragrant" and dirty, so you have to stock up 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. How more powerful pump and the thicker the hose, the faster the water is pumped out.

While the water is draining - it's time to connect the sink high pressure(preferably with adjustable pressure) and a 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 crucian carp did not survive with me: I was too lazy to cut the leaves in autumn aquatic plants(water lilies, irises). 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 great amount microorganisms and algae, and the balance will be restored after a water change within two to four weeks.

One more important event- conservation for the winter of equipment installed in the pond, not intended for wintering and not having 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. Small (up to 0.8 m deep and up to 20 square meters) the 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. AT frosty winters it is possible to pump out part of the water 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.

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It is a mistake to assume that care is not needed in the fall. Back in September, you can even plant aquatic plants. But October is the season. autumn work. Thorough cleaning of organic residues - very important point during this period, because, remaining in the pond, they begin to rot and pollute the water. In early October, it is necessary to prune oxygenator plants - swamp, hornwort, turcha, urt, elodea, tilea, water ranunculus, rest, lagarosiphon, as their leaves die off for the winter, and their remains pollute the water of an artificial reservoir.

The same procedure is performed with other aquatic plants. For example, with water lilies. Most aquatic plants in artificial reservoir wintering buds form in autumn. In order for the plant to overwinter safely, these buds, as a rule, sink to the bottom. Several of these buds are cut from each plant from an ornamental pond and put indoors for the winter. By spring, they will germinate and can be returned to the pond. By the way, from them new plants are formed faster. So that they do not die in shallow reservoirs in winter, in late autumn they are transferred to the basement or to deeper reservoirs, cutting off the dried leaves closer to the rhizomes. To do this, the plants are first planted in special baskets that you can make yourself or buy in a specialized store. This will greatly facilitate the process of transferring plants, which has to be done every year, and help keep them in good condition. long years. All aquatic plants that will overwinter in unfrozen water should be moved to the middle of the reservoir. If water is drained from an artificial reservoir for the winter, then aquatic plants planted in the ground must be covered.

Covered for winter fine mesh, which is carefully fixed so that leaves and debris do not get into the pond. late autumn fish are given food containing a large number of squirrel. All plants that are not able to overwinter in an artificial reservoir must be dug up, placed in jars of water and brought into the room for winter storage. All installations and pumps are removed during the winter, cleaned and, as a rule, a water heater is installed instead. Also, for the winter, water is drained from all hoses, and ground wiring is removed into the room.

Winter

There is a danger that a small artificial reservoir may freeze in winter. Therefore, for some time it can be closed with boards and additionally covered with rags on top of the boards so that all the inhabitants of the reservoir do not freeze and die. But this whole process takes time. severe frosts, as aquatic life can't long time be without light. Large reservoirs can not be covered, all the inhabitants will still survive there, but there is a danger that the content of swamp gas will increase under the ice, which can lead to the death of fish. To avoid this, they make an ice hole. But this must also be done very carefully. It is very dangerous for fish if you make a hole with a hammer, because the shock wave can harm them. It is best to put a saucepan on ice with hot water and wait until the ice melts and becomes thinner.

Very important!!!

Before you forget about your pond until spring, throw a board into it so that it takes on all the pressure that has been created, and during the winter frosts the material from which it is made is not damaged, whether it be a cement pit, a film or a plastic form.

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The decorative pond has become a very popular landscape element. personal plots. 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 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 landscape design, but also 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 decided to equip a pond on your site, and if somewhere lies old bath then everything is much easier. 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 go to decorative design. 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 thin layer the bottom of our pond. 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. Around the perimeter you need to put metal mesh and fill it with concrete. After the solution rises, you can decorate natural stone or small boulders.

Also suitable for a pond metal barrel. 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. decorative stones or planting plants. That's how easy it is to make a pond out of a very simple materials with 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

Prepare the pond for winter laborious process consisting of several stages. The main thing is to do everything consistently and accurately. How to prepare decorative pond we'll tell you more about winter.

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 in water plastic bottles or pieces of foam, 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 swamp gas, due to which the water will become cloudy and may appear bad smell. When it gets colder, the mesh is removed so that it does not freeze to the ice.

Equipment storage. Do not forget about engineering systems their 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 stocked up nutrients and make it through 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 endure all hardships winter period and 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.

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 use is not recommended, as they swell in water. Increasing in volume, they can damage the pipe structure.

Before the advent sub-zero temperature 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 a 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 the water. If during the construction of the film pond were observed building codes, then for the winter it can also be left completely filled.

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, located on top of the bluish surface of the backyard pond, however, for the safety of plants and fish, care must be taken not to get into the water organic matter. In spring, fallen leaves will begin to rot, releasing ammonia and swamp gas. The water will immediately become cloudy, lose fresh blue tint, and fish and plants in water bodies will die.
• Before frost, you need to remove the grid, since during the formation ice crust she freezes and breaks.
• 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 convenient way cleaning is the use of 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 the 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 pond 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, without damaging constituent parts and roots, extract from the reservoir.
• 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.
• It is recommended to leave the reed in the water without cutting, as its tubular stems supply the water with oxygen, 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 chosen and used carefully. The hole 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.
• With a problem additional insulation the water heating system will handle.

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 deformation of the walls, keep the representatives of the flora and fauna healthy during frosts, and admire again in the spring beautiful view pond.