September is the ideal time to begin preparing for the safety of your fish to over-winter.  Here are some of the stress factors to watch out for:

  1. Unclean Pond – For this, MICROBE-LIFT/AUTUMN WINTER PREP (quart) and Microbe-Lift/Gallon Size for larger ponds. A 4-month pond treatment which begins when the leaves in your area begin to turn colors; then start adding the packets when the leaves start to fall.
  2. Parasites – If you have a history of parasites in the pond, it is important that you treat the fish before winter to give them the best chance of being clean. Parasites can withstand colder temperatures than your fish can.  Use PARAZORYNE for at least 10 days.  Or, if your fish have any torn fins or scales missing, use SABBACTISUN with its healing properties.  Sabbactisun can be used during the same time as Parazoryne, but they have to be spaced 12-hours apart.
  3. Sudden temperature/weather changes – This is the Big Stressor around seasonal changes! If you have 6-12” of pebbles in the bottom of your pond, you can improve the pond for your fish by removing the stones and making the pond deeper.
  4. Warm days during winter – It’s really important to have a floating thermometer in your pond because everything you do depends upon the water temperature. In this case, don’t be fooled by warm spells during winter.  Once the water has gone below 45°-50°F, it’s time to stop feeding.  Yes, if we have a sunny and warm day (especially in a shallow bottom pond) the fish will surface and “beg” for food.  But their immune system and metabolism is not working unless the water is a steady 60°-65°
  5. Algae – Contrary to most ideas, at this time of year, your fish will need the algae as a food source during the fall, winter and early spring. This is not the time to use algaecides.
  6. Nutrition – MICROBE-LIFT/LEGACY COLD WEATHER KOI & GOLDFISH FOOD has less protein (32% compared to Summer Staple with 36%) and is more digestible at this time. It contains Wheat Germ as its basic plant protein.  Start using this when the water temperature is about 60°F and stop feeding around 50°
  7. Stock up – When it is deep winter and you have a pond emergency, that is not the time to go looking for a hose or something to mend a leak that has emptied your pond. Planning for these things can save your fish.  A spare bowl that can be used as quarantine/hospital tank indoors, spare or battery-operated aerator or pump, POND SALT, or KH BIO-ACTIVE BOOSTER, towels, and netting to go over the top of the tank.