What Can I Do If My Koi Fish Pond Is Partially Frozen?

Most people utilize a Koi fish pond as an outdoor feature to either enhance landscaping or simply because they like it. There are those who have the means to enjoy an indoor Koi pond, however. And those little fish will never have to worry about their home sweet home freezing up. Since most Koi ponds are outside, however, let’s take a look at the very real problem of pond freeze up.

A Very Common Question

Water gardeners and pond keepers end up having to tolerate some crazy extreme weather conditions. Specific challenges are presented by this unfortunate circumstance. Every year, aquatics stores are bombarded with questions about how to handle specific issues. One common question is “What do I do if my Koi pond is partially frozen?”.

What to Do About That Iced Over Pond

There is ice on the top of your pond and you can’t see your beloved fish. So what do you do? Do you break the ice? First of all, know that you’re not alone. This happens a lot. Here are some things that you’re going to need to do:

• Make sure that you have a completely functioning air pump running.

That’s it! At least, in most cases. Even if there is ice on the top of the pond, if you have a powerful enough functioning air pump running, you should be okay. Additionally, however, you should be sure that you have proper aeration. You can also install a floating deicer. In extreme weather. A little bit of extra insurance is offered by these pieces of equipment.

A Floating Deicer

This piece of equipment encourages passive deicing. It helps keep an open area in the ice on your pond. Through this opening, oxygen will get in and gas will escape.

A Koi Pond Aerator

This is a highly efficient way to introduce oxygen and degas your pond. It is also an active deicer. An aerator produces bubbling action. This gives the pond a bit of gentle circulation and agitates the surface of the water. Keeping the surface water moving discourages ice from forming. Even in subfreezing temperatures, the top of your pond will likely remain open with the proper surface agitation.

Of course, if sub-freezing temperatures (in single digits) are sustained over a considerable period of time, a dome of ice may develop. Under this dome, the surface is being broken by air bubbles. If you don’t see that open area of water because it’s covered with a dome, don’t be too concerned. Generally speaking, there isn’t much to worry about as long as your aerator is still fully functional.

Once that open water disappears from view, your Koi pond looks substantially different. But rest assured that it is probably functioning just the same below that icy mound/covering over the pond. The water is still being circulated by the aerator and the pond is being degassed. The dome covering your pond is not airtight. Even if the top appears completely frozen, there are probably tiny openings around the pond’s perimeter allowing the covering of ice to breathe.

At Everything Coy, we understand that the proper aeration system is one of the best ways to protect against Koi fish pond freeze up. We carry the Enhancer Pro Aeration System and other products for aeration, as well. Check out our inventory today or email us if you’d like further information. You can also call us at 908-420-9908.