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  • Results 1 to 4 of 4

    Thread: 1 st winter with above ground pool koi pond

    1. #1
      carperama is offline Senior Member
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      1 st winter with above ground pool koi pond

      I started the 6200 gallon pond Dec 2023 and the pond temp got as low as 45 degrees with my 250+/- koi ranging from 4"-9" long. I had the pool and barrels covered with a tarp but didn’t insulate the outside of the pool very well. I put some MICROBE-LIFT BSDTG1 Broad Spectrum in late Spring 2023 since they had some flukes and costia from when they were in the lake. Now there is a lot of algae growing on the sides and bottom of pond and I think it might be helping lower the Nitrates levels? I hope to insulate the pond better this year but the temps still might get below 50 degrees? I'm not worried about having crystal clear water, I am more about the health of the koi and doing less water changes.

      Should I leave the algae and treat the pond once again with the Microbe-Lift when I stop feeding?

      Should I leave the 2500 gph pump and aerators on during the winter?

      Should I turn off the water pump, empty the filter barrels and move the air closer to the water surface so the bottom water is not stirred up and might stay warmer and then put the K1 media and filters in the main pond to see if the beneficial bacteria will live?

      Just can’t find much info on getting above ground koi pool ready for winter in N. Florida.

      Water is 38" deep.

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    2. #2
      fly4koi is offline Senior Member
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      I looked up your monthly average weather, so it gets down to 37F in January, so honestly I wouldn't worry too much about it.

      As for the algae, keep them around, if you have string algae, rake them out and dispose them periodically.

      At 6200 gal and 250+ koi you are severely overstocked, right not it might not be an issue due to their smaller size, but eventually you'd need to plan for it.

      As for the insulation, you can probably get rigid foam boards to supplement the side and maybe cover up the top by 1/2 with clear vinyl just to help with trapping the heat, but since it hit 45F last year it's not crucial.

      I would keep the filtration running all year long, consider switch to winter feed when water is below 55F or even just stop feeding for a bit.

    3. #3
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      richtoybox is offline Administrator
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      With your temperatures, I would just leave it as is. Filters running, air running, and do 10% water changes when the nitrates go up 10% above current levels.
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    4. #4
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      I wouldn’t do any prep based upon where you live. Pay attention to pond temps on whether to feed or not.

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