Winterizing

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
H, THE BEAUTY AND tranquillity of the backyard water garden.
The gently gurgling fountains and softly swaying fronds of underwater grasses.
The golden fish gliding to and fro beneath the dark, glassy water that reflects the blue sky of summer.
But what happens after the dreamy days of summer have ended and the chill of autumn sharpens the air? How should you care for your water garden and the creatures that call it home?
Tom Gober, owner of Colonial Gardens in Liberty, said many types of fish can safely spend the winter in a water garden if the conditions are right.
Water garden heater
"Fish go into a dormant state during the winter and are very listless. Since their metabolism slows down, they do not require food, but they do need oxygen. If you want to keep fish in your water garden all winter, you need a heater that will keep a hole thawed in the ice so fish can breathe," Gober said.
Water garden heaters are the size of a Frisbee and sell for about $60.
The heaters plug into an electrical outlet and float on the surface.
A hole in the ice will also allow poisonous gases to be released.
"As plant matter and fish waste decompose, ammonia gas is released into the air. If it builds up in the water, it will kill the fish. A hole in the ice will keep poisonous gases at a minimum," Gober explained.
Although fish do not eat during winter, it doesn't hurt to give them a healthy dose of vittles when autumn sets in.
Fall feeding
Celia Michelon, a longtime pond hobbyist who works at Colonial Gardens, feeds her fish a food that's specially formulated for fall consumption.
"An autumn feed will give fish the protein they need to sustain themselves during the long winter ahead," she said.
Just don't go overboard with the fish food.
"It's never a good idea to overfeed fish. This is one of the most common mistakes people make. If your water garden has established plants growing in it, you'll hardly ever need to feed your fish because they will eat the decayed plant matter and bugs and other things that fall into the pond. I only feed my fish about once or twice a week," Michelon said.
If a water garden contains fish, it should also contain plants.
"It's part of the natural ecosystem, and when you are building a water garden, you are building an ecosystem. For fish to thrive, they need to feed on plant matter," Michelon said.
The depth of the water garden also plays a roll in the welfare of the fish.
"If you want to keep fish in a water garden all winter long, it should be at least 3 feet deep," Michelon said. "Some fish can survive in a pond that is only 2 feet deep, but 3 feet is best."
Still waters
Pond waters should also be still.
During summer, a water garden pump keeps water circulating.
Proper circulation keeps algae at bay and keeps mosquitoes from laying eggs in water, but too much circulation during winter will make water too cold for fish.
"During the summer, you want good circulation in your water garden, but when autumn arrives, it's OK to slow things down. After the water in your water garden has been 40 degrees [Fahrenheit] for more than a week, you can turn off your pump," Michelon said, adding, "The ice that forms over still water actually acts as an insulator against the cold."
If you don't want to bother with maintaining a water garden during winter, you can bring your fish indoors and keep them in an aquarium.
"Whether or not this works will depend on the size of the fish," Michelon said. "Small fish are easier to maintain indoors than large fish, unless you have a huge aquarium."
But whether your fish live indoors or outdoors, it's never healthy to crowd an aquarium or pond with too many fish.
"The rule of thumb for water gardening is 1 inch of fish per square foot of surface area," Michelon said.
Of course, fish aren't the only creatures that like to call a water garden home.
Other animals
Some folks have resident turtles and frogs.
"Frogs and turtles burrow into the mud near a pond and spend the winter in a dormant state, so there's really not much you can do to care for them other than making sure they have a place to burrow into," Michelon said.
Sometimes it's difficult to get frogs to stick around.
"A downside to frogs and turtles is that they tend to come and go," Michelon said. "They also sometimes eat small fish."
Tadpoles, on the other hand, eat mosquito larvae, so they're always welcome at Michelon's pond.