The leaves are barely starting to change here in the Midwest.  Here's a few helpful tips to get your pond prepared for the fall.

1.  Get a pond net to cover your pond.  This will prevent leaves from getting into the pond and sinking to the bottom which ends up providing nutrients for unwanted algae and pond weeds to grow.  A pond net can also help deter predators from wanting to pluck out your fish from the pond during the cold, winter months.  I've seen many a blue herons sitting at the edge of an opening in the ice waiting for a fish to slowly swim by and nab him out of the water.  Protect your little "Buffy" koi fish and put a pond net over your pond!  They're super light weight and very affordable!

2.  If you have a skimmer in your pond, make sure you have your pump turned on 24/7 so the skimmer can catch fallen leaves, twigs, etc before they sink.

3.  Get a pond deicer.  Some people refer to these as pond "heaters" but they're actually a deicer.  (Heaters actually heat the entire volume of water, depending on the size and cost hundreds of dollars each whereas a deicer is thermostatically controlled and turns on and off depending on the outside or water temperatures and keeps an area of the water from freezing over solid, particularly the surface.)  You need a pond deicer to keep an area of the top of the pond from freezing over solid.  This is to allow an exit hole for toxic gases to escape while at the same time, providing an entrance hole for oxygen to enter.  This hole can be small but is absolutely vital if you want your fish to survive the winter and not get killed from toxic gas poisoning from decomposing organic matter in the pond that would have no where to exit.

3.  Install a pond aerator.  If you're not using one year-round, you really ought to consider this.  Having proper aeration throughout your pond is vital to having it healthy.  Fish and other living creatures need oxygen and an aerator will provide that to them.  Aerators are also cheaper to operate as it takes a lot less energy to push air than it does water.  It may cost more initially but aerators can be used year-round and last for many, many seasons. 

4.  Keep adding beneficial pond bacteria until the pond is covered with ice (except the entrance/exit hole discussed above.)  You almost could never have too much pond bacteria.  It is THEE #1 helper you have to keep your pond clean and healthy.  Really!  For small ponds less than 50' x 50' you may want to consider Microbe Lift.  They have an Autumn Prep strain that is good in cold weather months.  For large ponds and lakes you can use PlanktoniX.  It's the #1 brand for pond bacteria.  Incredible stuff that works amazingly well!  Comes in different sizes.

5. Once the weather starts to get freezing temperatures, you will want to turn your pump off and have your aerator on 24/7.  This is so you don't burn out your pump which can happen when ice builds up in the tubing thereby narrowing the tubing diameter inside and adding back pressure to the pump which will cause it to burn out and not covered under any warranty. 

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