09/14/2026
FALL PREP TIPS
Even though there is still plenty of hot weather ahead, here are the Fall Preparation Tips you should consider implementing in the next month or so. We will still have lots of warm weather so summer food is still on the menu now but as you run out of it, you can transition to the Fall food.
WATER CHANGES. We encourage and advocate for regular water changes esp. during the summer. Now is the time to improve your water quality by doing regular changes before fall. Improving the water quality will improve the health of your fish and their resistance to disease.
AERATION. Every pond will benefit from additional aeration, esp. larger ponds where dead spots can occur. In the winter, aeration is even more important for heavily stocked ponds or ponds with large koi. Even though the fish are dormant, they still require oxygen and if your pond freezes over completely, it will not take too long for the fish to die. Having an air pump can be a great insurance policy!! We carry many different size units.
LEAVES AND DEBRIS. Excess leaves at the bottom of your pond are the “silent killer”. As they decay, they can release dangerous sulfides and other gasses that can and will kill your slumbering fish! Clean as much debris as you can from the bottom and from areas with rocks and crevasses. We have a new economical Sludge Bomb gel ball that is great to help break down the leaves, and nets in several sizes to cover your pond!
DEICERS. Deicers are your first line of defense in maintaining an opening in the ice during the winter. Their sole function is to heat the water directly around where they float leaving a hole for gas exchanges to occur. We carry several sizes in stock.
FEEDING. We will have many warm days and the fish’s metabolism is in overdrive so high protein summer food is what they need. You can switch to fall food as you run out of the summer. You will feed your fish until the water temps drop to about 50 degrees or so. After that drop, they will eat less and less so do not force food on them.
MISC. There are some great products to help with the health of your fish and your pond. Sabbactisun is a fantastic non chemical “medication” we use and advocate. It really helps heal sores, red fins and other issues you may encounter. Salt is a great element to use to increase red blood cell production, reduce Nitrite spikes and add electrolytes to the fish’s bodies. Don’t forget Ultimate water condition each time you add water to your pond. If you have stubborn turbid water, clay can be a great natural flocculant. It binds to floating particles and can really clear your water and it is a great dietary addition for koi.
