The right actions for your pond or pool in winter

The right actions for your pond & pool in winter. Finally, here comes the dreaded winter, it is time to admire your pond covered in frost, ice or snow, another discovery of unparalleled beauty.

Once the pool is frozen, you should never skate on it! Indeed, the risk for the cover is not zero because there is already strong pressure exerted on it, but we must not forget our fish, the stress caused would be dangerous. It is also forbidden to break the ice for the same reasons, however it is necessary to provide a window of free water to facilitate the degassing of the pool.

If you are surprised by the frost and want to make a hole in the ice, do it with warm water. To maintain a window of free water, use either a bubbler or a small pump whose jet will keep the water moving on the surface. It is imperative that the pump or bubbler is not more than 30 cm deep so as not to break the stratification of the water, because the temperature of the water increases according to the depth. If you place a pump or bubbler deep, you mix so-called "warm" water with cold water (your fish may not appreciate it).

Never completely cover your pond with boards or panels of frigolite or bubble PVC sheet (generally used for swimming pools) because you will obscure the pond which will be harmful to your fish but also to certain plants, because not everything is frozen under the ice. Some plants remain slightly active and always ensure oxygen production. There are other devices that allow you to keep part of the water free, seek advice from a professional.

All that remains is to wait for spring, the work caused by the basin in winter is almost zero.