ponds/pmps

Question
QUESTION: This is the first winter for me and my pond. I have a pond about 5' x 7" and about 24" deep.  I have floating oxygenating plants, 4 goldfish, 1 koi, and a pump/filter. Do I bring in pump?  Do I throw away the plants?

ANSWER: What geographic area are you located in?

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QUESTION: I am in the southern part of KC, Mo.  Do i leave the fish in the pond over the winter?

Answer
Hello Marilyn
There is no one way to do it and a lot depends on the size of your Koi.
I am going to assume that it is small to medium size (up to about 8 inches).
Any floating plants should be fished out and disposed off.
Installing a De-Icer will keep a hole open to let noxious gases escape and oxygen to enter.
I tend to leave the pump running, but you must assure that it is below freezing level.
The filter should be cleaned and brought inside.
It is best to put pond netting over the pond, not only to keep the leaves out, but also to give the fish some protection from predators such as Hawks, Owls and Raccoons since there is less plant cover to hide under.
Winterizing the pond is not all that complex, but it does involve several steps. We have a free e-book on our website that goes through the process in easy steps.
Just go to www.pondmarket.com and click on any of the 'free e-books' links.