Heating a Koi Pond

There is much debate as to whether koi hibernate in the winter. There are those that would have you believe that this is a natural state and quite healthy for your fish, while others would say this causes undue stress on the fish.

Regardless of which side of the fence you are on, there are some important facts to consider.

When ponds ice over, harmful gasses from decaying plants, algae and fish waste cannot dissipate: heating a pond significantly helps in this regard. Heating a pond does significantly reduces stress on your fish, koi are not actually cold water fish and they will dissapear to the bottom of the pond when the water gets too cold: this is what is reffered to as the 'hibernation state'.  For those of you that have seen your koi in the summer months fully active and enjoying life to the full then this 'hibernation state' can be a little disconcerting. When the koi are at the bottom of the pond they do not feed, and as we all know we need sustenance to keep us healthy and to keep our immune system at optimum performance to fend off illness and disease, the same can be said for fish. Heating a pond will ensure that your fish are eating regularly and keeping their immune system in tip to condition. In addition it will also allow your fish to keep growing and gaining excercise throughout the winter months.

One other important factor to consider is your biological filter system. Following months through the summer of getting your filters mature and your water parameters perfect, as soon as pond water lowers to about 6 - 8 degrees, the nitrifying bacteria that you have so painstakingly cultured will die off and render your filter system virtually inert. At the start of the next season, you will have to re-mature your filters and this can add undue stress on your fish, as the water parameters start to fluctuate wildly.

So here are some reasons you shoud heat your Koi pond:

• Stops ponds freezing over allowing harmful gasses to escape.
• Heating a pond helps greatly reduce stess on your prized fish.
• Providing heat will assist your koi's immune system.
• Your biological filter will continue to work and avoid sometimes costly start ups in the spring.
• You can continue feeding your fish to maintain good nutrition and growth.
• You can protect your investment by minimizing loss.

With all these points in mind, now comes the task of choosing the best heating method for your pond that best suits your needs. Remember that you don't have to boil the fish over winter at 30 degrees, keeping a pond at a constant 12 degrees or a little higher will keep all your fish happy and your filters running as normal.

In this section we have a variety of heaters for your selection, and if unsure you can always contact us for help with your choice.