When the cold season begins, there is also a lot to do at the garden pond. Our article tells you how to proceed with pond filters in winter and what measures you need to take.
In mild winters, the pond filter can be left in the pond
Let the pond filter run through?
In principle, you can always let pond filters run through the winter if the water temperature is always above 6 °C due to the heating of the pond.
Of course, this only makes sense if fish also spend the winter in the pond (heated ponds are quite common for koi carp). You don't need to heat the pond for all the other creatures - they hibernate anyway and can't do much with heat.
With all other ponds (without heating) it makes no sense to let them run through. In this case, the pond filter and pond pump must be removed before the severe frost sets in. Most manufacturers have the instruction that pond filters should always be removed from the pond when the temperatures threaten to drop below freezing for a longer period of time.
There are a few more rules that apply to the pond pump, which we have described in this article.
Winterize the pond filter
Depending on the filter model, different instructions apply here on how to prepare for wintering the pond filter. In any case, be sure to follow the operating instructions for your filter. The same applies to the pump.
In most cases it is required that a UVC filter is cleaned before wintering. The UVC lamp should be replaced after each season, so it is also removed before wintering.
The filter sponges should be rinsed thoroughly - in the following spring, new bacterial cultures can be cultivated before use, so that the filter can once again develop its full cleaning effect.
Keep the disassembled filter in a warm place and be sure to keep it dry.
tips
Also note that the pond itself must also be winterized. Remove cold-sensitive plants from the pond in good time, keep the pond free of ice and cover it if possible so that not too much dirt and dead leaves fall into the pond. In some cases you also have to pay attention to the edge attachments so that they are not damaged by snow and ice formation.