Winter Feeding

[barryian]

Been traveling a lot and back. Actually been working on the pond in this cold winter. I was wondering what thoughts anyone might have on this.
My pond maintains a 50F water temp all winter. Maybe on those previous 5F days, it dropped to 45F but mainly is 50F. Though I've been doing this 25 years, I was wondering if feeding once here and there ( non protein ) would be a problem. Skimmer runs but bio is drained. I check ammonia, pH, kH, nitrites etc during winter and add baking soda to keep up kH. So, all is well and these boys and girls are specimens of health. Sometimes they're just hanging 4ft down and sometimes swimming around slowly if the sun is bright and shining on the pond.
Not sure who is familiar with Manda Fu but it's a non protein based almost treat like food. Think it could hurt??? Probably would take 3 -4 days to digest at 50F but I'm probably thinking at 50F, they might need some nutrition since the pond isn't in the 30's with ice and a hole.
Thoughts? Thanks all!

 

[sissy]

never change anything that works .I only feed after pond gets to 55 degrees steady for at least a week .If your fish are healthy why risk upsetting the system that works

 

[Tula]

Sissy makes a good point, but I don't think a little (on a sunny day when they're interested ) would harm them as long as your filtration can handle their waste

 

[MitchM]

This could be a good time to review Meyer Jordan's initial postings on this forum:
https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/temperature-and-feeding.16016/

 

[barryian]

Sissy makes a good point, but I don't think a little (on a sunny day when they're interested ) would harm them as long as your filtration can handle their waste

My thoughts were they're at 50F and haven't eaten in 2-1/2 months. Filtration that is running won't be affected
by a carb snack. Biofilm also should be good at that winter temp maintained. I was just wondering about the koi
at that temp .... I don't think it could hurt either. We're in for 55-60F on Thursday & Friday ...

 

[barryian]

This could be a good time to review Meyer Jordan's initial postings on this forum:
https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/temperature-and-feeding.16016/

I'll check it out now.... Probably read it way back and forgot ... Thx

 

[Lisak1]

"Right on. I have yet to see a post 'i fed my fish and its guts rotted and it died'. "

I remember that comment made me laugh the first time I read it, and it made me laugh again. Thanks for linking us back to that one @MitchM - I appreciated "hearing" from @Meyer Jordan again on the subject!

 

[sissy]

Believe me fish have eaten as there is lots of stuff to eat in the pond that also helps clean the pond come spring and you will be glad you waited

 

[barryian]

"Right on. I have yet to see a post 'i fed my fish and its guts rotted and it died'. "

I remember that comment made me laugh the first time I read it, and it made me laugh again. Thanks for linking us back to that one @MitchM - I appreciated "hearing" from @Meyer Jordan again on the subject!

It's been written many times but I've also yet to see it happen. Fed the fish 2-1/2 hours ago. They came up and slowly gobbled up the Manda Fu ... I wouldn't make habit out of it in 50F water temps. Probably made me feel better than the koi! Lol ...

 

[Dave 54]

Been traveling a lot and back. Actually been working on the pond in this cold winter. I was wondering what thoughts anyone might have on this.
My pond maintains a 50F water temp all winter. Maybe on those previous 5F days, it dropped to 45F but mainly is 50F. Though I've been doing this 25 years, I was wondering if feeding once here and there ( non protein ) would be a problem. Skimmer runs but bio is drained. I check ammonia, pH, kH, nitrites etc during winter and add baking soda to keep up kH. So, all is well and these boys and girls are specimens of health. Sometimes they're just hanging 4ft down and sometimes swimming around slowly if the sun is bright and shining on the pond.
Not sure who is familiar with Manda Fu but it's a non protein based almost treat like food. Think it could hurt??? Probably would take 3 -4 days to digest at 50F but I'm probably thinking at 50F, they might need some nutrition since the pond isn't in the 30's with ice and a hole.
Thoughts? Thanks all!

@barryian most koifoods as long as they are wheatgerm can be fed at temperatures as ow as 7c but only on a occasional basis like once every week or two the fish themselves will let you know just drop one or two pellets into the pond and if they start to take add a handful ad leave it like tat for a week or two.
The food we use is a specialised that goes by the name of Medicarp for this purpose , as for bulstering Ph and Kh have you ever thought of buying Lythaqua by a company called Kusuri .
What is Lythaqua ??? well its calcified Seaweed it is fantastic at holding the Ph and KH of the pond it comes in a lage sealed bucket with to bags and the Lythaqua which will be enough to last you about three to four years


Dave 54

 

[bagsmom]

I've been enjoying observing the winter/spring activities in my pond. Things are going to start really waking up, since we have temps in the high 60s and low 70s. With sunny days here and there (and no leaves on the trees) the algae is starting to grow. In the area where the waterfall current is strong, I have a nice crop of string algae going. The fish have a funny way of eating it -- they grab and then yank! At first I thought they were having problems out there, being all herky-jerky. But no. Just snacking! I wondered too about giving them a tiny bit of food - just to keep them social. But they seem to be doing great with the stuff that's already in the pond!

 

[barryian]

@barryian most koifoods as long as they are wheatgerm can be fed at temperatures as ow as 7c but only on a occasional basis like once every week or two the fish themselves will let you know just drop one or two pellets into the pond and if they start to take add a handful ad leave it like tat for a week or two.
The food we use is a specialised that goes by the name of Medicarp for this purpose , as for bulstering Ph and Kh have you ever thought of buying Lythaqua by a company called Kusuri .
What is Lythaqua ??? well its calcified Seaweed it is fantastic at holding the Ph and KH of the pond it comes in a lage sealed bucket with to bags and the Lythaqua which will be enough to last you about three to four years


Dave 54

Thanks again Dave!

 

[Faebinder]

If they are hungry they will eat.... just ease them into it. Don't do it heavy yet.

 

[addy1]

Our water is still hovering around 40 to cold to feed. The fish are slowly swimming around, no floaters.

 

[sissy]

I would worry about ammonia and ph .Test your water to make sure of these things