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Oklahoma Pond and Fountain Winter Tips

As January’s chilly temperatures roll into Oklahoma, it’s time to gear up and keep your ponds and fountains in top shape. We’ve put together answers to some of the most common winter questions we get, along with a few essential do’s and don’ts every pond and fountain owner should know.

Do’s

Keep the Pump Running
In most water features—especially ponds—it’s best to keep your pump running during deep freezes. This helps create the essential “hole in the ice,” allowing natural but toxic gases to escape into the atmosphere.

Top Off the Water Levels
Cold weather can cause water loss as ice forms. Make sure your pond or fountain is topped off so your pump has plenty of water to operate. If water levels drop too low, your pump may slow down or stop, risking a full system freeze.

Invest in Backup Solutions for Ice
If your pump slows or stops, a floating pond de-icer or an aerator can keep a hole in the ice. Here’s why we love aerators:

Position the diffuser (bubble stone) in the top 6 inches of water during winter.
Aerators keep water moving to prevent freezing and cost less to operate.
In summer, move the diffuser deeper to promote beneficial bacteria when temperatures rise above 60°F.

Alternatively, a floating de-icer works by keeping a small area free from ice. While it won’t heat your pond, it stays just warm enough to maintain an opening.
Estimated Costs: Aerators ($70–$300) | De-icers ($40–$70)

Clear Your Skimmer and Use a Protective Net
Freezing temperatures in Oklahoma often come with strong winds. Leaves and debris can clog your skimmer or pump, so keep them clear and cover your pond with a net for added protection.

Be Prepared with Extension Cords
Keep extra outdoor-rated extension cords handy in case you need to run power to your pond from your house or garage. This small preparation can be a lifesaver during unexpected equipment issues.

Call Us if You Have Any Concerns
Our team is fully operational year-round. If you have any concerns or need a visit from one of our techs, just give us a call: 405-276-5706.

Don’ts

Don’t Bang on the Ice
Breaking ice manually can damage your pond’s structure and unnecessarily stress your fish.

Don’t Use Boiling Water
Pouring boiling water on ice is dangerous and only provides a temporary fix. We’ve seen injuries from slips and burns, so it’s not worth the risk.

Don’t Feed Your Fish
By this point in winter, your fish should already be fasting. Avoid feeding them, as their metabolism has slowed, and uneaten food can harm water quality.

Don’t Turn Your Pump Off Without a Plan
If you decide to turn your pond or water feature pump off, make sure that you disconnect the pump and/or check-valve so that there is very little standing water in the pipes. The water can quickly freeze and may take several days above freezing to thaw back out.

Don’t Panic—Have a Backup Plan
During freezing temperatures, your fish naturally gravitate to their favorite spot—the bottom of the pond—where they’re safest. Even if your pump slows down or stops temporarily, there’s usually enough oxygen for them to survive, and it can take several days for harmful gases to build up to unsafe levels.

By following these simple tips, you’ll help your pond and fountain thrive even in Oklahoma’s coldest weather. Got questions or need supplies? Reach out to us—we’re here to help!

Stay warm,
The Oklahoma Ponds Team

Pond Ownership Can Be Overwhelming
Education will take some of that stress away!

Whether you’ve always wanted to own a koi pond or you purchased a property that already has one, we want to welcome you to the incredible experience of garden pond ownership!

At Oklahoma Ponds, we have been caring for garden ponds and water gardens for over 30 years. We are the fastest growing pond care company in the Oklahoma City metro area, and we would love to help you learn more about your pond.

OUTDOOR KOI POND: THE BASICS

Pond ownership is a lifestyle. Water chemistry, fish health, filtration systems, pond maintenance – the amount of information can be overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to begin.

The internet is full of contradicting information, so it’s essential to get advice from an expert who has experience with pond cleaning, pond maintenance, and pond ecosystem health for OUR area.

Much of the time, conflicting information arises because not all ponds and environments are created equal. Each climate has its own unique set of challenges for pond owners. That’s why we strive to help Oklahomans learn how to take care of a pond the right way.

Does Your Pond Need Cleaning?

Most pond owners who recently inherited their pond benefit the most by our Deep Pond Cleaning and Consultation.

This service provides the owner with a deep pond cleaning, check up on the systems and components and a detailed discussion on how your pond works and what steps we/you can do to keep it healthy.

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Four Fundamentals Of Pond Health

We wish we could tell you that pond care is as simple as buying a filter with the best reviews. But in reality, there’s much more to having a beautiful, healthy garden pond. That’s why it’s important to learn about the FOUR FUNDAMENTALS OF POND HEALTH: Filtration, Bacteria, Plants & Fish, and Water Treatments.

#1. Water Filtration

Keeping Your Water Clean and Safe!

We at Oklahoma Ponds want you to enjoy a stunning, healthy pond for years to come. That all starts with an effective biofiltration system. Think of your filtration system as the “stomach” of your pond: digesting all the muck, gunk, and toxins in your water, making it livable for fish and plants.

The biofilter has two functions. First, it filters out and captures small particles in the water. Second, the media inside your filter is host to billions of beneficial bacteria.

These bacteria work together to eliminate and convert toxins produced by fish, birds, grass clippings, dead algae, decaying pond plants, and more. Each different substrate in your filter is preferred by different strains of bacteria. Speaking of bacteria…

#2. Bacteria

The Cornerstone of Pond Health!

Yes, you read that right: important, helpful bacteria. If you spend any amount of time around one of our Pond Pros, you’re going to hear about “beneficial bacteria” often. These bacteria work to keep your pond’s ecosystem perfectly balanced.

Think about it like this: fish use your pond like a giant bathroom. Plants use it as a compost pile for dead leaves and other waste. If your pond is outdoors, it’s a magnet for dirt, grass clippings, leaves, and other debris. All this waste builds up over time, increasing the amount of ammonia in the water.

Eventually, the ammonia levels become unsafe and deadly to your fish and plants. That’s where the beneficial bacteria come in. The bacteria growing in your biofilter break down and convert that nasty gunk into nitrites, which are then converted by other bacteria to nitrates. It’s these nitrates that are essential for plant health. This leads to our third point…

#3. Plants & Fish

Adding Interest to Your Water Garden!

Now we get to the fun part: plants and fish. Your garden pond is a unique ecosystem, one that will bring tranquility and joy to your space. Adding plant life and colorful fish not only make your pond more visually appealing, but they also work together to keep your ecosystem balanced.

Healthy pond plants feed off the nitrates in your pond, keeping the water clear and preventing algae growth. The more plants you have, the less nitrates there are to feed the algae. Depending on the amount of sun your pond receives daily, you should have about 70% of your water covered or shaded by plants.

Your koi or goldfish fish are likely the pond’s main attraction. Besides looking beautiful, they play a significant role in your pond’s ecosystem. The beneficial bacteria in your pond need the waste your fish give off. However, too many fish in one space will overwhelm the filtration system, leading to increased levels of toxins and decreased oxygen, particularly during hot summer months.

The Pond Pros at Oklahoma Ponds know exactly how many fish your water feature can handle. We will also teach you how to care for your fish and learn how proper pond maintenance will keep them healthy and happy.

#4. Pond Additives

The Right Way to Fast Results!

The internet and pond supply stores sell endless products claiming to clear murky water, get rid of algae, and promote fish and plant health.

While some of these products can be effective, they don’t all meet the needs of your unique pond. We can help you decide which of these products is right for your pond based on the symptoms it is experiencing.

Over time, your pond will become a self-sustaining ecosystem that doesn’t need much interference, but it doesn’t happen right away. In the beginning, chemical additives can help your pond stay healthy as its ecosystem matures.

Like so many other factors affecting garden pond health, chemical treatments require a delicate balance. Introducing the wrong chemicals – or incorrect amounts of chemicals – could lead to fish death.

Consult an Oklahoma Ponds professional before beginning any chemical treatments.

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Here's What Our Customers Say...

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Absolutely an A-1, excellent shop and personnel to deal with in all regards. Jay at the front desk has experience and knowledge to answer pond and fish questions and help you in building your own water feature and stocking it with koi and gold fish. Along , with Sandy at the front desk, they've made all my dealings with them a pleasure. As to service calls and personnel Colby has been my primary service contact and is competent and has a background and experience working in all aspects of the pond business from installation and maintenance to necessary chemical knowledge and fish - a pleasure to work with and gain knowledge from him. All the personnel have been a pleasure to work with and if you're looking to build a pond, this is the place to go and these are the people to talk to about any project you might have. I talk from my experience with a 10'X14' koi pond with 6 large (16"+) koi and numerous smaller koi, mosquito and growing babies. One of the pleasures in life is to simply go out and enjoy the pond/ waterfall/ and fish in the peace and quiet of the early morning and meditate - total relaxation that starts the day off right. Thanks to Jay and his staff.

Gordon Batchelor November 10, 2023

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Best place to buy Koi! Great selection and best prices! We love this place!!

Damian Rodriguez September 12, 2023

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If you want a koi pond, these are the guys to use. They did a great job and we love our new pond. The fish seem to love it too.

V Smith August 26, 2023

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Our pond was PITIFUL! I’m old and recovering from a surgery and unable to take care of it any longer, so, it was either get help or have it filled in! Thank Heaven I found Oklahoma Ponds! Their serviceman Colby came out and within about 6-7 hours my Koi think they’ve died and gone to Heaven! What a job he did! I barely recognize the pond… it is BEAUTIFUL again. I can’t say enough about this company, except if you’ve got a pond… you need Oklahoma Ponds.. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!

Arden Dorney August 17, 2023

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I always go here for chemicals and advice on caring for my Koi pond

James Williams August 14, 2023

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Probably like alot of people, we "inherited" a koi pond / waterfall with the house we bought. And like alot of people, we were completely clueless about how to take care of it. Luckily I found Jay and he's been helping me out with every situation imaginable for about the last 5 years. He is quickly responsive and I've always felt like he is just as invested in my pond as I am. His crew is always great, they are personable, have the knowledge they need, and they always go the extra mile and make sure we are happy and that all my questions are answered. If you are in my boat, Jay is a great and very involved educator and truly wants you to understand your pond and your fish if you have them. One thing I appreciate is that he can communicate at whatever level you happen to be at. If you're a newbie, he won't overload you with too much information. He will work with you at your pace and tell you what you need or want to know at any given time.

Christi Jernigan July 18, 2023

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The folks who work at Edmond Ponds are courteous and very knowledgeable. I would hire them again for any pond maintenance and everyone should visit their store. Such beautiful plants and koi!

Vicki Jackson June 12, 2023

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Colby came out and cleaned up our pond that’s about 1000 gallons big! We had just purchased our home and it had been vacant for close to a year. So we have no clue when it was scrubbed and cleaned up last. So as you could imagine a big job to clean! Colby worked hard and got it all cleaned up. We have 15 goldfish that survived the winter! Thank you! Now to do the landscaping, get some koi and lights! 😃

Rachael Vigar April 27, 2023

Are You A New Pond Owner?

Oklahoma Pond and Fountain Winter Tips