Cold fish...
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Posted: Nov/16/2005 5:16 PM PST
In other news (see post on hummingbird rest-stop being destroyed http://www.gardenguides.com/forum/showthread.ph p?t=15878 ) The koi and goldfish at IronKnees house came through the storm just fine... However, due to an unprecidented 52 degree drop in temperatures in an eighteen hour period, the fish have organized a gathering around the heater, and the water fall and filters have been turned off... Pictures at 10:00 Attachments:  |
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Posted: Nov/16/2005 5:27 PM PST
52 degree drop in 18 hours? Wow. That's crazy! |
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Posted: Nov/16/2005 9:03 PM PST
I've always turned off both the fall and filter pumps and use only a heater... My pond is going into it's eighth winter and I've not lost a fish (due to winter) yet... About 1/2 of the length of the pond will freeze, and the fish do pretty much like you mention, except they hang around the bottom on the heater end... I don't feed once the water temp. drops below 50 degrees... Over the years I've learned by watching the fish to tell when the temp. is near or above 50, and confirm it with the thermometer... |
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Posted: Nov/16/2005 10:41 PM PST
Our water falls is also shut off for the season........we do leave a submersable pump running as well........Ron........when it really freezes over in Jan., you don't make sure there is an opening? I understand that the ice can act as insulation, but always thought there should be an opening. Gosh, I'm not going to worry about it this year, if is isn't necessary. |
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Posted: Nov/17/2005 2:50 AM PST
Ron, certainly not to criticize because everyone has their own tried and proven technique, but do you really let the water surface totally freeze over... There needs to be at least some open surface to allow unwanted gas buildup to escape... |
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Posted: Nov/19/2005 8:53 PM PST
Thanks Ron for all the info........well, you won't see me out there trying to make a hole in the ice this year......will just let it be........ 
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Posted: Nov/19/2005 10:20 PM PST
Just toss a B- Ball or other heavy rubber ball in the pond. It will move around the pond and even if it gets really cold it will allow a gap around the ball to let gases escape. The hole is needed for a gas release. This is normally caused bt decaying leaves or plant debris and from fish waste. This does not happen on an equal scale as it does in the wild. Thus the need for a hole, your home pond in most situations is NOT a balanced Eco system and the water can and will stagnate. A rubber basketball is simple enough to use and you can be worry free. |
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Posted: Nov/19/2005 10:23 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by MaxBaer Just toss a B- Ball or other heavy rubber ball in the pond. It will move around the pond and even if it gets really cold it will allow a gap around the ball to let gases escape. The hole is needed for a gas release. This is normally caused bt decaying leaves or plant debris and from fish waste. This does not happen on an equal scale as it does in the wild. Thus the need for a hole, your home pond in most situations is NOT a balanced Eco system and the water can and will stagnate. A rubber basketball is simple enough to use and you can be worry free.Thanks for the tip MaxBear....... 
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Posted: Nov/19/2005 10:27 PM PST
You are berry welcome.... |
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Posted: Dec/09/2005 4:34 PM PST
For the most part the small backyard ponds are just not balanced enough to let them go with out a hole in the ice. So much of that depends on your specific situation, waterfall, depth, fish load are all factors. If you do not have alot of debris in the pond, like if you have a skimmer, and you don't feed your fish, then you may not have a build up of CO2 in the winter time. Some people are very attached to thier fish and the floating deicer keeping a small opening in the ice is just a little insurance against possible problems. I let my wateralls run all winter long and float the deicer right in front of the skimmer opening. Besides making sure that the fish are taken care of we have a great water source for the critters and birds and the waterfalls are just beautiful in the winter snow. |
