HOW TO STOP YOUR POND FREEZING

[CLAIRE]

we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

[John Bachman]

On 29 Jan 2004 08:51:36 -0800, (CLAIRE)
wrote:

>we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
>to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
>this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

I am in Southern NH - very cold winter here. My bubbler almost did
the jobby itself but I had to add a trough heater when it got really
cold.

John

[Robyn Rhudy]

I list some ideas at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/winter.htm

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004, CLAIRE wrote:

> we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
> to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
> this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?
>

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[BenignVanilla]

"CLAIRE" > wrote in message
om...
> we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
> to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
> this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

Here are some topics on that subject:

http://www.iheartmypond.com/topiclist.asp?l=3&c=Maintenance&sc1=Winterizing

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[GrannyGrump]

>we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
>to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
>this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

Floating pond heater. Get one at a farm supply store, such as Tractor
Supply.

[Brian Watson]

"GrannyGrump" > wrote in message
...
>
> >we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
> >to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
> >this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?
>
> Floating pond heater. Get one at a farm supply store, such as Tractor
> Supply.

Plan B: put one into your filter (if you run one).

Less wasted heat loss and you know it's not just heating a small area.

--
Brian
"The wind, do you hear it? It says 'Hel ... looo'"

[John Hines]

(CLAIRE) wrote:

>we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
>to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
>this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

Move to florida? <G>

If the winter was much worse (we, chicago, is having a very mild winter
this year), that would be in my plans.

[John Bachman]

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 17:39:58 -0600, John Hines >
wrote:

(CLAIRE) wrote:
>
>>we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
>>to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
>>this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?
>
>Move to florida? <G>
>
>If the winter was much worse (we, chicago, is having a very mild winter
>this year), that would be in my plans.

Yeah, but how would you pack your pond for the trip?

Sorry, but I do not want to hear from anyone who had a mild winter.

John

[Woodsfrog]

Hello Claire,
I use a stock tank heater for a couple of hours at a time just until there is a
hole in the ice. If you want a very low cost device to keep a hole in the ice
try the bubbler invented by one of our water garden society members. A diagram
for making it is on our web site: <A href="http://www.mvwgs.org">Miami Valley
Water Garden Society</A> Look at the Tips & Tricks Section.
W@@dsfrog
( ~ )
^ ^

[John Hines]

John Bachman > wrote:

>On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 17:39:58 -0600, John Hines >
>wrote:
>
(CLAIRE) wrote:
>>
>>>we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
>>>to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
>>>this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?
>>
>>Move to florida? <G>
>>
>>If the winter was much worse (we, chicago, is having a very mild winter
>>this year), that would be in my plans.
>
>Yeah, but how would you pack your pond for the trip?

In a really big plastic bag? Actually if it was a really bad winter, I
wouldn't expect much left.

>Sorry, but I do not want to hear from anyone who had a mild winter.

All thing are relative, it is currently 4.6f (-16c) and dropping.

Coldest day yet winter. Not having heavy snow cover reduces the
insulating effect, causing more pond freezing.

[Tyrone]

"CLAIRE" > wrote in message
om...
> we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
> to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
> this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

Please explain the theory behind the tennis ball. TIA

[Gretchen]

we keep our filter running and also a small water fountain and that seems to
keep a good bit of the pood from freezing but not all....
"CLAIRE" > wrote in message
om...
> we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
> to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
> this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

[CLAIRE]

"Tyrone" > wrote in message >...
> "CLAIRE" > wrote in message
> om...
> > we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
> > to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
> > this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?
>
> Please explain the theory behind the tennis ball. TIA

Hi Tyrone,

The theory is that because the tennis ball is bobbing about all the
time the water is never still so it doesn't freeze - clearly this
hasn't worked though.

[Michael Shaffer]

Here's what I did, this only took me about 1 hour to make and you
probably have all the parts you need at home.

1 tupperware container approximately 2 ft x 2ft x 1.5ft (LxWxH)
4 milk jugs or water bottles or soda bottles
8 small bolts and nuts
dremel/drill
100 watt light bulb (or whatever size you want)
light bulb to plug adapter - this lets you plug a bulb into an outlet

First cut the top off all 4 containers.

Next attach each container to the inside corners of the tupperware
container (make sure you're jugs are big enough to support the
tupperware so it won't sink). Make the jugs protrude from the container
a few inches so the gases can escape, plus it will sink a little bit.

Cut a hole in the top of the tupperware container for the lightbulb.

Attach lightbulb to extension cord with bulb adapter, pull the plugs
apart so it won't fall into the pond (just to be paranoid). Also, if you
drilled the hole on the tupperware container just the right size the
extension cord will hold the bulb from falling. Just make the hole small
at first, you can always make it bigger if you need to.


That's pretty much it.. here's a pic of what mine looks like

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/heater.jpg

It also lights up the pond and looks really cool.

The only problem might be if you're pond has a few inches of ice it
probably won't make a new hole all by itself.


Hope this helps,
Mike





CLAIRE wrote:
> we have tried putting a tennis ball in the centre of our garden pond
> to stop the water from freezing however, with the bad weather recently
> this hadn't worked. Can anyone suggest an alternative?