Ponds in winter

[Keith Nuttle]

I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
level is pump to the top level.

Should or can I let this pond run all winter?

If not when should it be turned off?

[Crashj]

On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 01:27:01 GMT, Keith Nuttle
> wrote:

>I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
>three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
>level is pump to the top level.
>
>Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
>
>If not when should it be turned off?

If you turn the pumps off what holds the water in each level?
First Law of Plumbing:
"Water [well, I'm paraphrasing here, it's a family group] runs down
hill."
Are there fish in any of the levels?
--
Crashj

[Granny Grump]

>Should or can I let this pond run all winter?

You should. A stock tank heater in top level would be sufficient to
keep the water from freezing.

[tim chandler]

One of the problems with letting it run all winter is that especially during
a cold night, ice dams can form which can divert water outside the pond,
possibly causing a catastrophic loss of water and subsequent loss of the
fish. For this reason it is always advisable that your pump not be located
at the lowest level on the pond, so that in the event of something like this
happening, all the water is not pumped out.

It's also advisable to run an airstone or other aerator during the winter,
perhaps coupled with a stock tank heater, to keep enough oxygen in the water
and avoid a complete freeze-up on the surface.

Happy Ponding,
Tim

"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...
> I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
> three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
> level is pump to the top level.
>
> Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
>
> If not when should it be turned off?
>

[W Dale]

Here in Colorado Springs, we 'shut down' our punds around Thanksgiving.
We keep a hole in the ice for gas exchange and 'winter the fish'. Some
ponders report losing zero fish. I have lost some to wintering. I
would like it if I could keep things going all winter long. I think it
just gets too cold here.
W. Dale

tim chandler wrote:

>One of the problems with letting it run all winter is that especially during
>a cold night, ice dams can form which can divert water outside the pond,
>possibly causing a catastrophic loss of water and subsequent loss of the
>fish. For this reason it is always advisable that your pump not be located
>at the lowest level on the pond, so that in the event of something like this
>happening, all the water is not pumped out.
>
>It's also advisable to run an airstone or other aerator during the winter,
>perhaps coupled with a stock tank heater, to keep enough oxygen in the water
>and avoid a complete freeze-up on the surface.
>
>Happy Ponding,
>Tim
>
>"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>>I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
>>three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
>>level is pump to the top level.
>>
>>Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
>>
>>If not when should it be turned off?
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

[tim chandler]

I think a lot of ponders will stop feeding the fish and shut down when the outside air temps and the water temps are around 50 or so and getting colder for the season - to keep running a waterfall then and when the temps are in the 40s and below will just make the water colder faster. Here in Memphis (we basically don't have winter at least compared to the Springs, LOL, I used to live in Monument) I can use a stock tank heater to keep the water from freezing except at the extreme ends of my pond.
"W Dale" > wrote in message ...
Here in Colorado Springs, we 'shut down' our punds around Thanksgiving. We keep a hole in the ice for gas exchange and 'winter the fish'. Some ponders report losing zero fish. I have lost some to wintering. I would like it if I could keep things going all winter long. I think it just gets too cold here.
W. Dale

tim chandler wrote:

One of the problems with letting it run all winter is that especially during
a cold night, ice dams can form which can divert water outside the pond,
possibly causing a catastrophic loss of water and subsequent loss of the
fish. For this reason it is always advisable that your pump not be located
at the lowest level on the pond, so that in the event of something like this
happening, all the water is not pumped out.

It's also advisable to run an airstone or other aerator during the winter,
perhaps coupled with a stock tank heater, to keep enough oxygen in the water
and avoid a complete freeze-up on the surface.

Happy Ponding,
Tim

"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...
I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
level is pump to the top level.

Should or can I let this pond run all winter?

If not when should it be turned off?

[Ka30P]

Take if from a winter failure... be prepared
and watch the weather. Too many times we've
had a sudden and dramatic cold snap and I've been attempting to turn the valve
and shut down the waterfall and it won't bloody turn and dragging my poor 15
year old out of his warm bed to turn it for me and then tearing through the
shed trying to find the floating heater and the air bubbler and wondering where
in the heck DH put them last time he cleaned the shed out....

kathy :-)
in zone 7a, SE WA

[Mike Patterson]

On 21 Aug 2004 17:03:38 GMT, (Ka30P) wrote:

>
>Take if from a winter failure... be prepared
>and watch the weather. Too many times we've
>had a sudden and dramatic cold snap and I've been attempting to turn the valve
>and shut down the waterfall and it won't bloody turn and dragging my poor 15
>year old out of his warm bed to turn it for me and then tearing through the
>shed trying to find the floating heater and the air bubbler and wondering where
>in the heck DH put them last time he cleaned the shed out....
>
>kathy :-)
>in zone 7a, SE WA

I keep all my "pond gear" in a couple of 5-gallon buckets with lids in
the basement.

They're cheap, easy to carry around and store, and easy to spot in a
crowded shed or basement.

Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin

[W Dale]

Monument STILL seems to get the worst and most extreme weather in
Colorado! LOL. Movning to Memphis, good move!

tim chandler wrote:

> I think a lot of ponders will stop feeding the fish and shut down when
> the outside air temps and the water temps are around 50 or so and
> getting colder for the season - to keep running a waterfall then and
> when the temps are in the 40s and below will just make the water
> colder faster. Here in Memphis (we basically don't have winter at
> least compared to the Springs, LOL, I used to live in Monument) I can
> use a stock tank heater to keep the water from freezing except at the
> extreme ends of my pond.
>
> "W Dale" >> wrote
> in message ...
> Here in Colorado Springs, we 'shut down' our punds around
> Thanksgiving. We keep a hole in the ice for gas exchange and
> 'winter the fish'. Some ponders report losing zero fish. I have
> lost some to wintering. I would like it if I could keep things
> going all winter long. I think it just gets too cold here.
> W. Dale
>
> tim chandler wrote:
>
>>One of the problems with letting it run all winter is that especially during
>>a cold night, ice dams can form which can divert water outside the pond,
>>possibly causing a catastrophic loss of water and subsequent loss of the
>>fish. For this reason it is always advisable that your pump not be located
>>at the lowest level on the pond, so that in the event of something like this
>>happening, all the water is not pumped out.
>>
>>It's also advisable to run an airstone or other aerator during the winter,
>>perhaps coupled with a stock tank heater, to keep enough oxygen in the water
>>and avoid a complete freeze-up on the surface.
>>
>>Happy Ponding,
>>Tim
>>
>>"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>
>>>I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
>>>three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
>>>level is pump to the top level.
>>>
>>>Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
>>>
>>>If not when should it be turned off?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

[W Dale]

OOoooooo ..... I can understand that. :-)

Ka30P wrote:

>Take if from a winter failure... be prepared
>and watch the weather. Too many times we've
>had a sudden and dramatic cold snap and I've been attempting to turn the valve
>and shut down the waterfall and it won't bloody turn and dragging my poor 15
>year old out of his warm bed to turn it for me and then tearing through the
>shed trying to find the floating heater and the air bubbler and wondering where
>in the heck DH put them last time he cleaned the shed out....
>
>kathy :-)
>in zone 7a, SE WA
>
>

[tim chandler]

Yeah, but Memphis doesn't have those beautiful mountains! And it's a LOT more humid here, too! Of course my water bill here is only about 75 cents per 1000 gallons, whereas in Monument it cost around $13 per thousand gallons IIRC...
"W Dale" > wrote in message ...
Monument STILL seems to get the worst and most extreme weather in Colorado! LOL. Movning to Memphis, good move!

tim chandler wrote:

I think a lot of ponders will stop feeding the fish and shut down when the outside air temps and the water temps are around 50 or so and getting colder for the season - to keep running a waterfall then and when the temps are in the 40s and below will just make the water colder faster. Here in Memphis (we basically don't have winter at least compared to the Springs, LOL, I used to live in Monument) I can use a stock tank heater to keep the water from freezing except at the extreme ends of my pond.
"W Dale" > wrote in message ...
Here in Colorado Springs, we 'shut down' our punds around Thanksgiving. We keep a hole in the ice for gas exchange and 'winter the fish'. Some ponders report losing zero fish. I have lost some to wintering. I would like it if I could keep things going all winter long. I think it just gets too cold here.
W. Dale

tim chandler wrote:

One of the problems with letting it run all winter is that especially during
a cold night, ice dams can form which can divert water outside the pond,
possibly causing a catastrophic loss of water and subsequent loss of the
fish. For this reason it is always advisable that your pump not be located
at the lowest level on the pond, so that in the event of something like this
happening, all the water is not pumped out.

It's also advisable to run an airstone or other aerator during the winter,
perhaps coupled with a stock tank heater, to keep enough oxygen in the water
and avoid a complete freeze-up on the surface.

Happy Ponding,
Tim

"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...
I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
level is pump to the top level.

Should or can I let this pond run all winter?

If not when should it be turned off?

[Coffee]

I live in Pgh and have had my pond for 13yrs.
Every year around Nov. I remove all the pumps and the preform waterfall
container and clean and store them for the winter. I add a strong air pump
and air stone under styrofoam and haven't lost one fish ever in the winter.

Come spring after the temps are up to 50 I put it all back--do a slight
water change and things are up and running again.

Patty
http://community.webshots.com/album/125934886TjkZkm


"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...
> I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
> three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
> level is pump to the top level.
>
> Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
>
> If not when should it be turned off?
>

[Crashj]

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:04:23 GMT, "Coffee"
> wrote:

>I live in Pgh and have had my pond for 13yrs.
<>
> I add a strong air pump
>and air stone under styrofoam and haven't lost one fish ever in the winter.
<>
>Patty
>
>"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...
>> I live in central indiana.
<>
>> Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
>> If not when should it be turned off?

Patty, wher is your airstone in the vertical column of the water. I
have thought that if it is at the bottom of the deep end that this
would cause too much circulation and the entire pond would be cooled
and might freeze?
--
Crashj

[Coffee]

The pond is Eight-shaped--there is 4ft on the deep side and two on the
low--all the fish go deep---The air stone is extended on a clear (hard)
plastic tube. Approx--2ft down the deep end. In all these yrs it hasn't
froze up yet. I do check on the really cold nights that the air pump is
still on---that's the only thing you have to make sure of. In Nov. I will
be adding some pictures to my page of the setup. Here is a picture on this
site of the styrofoam the tube extends from under. Called Freeze Guard

https://www.aquatichouse.com/cart/ponds_&_supplies.html

I never used heat because my Koi and Comets would want to get close on
really cold nights and that's how fish get caught in the ice. Leave over a
foot at the bottom from where the air comes out so the fish are not shaken
at all. The air stays on right though the beginning of spring.

This is Very Cost Efficient
Patty


"Crashj" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:04:23 GMT, "Coffee"
> > wrote:
>
> >I live in Pgh and have had my pond for 13yrs.
> <>
> > I add a strong air pump
> >and air stone under styrofoam and haven't lost one fish ever in the
winter.
> <>
> >Patty
> >
> >"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I live in central indiana.
> <>
> >> Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
> >> If not when should it be turned off?
>
> Patty, wher is your airstone in the vertical column of the water. I
> have thought that if it is at the bottom of the deep end that this
> would cause too much circulation and the entire pond would be cooled
> and might freeze?
> --
> Crashj

[Coffee]

Might also add you must have the pond deeper than your states frost
line---here in Pgh its 18 inches so that's why the tube extends lower than
that.
Patty


"Crashj" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:04:23 GMT, "Coffee"
> > wrote:
>
> >I live in Pgh and have had my pond for 13yrs.
> <>
> > I add a strong air pump
> >and air stone under styrofoam and haven't lost one fish ever in the
winter.
> <>
> >Patty
> >
> >"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I live in central indiana.
> <>
> >> Should or can I let this pond run all winter?
> >> If not when should it be turned off?
>
> Patty, wher is your airstone in the vertical column of the water. I
> have thought that if it is at the bottom of the deep end that this
> would cause too much circulation and the entire pond would be cooled
> and might freeze?
> --
> Crashj

[Nick Wilson]

Actually I just let the my pump run all winter long. I don't have an
airstone, however I do disconnect the host from the waterfall, turn off the
UV light and bring it inside. Then I aim the hose to the center of the pond
and it runs all winter long. Considering the temperatures in Ontario drop
considerably, I'm actually amazed that the whole thing doesn't freeze.
However I've always heard water trickling and come spring, the fish are
still kicking. Kinda amazing at times.

- Nick

"tim chandler" > wrote in message
...
I think a lot of ponders will stop feeding the fish and shut down when the
outside air temps and the water temps are around 50 or so and getting colder
for the season - to keep running a waterfall then and when the temps are in
the 40s and below will just make the water colder faster. Here in Memphis
(we basically don't have winter at least compared to the Springs, LOL, I
used to live in Monument) I can use a stock tank heater to keep the water
from freezing except at the extreme ends of my pond.
"W Dale" > wrote in message
...
Here in Colorado Springs, we 'shut down' our punds around Thanksgiving. We
keep a hole in the ice for gas exchange and 'winter the fish'. Some ponders
report losing zero fish. I have lost some to wintering. I would like it if
I could keep things going all winter long. I think it just gets too cold
here.
W. Dale

tim chandler wrote:

One of the problems with letting it run all winter is that especially during
a cold night, ice dams can form which can divert water outside the pond,
possibly causing a catastrophic loss of water and subsequent loss of the
fish. For this reason it is always advisable that your pump not be located
at the lowest level on the pond, so that in the event of something like this
happening, all the water is not pumped out.

It's also advisable to run an airstone or other aerator during the winter,
perhaps coupled with a stock tank heater, to keep enough oxygen in the water
and avoid a complete freeze-up on the surface.

Happy Ponding,
Tim

"Keith Nuttle" > wrote in message
...

I live in central indiana. My pond is about 1400 gal 120 sqft with
three levels and sluice to from each level to the next and the bottom
level is pump to the top level.

Should or can I let this pond run all winter?

If not when should it be turned off?