winterizing in Canada

[Joel]

as it hits as low as -40C here in the Toronto Area, I finally desided to
check on the pond for the first time this winter, I had built a teepee
style top over my small pond which at the centre is about 18inch high down
to about 8 inches around the sides, I have an air hose doing the bubbles
and I have covering over the whole top heavy liner, since it snowed, I have
about 6 inches of snow over the whole pond.

Today I dug out a portion of the liner where the airline is to see how much
of a hole has been kept open, and to my surprise, there is no ice on the
pond at all.

Last year I did the same thing but there wasnt any snow and I had ice about
6 inches thick.

Snow really works well as an insulator.

I recovered the liner with snow, my question is this

its pretty much an airtight lid over the pond, the bubbles are keeping the
surface of the water moving so the gases dont settles over the water, but
what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I just
over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?

Joel.

[[email protected]]

yes, you need a vent all the time. Ingrid

Joel > wrote:
>what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
>collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I just
>over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?
>
>Joel.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

[Bill Stock]

"Joel" > wrote in message
4...
> as it hits as low as -40C here in the Toronto Area, I finally desided to
> check on the pond for the first time this winter, I had built a teepee
> style top over my small pond which at the centre is about 18inch high down
> to about 8 inches around the sides, I have an air hose doing the bubbles
> and I have covering over the whole top heavy liner, since it snowed, I
> have
> about 6 inches of snow over the whole pond.

-40C? You must be in North Toronto! :) I think the worst I've seen was -23C
or so.

> Today I dug out a portion of the liner where the airline is to see how
> much
> of a hole has been kept open, and to my surprise, there is no ice on the
> pond at all.

I checked mine about a week ago and it was the same as yours, no ice.

> Last year I did the same thing but there wasnt any snow and I had ice
> about
> 6 inches thick.
>
> Snow really works well as an insulator.
>
> I recovered the liner with snow, my question is this
>
> its pretty much an airtight lid over the pond, the bubbles are keeping the
> surface of the water moving so the gases dont settles over the water, but
> what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
> collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I just
> over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?

I had the same concern, especially with the layer of freezing rain we had
last week. Although there's about a foot of air space between the water and
the cover. I'll have to get my ice pick out and dig them out.

[Jerry Donovan]

"Joel" > wrote in message
4...
> I recovered the liner with snow, my question is this
>
> its pretty much an airtight lid over the pond, the bubbles are keeping the
> surface of the water moving so the gases dont settles over the water, but
> what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
> collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I just
> over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?

If you know that the air pump is pumping air to the bubbler inside
the cover then there is fresh air comnig in through the bubbler. If
the cover doesn't look like it will explode, then the air is venting
out somewhere. (You don't have anything near an airtight seal.)

Jerry

[Joel]

I'm in Thornhill, it's mild now, above 0C.

I'll have to see how I can put a vent in without the animals going in to
where its warmer without letting too much cold in.

Joel.


"Bill Stock" > wrote in
:

>
> "Joel" > wrote in message
> 4...
>> as it hits as low as -40C here in the Toronto Area, I finally desided
>> to check on the pond for the first time this winter, I had built a
>> teepee style top over my small pond which at the centre is about
>> 18inch high down to about 8 inches around the sides, I have an air
>> hose doing the bubbles and I have covering over the whole top heavy
>> liner, since it snowed, I have
>> about 6 inches of snow over the whole pond.
>
> -40C? You must be in North Toronto! :) I think the worst I've seen was
> -23C or so.
>
>> Today I dug out a portion of the liner where the airline is to see
>> how much
>> of a hole has been kept open, and to my surprise, there is no ice on
>> the pond at all.
>
> I checked mine about a week ago and it was the same as yours, no ice.
>
>> Last year I did the same thing but there wasnt any snow and I had ice
>> about
>> 6 inches thick.
>>
>> Snow really works well as an insulator.
>>
>> I recovered the liner with snow, my question is this
>>
>> its pretty much an airtight lid over the pond, the bubbles are
>> keeping the surface of the water moving so the gases dont settles
>> over the water, but what about the airpocket I have created with the
>> cover, is the gas collecting in there, should I have some venting
>> happening ? could I just over the liner once in a while to put fresh
>> air in there ?
>
> I had the same concern, especially with the layer of freezing rain we
> had last week. Although there's about a foot of air space between the
> water and the cover. I'll have to get my ice pick out and dig them
> out.
>
>
>
>

[Joel]

"Jerry Donovan" > wrote in
:

> "Joel" > wrote in message
> 4...
>> I recovered the liner with snow, my question is this
>>
>> its pretty much an airtight lid over the pond, the bubbles are
>> keeping the surface of the water moving so the gases dont settles
>> over the water, but what about the airpocket I have created with the
>> cover, is the gas collecting in there, should I have some venting
>> happening ? could I just over the liner once in a while to put fresh
>> air in there ?
>
> If you know that the air pump is pumping air to the bubbler inside
> the cover then there is fresh air comnig in through the bubbler. If
> the cover doesn't look like it will explode, then the air is venting
> out somewhere. (You don't have anything near an airtight seal.)
>
> Jerry
>
>
>

True its not "air tight" but it looks like a good seal and fresh air is
entering from the airline

Joel.

[Bill Stock]

"Joel" > wrote in message
5...
> "Jerry Donovan" > wrote in
> :
>
>> "Joel" > wrote in message
>> 4...
>>> I recovered the liner with snow, my question is this
>>>
>>> its pretty much an airtight lid over the pond, the bubbles are
>>> keeping the surface of the water moving so the gases dont settles
>>> over the water, but what about the airpocket I have created with the
>>> cover, is the gas collecting in there, should I have some venting
>>> happening ? could I just over the liner once in a while to put fresh
>>> air in there ?
>>
>> If you know that the air pump is pumping air to the bubbler inside
>> the cover then there is fresh air comnig in through the bubbler. If
>> the cover doesn't look like it will explode, then the air is venting
>> out somewhere. (You don't have anything near an airtight seal.)
>>
>> Jerry
>>
>>
>>
>
> True its not "air tight" but it looks like a good seal and fresh air is
> entering from the airline
>
> Joel.

Mine is actually under the cover, which seemed like a good idea at the time.
It keeps the air pump warm, so there is less chance of the diaphram
freezing/cracking. But the boundry between warm air under the cover and
cooler air above the cover is causing serious condensation on the pump. So
far it has not killed it, but it was soaking wet this morning.

[Jerry Donovan]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> Mine is actually under the cover, which seemed like a good idea at the
> time. It keeps the air pump warm, so there is less chance of the diaphram
> freezing/cracking. But the boundry between warm air under the cover and
> cooler air above the cover is causing serious condensation on the pump.
> So far it has not killed it, but it was soaking wet this morning.

I guess I had not considered the possibility of the pump under the cover.

One of the other suggestions often made to keep bad gasses from developing

[Jerry Donovan]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> Mine is actually under the cover, which seemed like a good idea at the
> time. It keeps the air pump warm, so there is less chance of the diaphram
> freezing/cracking. But the boundry between warm air under the cover and
> cooler air above the cover is causing serious condensation on the pump.
> So far it has not killed it, but it was soaking wet this morning.

I guess I had not considered the possibility of the pump under the cover.

One of the other suggestions often made to keep bad gasses from
developing under the ices is to allow ice to form, then lower the water
level. If this is ok, then I would think a cover isn't any worse.

You might put teh pump under some flower pot (upside down)
to keep moisture from dripping on it.

Jerry

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

>Joel > wrote:
>what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
>collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I just
>over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?

Where is your air pump? If outside the enclosure it would be sucking fresh
air in, if not, probably need some way for fresh air exchange. Especially
if it is as tight as you think. ~ jan


~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

[Joel]

"Jerry Donovan" > wrote in
:

> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Mine is actually under the cover, which seemed like a good idea at
>> the time. It keeps the air pump warm, so there is less chance of the
>> diaphram freezing/cracking. But the boundry between warm air under
>> the cover and cooler air above the cover is causing serious
>> condensation on the pump. So far it has not killed it, but it was
>> soaking wet this morning.
>
> I guess I had not considered the possibility of the pump under the
> cover.
>
> One of the other suggestions often made to keep bad gasses from
> developing
>
>
>

My pump is outside the covered pond in another covered area away from any
wind chill, the pomp seems to be holding out.

Joel.

[Benign Vanilla]

"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
> >Joel > wrote:
> >what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
> >collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I just
> >over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?
>
> Where is your air pump? If outside the enclosure it would be sucking fresh
> air in, if not, probably need some way for fresh air exchange. Especially
> if it is as tight as you think. ~ jan

Forgive my cynical nature, but I doubt any of us porgs have managed to build
a pond cover that is air tight.


--
BV
Webporgmaster of iheartmypond.com
Check out the IHMP forums, ihmp.net/phpbb
I'll be leaning on the bus stop post.

[Bill Stock]

"Benign Vanilla" > wrote in message
...
>
> "~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
> ...
>> >Joel > wrote:
>> >what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
>> >collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I just
>> >over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?
>>
>> Where is your air pump? If outside the enclosure it would be sucking
>> fresh
>> air in, if not, probably need some way for fresh air exchange. Especially
>> if it is as tight as you think. ~ jan
>
> Forgive my cynical nature, but I doubt any of us porgs have managed to
> build
> a pond cover that is air tight.

Mine certainly isn't, but the snow and 1/4" of freezing rain helped. It
formed a very hard crust over the whole shebang. Although there's about a
foot between the water and the cover, so I don't think it's much of an
issue.


>
> --
> BV
> Webporgmaster of iheartmypond.com
> Check out the IHMP forums, ihmp.net/phpbb
> I'll be leaning on the bus stop post.
>
>
>

[Crashj]

On or about Sun, 2 Jan 2005 11:51:44 -0500, "Benign Vanilla"
> wrote something like:

>
>"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
>> >Joel > wrote:
>> >what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
>> >collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ?
<>
>> Where is your air pump? If outside the enclosure it would be sucking fresh
>> air in, if not, probably need some way for fresh air exchange. Especially
>> if it is as tight as you think. ~ jan
>
>Forgive my cynical nature, but I doubt any of us porgs have managed to build
>a pond cover that is air tight.

Danger! Danger, Will Robinson! There is a leak in the primary
container!
--
Crashj

[Joel]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in
:

>
> "Benign Vanilla" > wrote in
> message ...
>>
>> "~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> >Joel > wrote:
>>> >what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
>>> >collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I
>>> >just over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?
>>>
>>> Where is your air pump? If outside the enclosure it would be sucking
>>> fresh
>>> air in, if not, probably need some way for fresh air exchange.
>>> Especially if it is as tight as you think. ~ jan
>>
>> Forgive my cynical nature, but I doubt any of us porgs have managed
>> to build
>> a pond cover that is air tight.
>
> Mine certainly isn't, but the snow and 1/4" of freezing rain helped.
> It formed a very hard crust over the whole shebang. Although there's
> about a foot between the water and the cover, so I don't think it's
> much of an issue.
>
>
>>
>> --
>> BV
>> Webporgmaster of iheartmypond.com
>> Check out the IHMP forums, ihmp.net/phpbb
>> I'll be leaning on the bus stop post.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

With all the rain we have been having, all the snow and ice has melted
off the cover of the pond, so I desided to pull back the cover and get
some air in there, the temp. will be above 0C for a bit.

Joel.

[Bill Stock]

"Joel" > wrote in message
4...
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in
> :
>
>>
>> "Benign Vanilla" > wrote in
>> message ...
>>>
>>> "~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> >Joel > wrote:
>>>> >what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the gas
>>>> >collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ? could I
>>>> >just over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in there ?
>>>>
>>>> Where is your air pump? If outside the enclosure it would be sucking
>>>> fresh
>>>> air in, if not, probably need some way for fresh air exchange.
>>>> Especially if it is as tight as you think. ~ jan
>>>
>>> Forgive my cynical nature, but I doubt any of us porgs have managed
>>> to build
>>> a pond cover that is air tight.
>>
>> Mine certainly isn't, but the snow and 1/4" of freezing rain helped.
>> It formed a very hard crust over the whole shebang. Although there's
>> about a foot between the water and the cover, so I don't think it's
>> much of an issue.
>>
>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> BV
>>> Webporgmaster of iheartmypond.com
>>> Check out the IHMP forums, ihmp.net/phpbb
>>> I'll be leaning on the bus stop post.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> With all the rain we have been having, all the snow and ice has melted
> off the cover of the pond, so I desided to pull back the cover and get
> some air in there, the temp. will be above 0C for a bit.

Any sign of your fish? I had the hatch off doing some maintenance, but no
fish in sight, floating or otherwise. Hopefully they're hiding out on the
bottom.



>
> Joel.

[Joel]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in
:

>
> "Joel" > wrote in message
> 4...
>> "Bill Stock" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>>
>>> "Benign Vanilla" > wrote in
>>> message ...
>>>>
>>>> "~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> >Joel > wrote:
>>>>> >what about the airpocket I have created with the cover, is the
>>>>> >gas collecting in there, should I have some venting happening ?
>>>>> >could I just over the liner once in a while to put fresh air in
>>>>> >there ?
>>>>>
>>>>> Where is your air pump? If outside the enclosure it would be
>>>>> sucking fresh
>>>>> air in, if not, probably need some way for fresh air exchange.
>>>>> Especially if it is as tight as you think. ~ jan
>>>>
>>>> Forgive my cynical nature, but I doubt any of us porgs have managed
>>>> to build
>>>> a pond cover that is air tight.
>>>
>>> Mine certainly isn't, but the snow and 1/4" of freezing rain helped.
>>> It formed a very hard crust over the whole shebang. Although there's
>>> about a foot between the water and the cover, so I don't think it's
>>> much of an issue.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> BV
>>>> Webporgmaster of iheartmypond.com
>>>> Check out the IHMP forums, ihmp.net/phpbb
>>>> I'll be leaning on the bus stop post.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> With all the rain we have been having, all the snow and ice has
>> melted off the cover of the pond, so I desided to pull back the cover
>> and get some air in there, the temp. will be above 0C for a bit.
>
> Any sign of your fish? I had the hatch off doing some maintenance, but
> no fish in sight, floating or otherwise. Hopefully they're hiding out
> on the bottom.
>
>
>
>>
>> Joel.
>
>
>

I lifted about 12 inches of the cover off, I could see one of my larger
fish, it is dark down there, 36" deep, so I think they are all ok down
there.

Last year they did well with 6 inches of ice covering the pond, this year
no ice.

Joel.