winter - fish in or out ?

[Joel]

If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
over the winter, what would you do?

My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which means
clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep snow, OR I
can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to my house where
its easier to watch and still keep an airline and heater going.

is it worth removing the fish, will it do them any harm or should I just
leave the fish where they are?

I would keep the fish in a moulded sandbox thats about 4ft square and 8
inchs deep. The garage is dark, no windows. just light that peeks in from
cracks from the door.

Joel.
Toronto, Canada

[Gareee©]

"Joel" > wrote in message
news:1124763615.91dc1faeaa49909a75a8d3410b6a5f19@t eranews...
> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
> over the winter, what would you do?
>
> My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
> remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which means
> clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep snow, OR I
> can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to my house where
> its easier to watch and still keep an airline and heater going.
>
> is it worth removing the fish, will it do them any harm or should I just
> leave the fish where they are?
>
> I would keep the fish in a moulded sandbox thats about 4ft square and 8
> inchs deep. The garage is dark, no windows. just light that peeks in from
> cracks from the door.

My guess is that the sandbox would freeze solid over winter, unless you plan
on heating it all winter long.

As long as you use a bubbler to keep an air hole open in the pond, and it
doesn't freeze solid, the fish should make it.


--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)
Gareee's Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/ellison/86/mainframe.htm

[Reel Mckoi]

"Joel" > wrote in message
news:1124763615.91dc1faeaa49909a75a8d3410b6a5f19@t eranews...
> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
> over the winter, what would you do?

$$ I'd leave mine in the pond as nature intended.

> My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
> remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which means
> clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep snow, OR I
> can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to my house where
> its easier to watch and still keep an airline and heater going.

$$ Snow is an insulator. Why clear it off the pond? Make sure there's a
hole for gas exchange in the ice.

> is it worth removing the fish, will it do them any harm or should I just
> leave the fish where they are?
>
> I would keep the fish in a moulded sandbox thats about 4ft square and 8
> inchs deep. The garage is dark, no windows. just light that peeks in from
> cracks from the door.

$$ Leave them in the pond if possible (if it doesn't freeze down to the
bottom).
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm

[George]

"Joel" > wrote in message
news:1124763615.91dc1faeaa49909a75a8d3410b6a5f19@t eranews...
> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
> over the winter, what would you do?
>
> My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
> remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which means
> clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep snow, OR I
> can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to my house where
> its easier to watch and still keep an airline and heater going.
>
> is it worth removing the fish, will it do them any harm or should I just
> leave the fish where they are?
>
> I would keep the fish in a moulded sandbox thats about 4ft square and 8
> inchs deep. The garage is dark, no windows. just light that peeks in from
> cracks from the door.
>
> Joel.
> Toronto, Canada

It depends on what region you live in. I live in kentucky. My pond nearly
1,400 gallons, is 45" deep, and I have a de-icer and use aeration in
winter. So the chances of the pond freezing over in all but the worst
winters is slim. However, since you live in Toronto, you may want to
consider making plans to take the fish out. Having said that, last winter,
we had some ponders post here from Canada (in your region too, I believe)
who didn't have too many problems after taking precautions, and left the
fish in the pond. But my sister lives on Martha's Vinyard, and she said
that some ponds where she lives froze solid last year, and stayed that way
for months. You live further north. Anyone from iglooland want to add
their two cents worth? :-)

[Snooze]

"Reel Mckoi" > wrote in message
...
> "Joel" > wrote in message
> news:1124763615.91dc1faeaa49909a75a8d3410b6a5f19@t eranews...
>> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
>> over the winter, what would you do?
>
> $$ I'd leave mine in the pond as nature intended.
>
>> I would keep the fish in a moulded sandbox thats about 4ft square and 8
>> inchs deep. The garage is dark, no windows. just light that peeks in from
>> cracks from the door.
>

If the poster lives somewhere where they get snow covering the pond, i
suspect it wont take long for an 8" pond to freeze solid.

-S

[Raider of the Lost Electron]

"Joel" > wrote in message
news:1124763615.91dc1faeaa49909a75a8d3410b6a5f19@t eranews...
> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
> over the winter, what would you do?
>
> My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
> remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which means
> clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep snow, OR I
> can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to my house where
> its easier to watch and still keep an airline and heater going.
>
> is it worth removing the fish, will it do them any harm or should I just
> leave the fish where they are?
>
> I would keep the fish in a moulded sandbox thats about 4ft square and 8
> inchs deep. The garage is dark, no windows. just light that peeks in from
> cracks from the door.
>
> Joel.
> Toronto, Canada

Living in Norway, (near Oslo) we have periods of colder than 20below
(Centigrade), my pond is only 6 feet deep and both fish and frogs stay in
the pond over winter.

I have pump going (remote corner/close to the surface- not to disturb the
deeper end of the pond) to maintain an opening for areation/escape gases,
and a lowwattage heater cord (made for keeping waterpiping frost free).

The first winters I took the fish in (and lost all) - now there is one to
three that does not get past the warming up period of spring; although no
one of the fish hatched in the pond has suffered this (yet).

Last winter was harsh as the cold period coincided with no snow - snow is an
excellent insulator. Several of the plants in the backyard froze, and are
slowly regaining growth. We lost no fish due to the ice layer growing
thicker than normal, this spring only one goldfish not getting through the
process of going out of hibernation.

Changes will put stress on the fish, a slow process like water going colder
and getting a layer of ice will only start the hibernation of the fish,
taking them into a different pond is a stressfactor that can have the same
effect as the thawing at spring (sudden changes in temperture, if you are
doing it too late in the fall)

As long as your pond does not freeze solid and you are able to maintain some
sort of escape of the gases developing during winter, leave the fish in. If
you get lots of snow this will only help the bottom water to maintain its
tempreature above freezing.

HTH

--
----
Morten
Raider of the Lost Electron

[Reel Mckoi]

"Snooze" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Reel Mckoi" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Joel" > wrote in message
>> news:1124763615.91dc1faeaa49909a75a8d3410b6a5f19@t eranews...
>>> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
>>> over the winter, what would you do?
>>
>> $$ I'd leave mine in the pond as nature intended.
>>
>>> I would keep the fish in a moulded sandbox thats about 4ft square and 8
>>> inchs deep. The garage is dark, no windows. just light that peeks in
>>> from
>>> cracks from the door.
>>
>
> If the poster lives somewhere where they get snow covering the pond, i
> suspect it wont take long for an 8" pond to freeze solid.
================================
You misunderstood. The sandbox is only 8" deep, not his pond. But I
wondered myself how he'd keep the sandbox from freezing in that climate.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 02:20:15 GMT, Joel > wrote:

>If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
>over the winter, what would you do?
>
>My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
>remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which means
>clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep snow, OR I
>can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to my house where
>its easier to watch and still keep an airline and heater going.

Joel, On my website you'll see how I use boards and lay screening (or shade
cloth) over my ponds. Originally this was just to keep the leaves out, but
one fall we had an early snow and I found that the snow, on top of the
screens, kept the ponds ice free. The screen is held ~ 6" above the
surface. I use a slow moving current to keep ice from forming. I also have
a wireless thermometer (best gift I was ever given) so I know what the pond
temp is from the comfort of inside.

Bringing fish inside is a lot of work. Just bringing a few of my big
fantails in, is enough for me not to ever think of doing the koi. ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design *Click on my Pond Photos*:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

[Gale Pearce]

> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a garage
> over the winter, what would you do?
>
> My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
> remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which means
> clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep snow, OR I
> can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to my house where
> its easier to watch and still keep an airline and heater going.

Hi Joel - I am in Ont also - 35 mi east of Windsor - we don't get as much
snow as you do , nor is it quite as cold here as TO, but we do get some real
cold snaps - My pond is ~1000 gal &28" deep at one end. I have never taken
my fish out in 12 yrs and they do fine. Don't take the snow off your pond,
just where the airstone is. one year we had a long cold spell with no snow
and my ice got up to 9" thick (normally with snow ~ 4" - 6") the snow slows
the ice formation. If I had to bring my fish in, I would be having serious
doubts about my pond. I normally lose ~1 or 2 fish each winter/spring, due
mostly to age or sickness, I believe
Gale :~)

[Joel]

"Gale Pearce" > wrote in
:

>
>> If you had the chance to take the fish out of the pond and into a
>> garage over the winter, what would you do?
>>
>> My pond is deep enough with some regular visits to make sure a hole
>> remains open, making sure the airline and heater is working, which
>> means clearing the snow off the pond and treking to the pond in deep
>> snow, OR I can place the fish in the garage wihch has an enterance to
>> my house where its easier to watch and still keep an airline and
>> heater going.
>
> Hi Joel - I am in Ont also - 35 mi east of Windsor - we don't get as
> much snow as you do , nor is it quite as cold here as TO, but we do
> get some real cold snaps - My pond is ~1000 gal &28" deep at one end.
> I have never taken my fish out in 12 yrs and they do fine. Don't take
> the snow off your pond, just where the airstone is. one year we had a
> long cold spell with no snow and my ice got up to 9" thick (normally
> with snow ~ 4" - 6") the snow slows the ice formation. If I had to
> bring my fish in, I would be having serious doubts about my pond. I
> normally lose ~1 or 2 fish each winter/spring, due mostly to age or
> sickness, I believe
> Gale :~)
>
>
>

I tent my pond up, its not large, so its not hard to do this. I had a
kids gazebo, but the material after so many years just became old and I
was going to toss the whole thing out, but desided to keep the frame, the
top half is just the right size to cover the whole pond and keep a space
of up to 18" in the middle down to 6" at the sides.
I had alot of rubber from the pond left over so I cover the frame with
this.
I bought a heater this year and with the airline, I hope it does a better
job then last year, the ice got to about 4-5" thick without a heater and
the airline couldnt do the job 100%, I had to keep checking on the pond
every week, more depending on the cold, last year we had -40C and even
with the covered pond and snow over it, the airline couldnt keep a hole
open, which is why I bought a heater this time.
but during the -40C temps last year I lost 2 of my large koi as the hole
closed in, all the small fish survived.
The odd thing is every week I checked on the fish and I took a peek down
the hole in the ice, the fish were active, this year the fish seem to
train themselves, when ever I came to the pond they would come to the
surface for food, I wonder if during the winter when they see me if they
will come to the surface to the 6inch hole.

Joel.

[RichToyBox]

Joel,

I also tent my pond, but I am not in your climate zone. I think that you
will want to use clear polyethylene sheeting instead of pond liner. The
pond liner is good and heavy and will easily withstand any snow loads that
you could put on it, but I think it is important that the fish have some
light get through. I use two layers of 6 mil sheeting and one layer of a
bubble wrap like material that is used as a solar cover for heating swimming
pools in the spring. I am not sure how much light penetrates feet of snow
and inches of ice, but the cover has to go on before that occurs, and won't
come off until after the spring thaw.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html

"Joel" > wrote in message
4...
> "Gale Pearce" > wrote in
> :

>
> I tent my pond up, its not large, so its not hard to do this. I had a
> kids gazebo, but the material after so many years just became old and I
> was going to toss the whole thing out, but desided to keep the frame, the
> top half is just the right size to cover the whole pond and keep a space
> of up to 18" in the middle down to 6" at the sides.
> I had alot of rubber from the pond left over so I cover the frame with
> this.
>
> Joel.

[Joel]

"RichToyBox" > wrote in
:

> Joel,
>
> I also tent my pond, but I am not in your climate zone. I think that
> you will want to use clear polyethylene sheeting instead of pond
> liner. The pond liner is good and heavy and will easily withstand any
> snow loads that you could put on it, but I think it is important that
> the fish have some light get through. I use two layers of 6 mil
> sheeting and one layer of a bubble wrap like material that is used as
> a solar cover for heating swimming pools in the spring. I am not sure
> how much light penetrates feet of snow and inches of ice, but the
> cover has to go on before that occurs, and won't come off until after
> the spring thaw.

What I do is put the liner on 3/4 of the pond and 1/4 is a clear plastic
for light over the deep end where the fish stay over the winter, I guess I
cough use just the clear stuff, but I was thinking of added insulation with
the heavy.

Joel.