air stone still iceing over pond question

[G & K Meyer]

I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump all
winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and are
having a colder year than normal.
So question is being the air pump is putting fresh air into the pond
will it hurt anything if it does ice over? The fish are down deep and in
winter mood and use less air and need no food right?
Will the gas get out or do I need to keep it open?
Thanks for the help.
--
"You have to go out on a limb sometimes, because that's where the fruit is"

[Koi-lo]

"G & K Meyer" > wrote in message
...
>I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump all
>winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and are
>having a colder year than normal.
> So question is being the air pump is putting fresh air into the pond
> will it hurt anything if it does ice over? The fish are down deep and in
> winter mood and use less air and need no food right?
> Will the gas get out or do I need to keep it open?
> Thanks for the help.
> --
> "You have to go out on a limb sometimes, because that's where the fruit
> is"
=================================================
I would keep a hole open so the gasses can escape.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Stephen Henning]

"G & K Meyer" > wrote:

> I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump all
> winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and are
> having a colder year than normal.
> So question is being the air pump is putting fresh air into the pond
> will it hurt anything if it does ice over? The fish are down deep and in
> winter mood and use less air and need no food right?
> Will the gas get out or do I need to keep it open?

Ppeople put air stones in their ponds in winter to keep an opening in
the ice. If it doesn't do that than it is not pumping enough air.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

[Jerry Donovan]

"G & K Meyer" > wrote in message
...
>I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump all
>winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and are
>having a colder year than normal.
> So question is being the air pump is putting fresh air into the pond
> will it hurt anything if it does ice over? The fish are down deep and in
> winter mood and use less air and need no food right?
> Will the gas get out or do I need to keep it open?
> Thanks for the help.

If air is going in, and it is not getting out anywhere, then you had
best stand back. It will build up pressure and eventually explode.

Not!

If air is going in, then it is getting out, typically around the edges
somewhere. The idea is to let the bad gasses escape. If bubbles
are getting in and out, then most likely the bad gasses are escaping
too.

I also live in Colorado. On our little pond, the bubbles often create
some fumerole type shapes where the bubbles come out. They
can be as much as about a foot tall. They are kind of neat.
This following website has a few photos taken about 3 years ago.

http://www.jerryandsandi.com/pond/winterpond.html

The main thing is to make sure air is getting in. When I use too
small of tubing, the tube can get blocked with frozen moisture.
Using larger diameter tubing, and a small light bulb under the
cover that our air pump is in helps keep the bubbles flowing.
Keeping the tubing run as short as possible helps too.

Jerry

[PoconoRobin]

> This following website has a few photos taken about 3 years ago.
>
> http://www.jerryandsandi.com/pond/winterpond.html
>
>
> Jerry

Pretty neat looking ice sculptures Jerry. How deep is your Colorado pond?

--
Robin
The Poconos, PA

[~ jan jjspond]

>> This following website has a few photos taken about 3 years ago.
>>
>> http://www.jerryandsandi.com/pond/winterpond.html
>>
>> Jerry

That's amazing. :o) ~ jan


~ jan/WA
Zone 7a

[Jerry Donovan]

"PoconoRobin" <powlusr at ptd dot net> wrote in message
...
>
>> This following website has a few photos taken about 3 years ago.
>>
>> http://www.jerryandsandi.com/pond/winterpond.html
>>
>>
>> Jerry
>
> Pretty neat looking ice sculptures Jerry. How deep is your Colorado pond?

Usually the ice build up looks more like tiny volcanos,
but this one was more unusual.

It's just a little one (150 gal) that we got at Sams Club.
The depth is about 18". The ice gets about 3 inches thick.

Because of it's small size, we only have goldfish in it.
The fish seem to always survive the winter, which I
think is amazing.

Some day, we'd like to put in a bigger pond,
but for now we enjoy this little one.

Jerry

[Wilmdale]

WAY cool, Jerry!
I live in Colorado Springs and with the exception of where the air stone
is, my pond had been pretty much frozen over since the first hard
freeze. I am hoping our 50+ degree temps for the next few days will
give some relief.
Where are you located?
W. Dale

Jerry Donovan wrote:

>"G & K Meyer" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>>I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump all
>>winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and are
>>having a colder year than normal.
>> So question is being the air pump is putting fresh air into the pond
>>will it hurt anything if it does ice over? The fish are down deep and in
>>winter mood and use less air and need no food right?
>> Will the gas get out or do I need to keep it open?
>>Thanks for the help.
>>
>>
>
>If air is going in, and it is not getting out anywhere, then you had
>best stand back. It will build up pressure and eventually explode.
>
>Not!
>
>If air is going in, then it is getting out, typically around the edges
>somewhere. The idea is to let the bad gasses escape. If bubbles
>are getting in and out, then most likely the bad gasses are escaping
>too.
>
>I also live in Colorado. On our little pond, the bubbles often create
>some fumerole type shapes where the bubbles come out. They
>can be as much as about a foot tall. They are kind of neat.
>This following website has a few photos taken about 3 years ago.
>
> http://www.jerryandsandi.com/pond/winterpond.html
>
>The main thing is to make sure air is getting in. When I use too
>small of tubing, the tube can get blocked with frozen moisture.
>Using larger diameter tubing, and a small light bulb under the
>cover that our air pump is in helps keep the bubbles flowing.
>Keeping the tubing run as short as possible helps too.
>
>Jerry
>
>
>
>

[Richard Tanzer]

"Jerry Donovan" > wrote in
:

> "G & K Meyer" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump
>>all winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and
>>are having a colder year than normal.
>
> I also live in Colorado. On our little pond, the bubbles often create
> some fumerole type shapes where the bubbles come out. ... The main
> thing is to make sure air is getting in. When I use too
> small of tubing, the tube can get blocked with frozen moisture.
> Using larger diameter tubing, and a small light bulb under the
> cover that our air pump is in helps keep the bubbles flowing...
>
> Jerry

I too used an air pump and grew ice sculptures where the bubbles escaped.
Unfortunately the air intake to the pump would either get plugged with
ice or slip down under the water. I think there were some curious cats
in the neighborhood that played with the air intake.

So this year I went back to leaving the circulation pump on all winter
and added one of those small (25 watt?) heaters to keep a hole open. So
far, despite cold weather, a hole has stayed open in my pond most of the
time. For a few days it iced over. Snow got into the electrical outlet
and tripped the ground fault interrupter; after I reset the circuit the
weather warmed up and now the pond surface is mostly open.

All the fish seem to have survived.

Rich

[slangeberg]

G & K Meyer Wrote:
> I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump
> all
> winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and are
> having a colder year than normal.
> So question is being the air pump is putting fresh air into the pond
> will it hurt anything if it does ice over? The fish are down deep and
> in
> winter mood and use less air and need no food right?
> Will the gas get out or do I need to keep it open?
> Thanks for the help.
> --
> "You have to go out on a limb sometimes, because that's where the fruit
> is"



I use a floating stock tank heater to keep my pond from completely
freezing over. This lets the gases escape that come from rotting
leaves,algae etc. that can kill your fish. You can pick one of these up
at a feed store. Hopefully living in Colorado, as I do, you can find a
heater easily.


--
slangeberg

[Jerry Donovan]

"Wilmdale" > wrote in message:
>WAY cool, Jerry!
> I live in Colorado Springs and with the exception of where
> the air stone is, my pond had been pretty much frozen over
> since the first hard freeze. I am hoping our 50+ degree
> temps for the next few days will give some relief.
>
> Where are you located?
> W. Dale

I live in Loveland, (about an hour north of Denver) My little pond is still
half frozen over even after the warm weather we have had.

Jerry

[Jerry Donovan]

"Richard Tanzer" > wrote in message
> I too used an air pump and grew ice sculptures where the bubbles escaped.
> Unfortunately the air intake to the pump would either get plugged with
> ice or slip down under the water. I think there were some curious cats
> in the neighborhood that played with the air intake.
>
> So this year I went back to leaving the circulation pump on all winter
> and added one of those small (25 watt?) heaters to keep a hole open. So
> far, despite cold weather, a hole has stayed open in my pond most of the
> time. For a few days it iced over. Snow got into the electrical outlet
> and tripped the ground fault interrupter; after I reset the circuit the
> weather warmed up and now the pond surface is mostly open.
>
> All the fish seem to have survived.


I've been using an aquarium air pump. By placing it under an
upside down flower pot with a night light inside and a rock on
top, it has kept pumping air pretty well. I plugged the hole in
the flower pot to keep moisture from dripping in. So far, this
setup hasn't had a problem with either the pump going bad
or tripping the ground fault.

> Rich

Jerry