if you put bubble wrap over the top, drop in a 100 watt aquarium heater (hang it so
it doesnt actually touch the pond liner) you may find your pond gets up to 50oF, and
then if the little buggers come up to the surface go ahead and feed them. but do get
freeze dried krill or chop up a tiny bit of shrimp because that is what they would
eat anyway. no carbs to rot in their gut. and feed tiny, tiny amounts, not every
day and yes, do keep a close eye on ammonia. should be the algae will start growing,
the pond will green up and as long as there is sun getting thru to the pond the algae
will suck up the ammonia. the bubbler actually does aerate some of the ammonia and
blow it off too, surprisingly.

but what you also need is a little bucket filter in the pond. go here
http://weloveteaching.com/puregold/care/hardware.html
and click on bucket filter. the whole thing sits in the pond and keeps pulling the
water thru the filters with the biobugs which will work to a certain extent even in
colder water. however, the algae is the best filtration in cold water.
also, you can get a seachem ammonia "alert" to drop in the pond so you can fish it
out and take a look. just be careful feeding tiny amounts and not every day.

I personally believe that up in zone 5 and 6 (where I am too) our poor fish dont eat
for 6 months of the year and it is just toooo long to go without food. since I have
started covering, heating and feeding tiny amounts all winter AND THE TEMP IS 50 OR
SO, the fish have not died in spring, dont even have scuzzy fuzz or spots or anything
in spring. and it is much better than bringing them in and exposing them to the
trauma and the ammonia of a cycling tank.
here's my pond in winter. http://weloveteaching.com/mypond/winters/winter.htm
Ingrid

On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:44:33 GMT, wrote:

I am new to ponding so have few dumb questions...

Live in zone 5 and have small pond...300 gallons and 15 to 16 inch
deep....residing in pond are 6 lovely gold fish 4 to 5 inches in
length..Temp is starting to get rather cold here...yesterday pond had 1/4
to 1/2 inch ice on it...I removed pump and filter laid some 2x4's over pond
and placed 4mil clear plastic sheeting over entire pond area held in place
with bricks. I also placed air pump in bucket with bubbler 6 to 8 inches
below surface. when I checked today ice was gone from pond area....Am
wondering if I need heater if so would low wattage heater work? If there is
warm spell is it ok to feed fish? If I feed fish would this create problem
with ammonia contamination? any advise appreciated...TIA