How deep to over winter fish?

On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:00:14 +0100, cymric
wrote:


I live in the Chicagoland area and have a new pond. Its about 2-3 feet
deep in the middle and about 7 feet across. I have six goldfish and
one Koi and wonder if they can overwinter or do I need to bring them
inside?
I am in Southern NH, USDA zone 5b probably close to your winter
climate. My pond is 40 inches deep. I put a bubbler in to keep a
hole in the ice and the fish do fine.

My first year I used an aquarium bubbler protected from the elements.
I failed to move air during a cold snap and I had to do a hurry up
backup system using my compressor. I think what happened comes from
using a diaphragm type bubbler pump. In cold weather the diaphragm
gets stiff and cannot generate the pressure needed to get air down 36
inches or so (that should be about 1.5 psi).

Now I have a set up that runs off my compressor which is in a garage
nearby. It works and fine and the fish survive just fine.

What a boring way to spend the winter - swimming slowwwwllllllyyyyyyy
around, day after day after day, ad nauseum.

John

"John Bachman" wrote in message
...

In cold weather the diaphragm
gets stiff and cannot generate the pressure needed to get air down 36
inches or so (that should be about 1.5 psi).
================
I was told NOT to put the bubbler near the bottom where the warmer water is
in winter. It goes nearer the top to keep an opening in the ice. It should
not be deep enough to be roiling and mixing the colder and warmer layers.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:41:53 -0500, Köi-Lö $##$$@$##$$.#$$ wrote:


"John Bachman" wrote in message
.. .

In cold weather the diaphragm
gets stiff and cannot generate the pressure needed to get air down 36
inches or so (that should be about 1.5 psi).
================
I was told NOT to put the bubbler near the bottom where the warmer water is
in winter. It goes nearer the top to keep an opening in the ice. It should
not be deep enough to be roiling and mixing the colder and warmer layers.

I have heard that too but do not buy it. Water is funny stuff. It is
most dense at 39 F. That means that as still water cools below 39F it
rises to the surface leaving warmer water at the bottom.

Now if you put your bubbler in the warmer, denser water at the bottom,
it will carry some of that warmth to the top producing a hole in the
ice.

I believe that putting the bubbler near the top will result in more
ice build up there than if it were at the bottom. As it is, during
real cold weather I have to break open the hole with a shovel or
something so I really do not plan on moving my bubbler to the top as
that would result in more frequent and denser ice-overs.

This system has worked well for me for three winters now so I do not
plan to change.

Your mileage may vary.

John

"John Bachman" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:41:53 -0500, Köi-Lö $##$$@$##$$.#$$ wrote:
I was told NOT to put the bubbler near the bottom where the warmer water
is
in winter. It goes nearer the top to keep an opening in the ice. It
should
not be deep enough to be roiling and mixing the colder and warmer layers.
===================
I have heard that too but do not buy it. Water is funny stuff. It is
most dense at 39 F. That means that as still water cools below 39F it
rises to the surface leaving warmer water at the bottom.

Now if you put your bubbler in the warmer, denser water at the bottom,
it will carry some of that warmth to the top producing a hole in the
ice.

It can also super-chill the bottom which is stressful for the fish -
according to what I've read and was told. I drop the airstone about 6"
below the surface and it keeps a hole open all winter. If I were further
north 6" may not be enough. However I wouldn't want to drop it close to the
bottom. What usually doesn't make the winter in my ponds are the bullfrogs.
Every spring I have to net out at least one dead frog.

I believe that putting the bubbler near the top will result in more
ice build up there than if it were at the bottom.

In my experience that has never happened.

As it is, during
real cold weather I have to break open the hole with a shovel or
something so I really do not plan on moving my bubbler to the top as
that would result in more frequent and denser ice-overs.

This system has worked well for me for three winters now so I do not
plan to change.

Whatever works for YOU. :-)

Your mileage may vary.

This is true.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*