Getting ready for my fisrt winter with a pond

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:47:54 -0600, "Nathan A. Smith"
wrote:

===Hi,
===
===I just have a few questions for the group concerning winterizing:
===
===1. To run the waterfall or to not run the waterfall...
=== Pros: ensures a hole is available for stuff to get out if pond freezes...
=== actually, waterflow should reduce chances of pond freezing
=== Looks pretty
=== Water tempature should be higher than if not run (true?)
=== Cons: Still paying electrical cost
=== Waterfall may freeze at parts, causing water to go outside of pond
=== --Is this really true? As a decent flow rate how does it freeze?

I can see this happening very easy. Lots of small creeks etc around
the area I used to live in in Pennsylvania had small waterfalls, and
it was not uncommon for them to divert to different places when the
falls accumulated an ice buildup. Its not the moving water as much as
the splash the water makes. It freezes quick as its a small amount at
a time, and in time it builds up and gets bigger and bigger, until it
starts diverting ther water elsewhere. NOt a lot of room to divert
water in a home pond without it getting out of the given path, and
since there is only a givenamount of water unlike a natural spring fed
creek etc its gonna run out of water after it diverts its flow out of
the desired path.
===
===2. When to stop feeding...
=== -- Reports range from 55 to 45 degrees
=== --- at what depth do we concern ourselves with..(1' temp != 3' temp)

I can;t say, but I have read some foods are fine at all temps, some at
certain temps and some info says no food at all PERIOD even if a warm
spell brings the fish out of their hibernation like state. Wheat germ
based foods are suppoosedly safe in cold water, but allthe fish I have
ever been familiar with especially down south just never appear again
until its warm and comfy in the water..........so feeding may be
pointless. I feed floating food to my game fish and in cold spells it
goes untouched on the surface, and its not anywhere near as cold here
as it is up north. I would say if th fish are healthy and well fed
going into cold weather they should be just fine if water depth, hole
in ice etc etc are suitable for the conditions they are in.
===
===
===Bonus question:
===
===a) I know water flow effects water tempature -- could someone explain how?

Has something to do with the molecules in the water being aggitated or
spread out it does not allow the transfer of heat or cold to occur as
it would if the water was still. Same thing with how hot water
freezes quicker than cold water does if a container of each was placed
in a freezer The molecules in the hot water are expanded and closer
together so it transmits the temp quicker. Can't say if its true or
not, but its what I have heard and read on many occasions.
===
===
===Nasa

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