Worried about pond in winter

by Vicky
(Cincinnati Oh)

My pond

My koi pond has been great all summer now fall is here and winter is coming. I have read numerous differnt things about leaving pump on and some say leave it on other leave it off it is confusing and I dont know what to do. My pond is about 16 by 20 and about 3 to 3 1/2 deep will a deicer do the job. Will the fish freeze to death? I lost two big beauitful koi last winter I had no pump running any advice.

Doug says that 3.5 feet deep is usually deep enough to stop freezing to the bottom but if you're concerned about this, then leaving a pond pump going (pointed at the surface or sidewall) or a bubbler of some kind will help keep a small spot open for air exchange. A small aquarium pump - with the air hose weighted down to below ice freezing is used by quite a few folks and even if the pond freezes over, you're still pumping oxygen into your water.

The fish will be dormant but can clearly use well-oxygenated water compared to non-oxygenated. So clearing your pond of leaves etc in the fall is a good idea so no rotting vegetation remains to suck up available oxygen.

Fish death could be due to any number of reasons so I'm not inclined to blame it on pump-no pump conditions as a "definitive" cause.

But if you've cleaned out the pond, and have a bubbler of some some kind going (and the fish density is within reasonable limites) you shouldn't have too much of a problem with that depth of pond.

p.s. pond heaters are much more expensive to run than a simple aquarium bubbler or pond pump.

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Worried about pond in winter

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Wintering your Canadian pond, I garage store my [10] fish!!
by: wkeithscott

HI: I agree et al, 3.5ft. pond depth, for any fish, should be reasonable. I went the koy for pond intro some time ago, and lost them all in cold Canadian winters. What, an hassle to observe, 3-4 in's of solid top ice, totally eliminating any 'oxygen' for the fish. Nothing much can live w/o oxygen, pool heaters, are fine but the constant source of hydro, can't be depended on.
I for years, brought my fish, into an water container, [oxygenated] stored in my garage, for 4 month's, where I could observe 3-4 x's an week. It's an hassle, moving them around like, especiallt an couple of dozen fish, albeit goldfish. But, I never lost any except through aging process, evenentual disease.
For several winter season's, I've stored them, in an proper acquarium, [an tossout-freebee] set on my work bench to my satisfaction. Unfortunately, 2 thing's; even there the electricity, went off an couple of times, I didn't have the presence of mind, to reset, ac/dc-tripper. And in in 2-3 day's max, I lost 1/2 of my fish, because of negative oxygen.
As well, the furnace heat, keeps that room quite warm, so they do not hibernate, in the norm fashion, consequently, I feed them modestly, but daily. As an result, the water requires changing weekly.
But, the fish...have alway's been fun for me, and they certainly appear relaxed in my presence, excited to be fed, ready, and red.
I have an very large, stable workbench in the furnace room, and now down to 10 fish, which 'all around'is an manageable number for this kind of storage. Ar onset of course they are only 'feeder fish at 20cents apiece', but with good luck, mine last 7 years or so.
This approach, altho economical, less exciting, than uplifting exciting, 'formidable koy', it quite breaks my heart to lose even an single fish. But, doesn't break the 'bank', for I was paying, $70.00 for an koy small, but equally depressing to lose. And, take's away the joy of the hobby, for such day's, be it error, negligence, or downright bad luck, matter's little, the loss as such, doth hurt.
This may not address your concerns, for now into Ohio, mid winter and learning fast, but either way, do report back into the blog for us, interest folks. Ever try, 'pet insurance', you will need it, if there, resemble's our near 20 degree below zero weather.
By the way, I avoid Sushi shop's. I can only dream, about such an large lovely pond, but when snow and ice is underway, but go home at bay.

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Submitted by: wkeithscott

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HI: I agree et al, 3.5ft. pond depth, for any fish, should be reasonable. I went the koy for pond intro some time ago, and lost them all in cold Canadian winters. What, an hassle to observe, 3-4 in's of solid top ice, totally eliminating any 'oxygen' for the fish. Nothing much can live w/o oxygen, pool heaters, are fine but the constant source of hydro, can't be depended on. I for years, brought my fish, into an water container, [oxygenated] stored in my garage, for 4 month's, where I could observe 3-4 x's an week. It's an hassle, moving them around like, especiallt an couple of dozen fish, albeit goldfish. But, I never lost any except through aging process, evenentual disease. For several winter season's, I've stored them, in an proper acquarium, [an tossout-freebee] set on my work bench to my satisfaction. Unfortunately, 2 thing's; even there the electricity, went off an couple of times, I didn't have the presence of mind, to reset, ac/dc-tripper. And in in 2-3 day's max, I lost 1/2 of my fish, because of negative oxygen. As well, the furnace heat, keeps that room quite warm, so they do not hibernate, in the norm fashion, consequently, I feed them modestly, but daily. As an result, the water requires changing weekly. But, the fish...have alway's been fun for me, and they certainly appear relaxed in my presence, excited to be fed, ready, and red. I have an very large, stable workbench in the furnace room, and now down to 10 fish, which 'all around'is an manageable number for this kind of storage. Ar onset of course they are only 'feeder fish at 20cents apiece', but with good luck, mine last 7 years or so. This approach, altho economical, less exciting, than uplifting exciting, 'formidable koy', it quite breaks my heart to lose even an single fish. But, doesn't break the 'bank', for I was paying, $70.00 for an koy small, but equally depressing to lose. And, take's away the joy of the hobby, for such day's, be it error, negligence, or downright bad luck, matter's little, the loss as such, doth hurt. This may not address your concerns, for now into Ohio, mid winter and learning fast, but either way, do report back into the blog for us, interest folks. Ever try, 'pet insurance', you will need it, if there, resemble's our near 20 degree below zero weather. By the way, I avoid Sushi shop's. I can only dream, about such an large lovely pond, but when snow and ice is underway, but go home at bay.

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