15 inch deep enough for winte in Michigan?

I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and
is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I am
concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do not
have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost option.....any
advise would be appreciated...



Guajalote@gobblegobble.com

In article <>, wrote:
>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and
>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I am
>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do not
>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost option.....any
>advise would be appreciated...
>
I use a small air bubbler and a low wattage heater.The air bubbler can be
bought at Walmart for about $7,the heater will cost about $35 and can be
bought at pond supply stores and also on Ebay.Rick

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:31:51 CST, wrote:

>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and
>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I am
>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do not
>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost option.....any
>advise would be appreciated...

Get a stock tank heater ($20-25) from a farm supply store. Then go to the
Xmas display stuff and get a heavy-duty on/off switch ($15-20). I have one
with a remote control. This will keep your costs lower by only using heat
as needed. The heaters do have a temp control, but they are primitive. Why
I like to have the control when mine is on/off for sure.

OR.... you can get a pond one that is only 100 watts at a pet supply place
and plug it in and leave it. Unfortunately they run anywhere from ($50 -
80). In the meantime, you can use an air stone (should have one anyway)
until it is really cold. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

<> wrote in message
news: ...
>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and
> is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I
> am
> concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do
> not
> have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost
> option.....any
> advise would be appreciated...
============================
You can buy a child's wading pool or 200g horse water trough ad the filter
from outside. Bring your fish into your garage or basement for the winter.
--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

You can also cover the pond with a heavy plastic like we do. We make a
rough frame of 2x4's over the pond at drape the plastic over that. We do
all this and live is SW Ontario and the pond has never totally frozen over.

"~ jan" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:31:51 CST, wrote:
>
>>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal
>>.......and
>>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I
>>am
>>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do
>>not
>>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost
>>option.....any
>>advise would be appreciated...
>
> Get a stock tank heater ($20-25) from a farm supply store. Then go to the
> Xmas display stuff and get a heavy-duty on/off switch ($15-20). I have one
> with a remote control. This will keep your costs lower by only using heat
> as needed. The heaters do have a temp control, but they are primitive. Why
> I like to have the control when mine is on/off for sure.
>
> OR.... you can get a pond one that is only 100 watts at a pet supply place
> and plug it in and leave it. Unfortunately they run anywhere from ($50 -
> 80). In the meantime, you can use an air stone (should have one anyway)
> until it is really cold. ~ jan
> ------------
> Zone 7a, SE Washington State
> Ponds: www.jjspond.us
>

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:31:51 CST, wrote:

>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and
>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I am
>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do not
>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost option.....any
>advise would be appreciated...

I spent a winter in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan and if you are in the UP
I'd suggest that goldfish are cheaper than stock heaters. I might try
an air pump (To keep a hole open in the ice.) if I was really attached
to my pets, but a stock heater is expensive to operate. I've read
where others have success with 100 watt heaters, but I escaped to the
South a few years ago and never had the experience.

You may find a cheaper one, but here is one:
http://www.kyhorse.com/store/equipment/de-icers.htm
You might notice the 1500 watt rating.

The air pump has to be protected against the elements a bit to keep it
from freezing up. Placing it under a bucket and protecting the air
hose from condensate (Air hose should travel downhill, no up and down
spots to catch moisture.) should work.
--
Hal Middle Georgia, Zone 8
http://tinyurl.com/2fxzcb

"Rick Yerke" <> wrote in message
news:Nq-...
> In article <>,
> wrote:
>>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal
>>.......and
>>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I
>>am
>>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do
>>not
>>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost
>>option.....any
>>advise would be appreciated...
>>
> I use a small air bubbler and a low wattage heater.The air bubbler can be
> bought at Walmart for about $7,the heater will cost about $35 and can be
> bought at pond supply stores and also on Ebay.Rick
===============================
That may not be enough for Michigan. They have some really cold winter
weather there. It would be safer to bring them in.
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:09:17 CST, "Henry & Carolyn" <>
wrote:

>You can also cover the pond with a heavy plastic like we do. We make a
>rough frame of 2x4's over the pond at drape the plastic over that. We do
>all this and live is SW Ontario and the pond has never totally frozen over.
>

Yes, good point, that will make a BIG difference, just talk with Ingrid who
is able to feed her fish most of the winter by covering and supplying a
little heat.

I wonder if the OP was looking for a cheap up front cost, or power usage?
Pay a little more and lower the power usage, or pay a little up front and
pay over time via more power? ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Reel McKoi wrote:

>
> "Rick Yerke" <> wrote in message
> news:Nq-...
>> In article <>,
>> wrote:
>>>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal
>>>.......and
>>>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I
>>>am
>>>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do
>>>not
>>>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost
>>>option.....any
>>>advise would be appreciated...
>>>
>> I use a small air bubbler and a low wattage heater.The air bubbler can be
>> bought at Walmart for about $7,the heater will cost about $35 and can be
>> bought at pond supply stores and also on Ebay.Rick
> ===============================
> That may not be enough for Michigan. They have some really cold winter
> weather there. It would be safer to bring them in.

No colder than I used to deal with in Ontario. And we had regulars in
Ottawa and Sudbury who managed to keep them in no deeper ponds than that,
without heaters.

Hal's advice on bubblers is exactly what I would have given.
--
derek

>In article <>, wrote:
>>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and
>>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I am
>>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do not
>>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost option.....any
>>advise would be appreciated...

I guess I don't need to worry about mine only being 4ft deep, then.
Flint, Michigan.
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