[quote name='CJ'sPOND']At the end of 2008 winter my fish died, except 2. This is the 2nd time In the 10 years of ponding,this has happened. Lottts of snow covering the ponds is a problem. My tranquil friends lost to me forever.{Sound kind of melodramatic? I felt that way } 4 were koi, there were about thirty others that were shassas, fantails or muts. Said I'd never get any more fish----WRONG. I now have 2 butterfly koi 1 standard koi, 2 fantails & 2 goldies. I'm determined to see them through this winter![/quote]
Have you thought about adding a heater? I threw a heater in mine and it kept a 6" circle open in the pond last winter. The rest of the ice was only 1/4" thick. Even through -20 temps, my pond stayed open.