First winter with my pond

[Craig Brown]

I live in Massachusetts. Days are still warm but nights have been unseasonably cool. The water temperature of my pond is about 54 (at the surface). Should I stop feeding?

Is there anything I can put in my pond that help the fish survive the winter (I know about the aerator and heater).

I read that at about 50 I should turn off the pump, drain the pipes etc. Is this correct?

Thanks!

 

[addy1]

A lot say you can feed the wheat germ food down into lower temps, feed until they stop eating. I usually stop around the 50 or lower temps. They have plenty of food in the pond to live off.

I use the pond breather to keep some gas exchange going on. Cheap electric use, works well.

I pull my pumps etc before we start freezing up, or we leave town. My pump is external. My filter system, the huge bog, chills the water a lot once we start cooling off. It has a huge surface area.

 

[cas]

I read that at about 50 I should turn off the pump, drain the pipes etc. Is this correct?

I usually wait until the temps are down in the 40's before I turn off my pump and put my pond breather in. Usually the middle of November.

 

[sissy]

you can build a hoop house over your pond and use plastic to go over it to make it like a greenhouse

 

[Craig Brown]

The pond breather looks great! I read several reviews and didn't see any comments about pond death. Do you put in any of those Cold Water bacteria products? I figured they were all just gimmicks.

What about your plants? I have a lot of Water Hyacinths and Lettuce. If left in the pond, will they grow back or are plants a thing you buy each year?

 

[cas]

I don't add any cold water bacteria. The water hyacinths and lettuce are tossed. Some people try to overwinter them in the basement with a grow light, but I haven't tried it.

 

[Tula]

I don't turn off my pumps till Nov., or possibly in Dec., depending on the weather. I usually will turn the water fall off, before the filter pumps, as it's drop is high and it cools the water.

I feed into Nov., or whenever they lose interest in eating. I'll cut back my lilies and water celery next week, as I have to get into the pond to do it and don't want to freeze! LOL

 

[addy1]

The pond breather looks great! I read several reviews and didn't see any comments about pond death. Do you put in any of those Cold Water bacteria products? I figured they were all just gimmicks.

What about your plants? I have a lot of Water Hyacinths and Lettuce. If left in the pond, will they grow back or are plants a thing you buy each year?

I use just the breathers, don't add any cold water bacteria. Any plants that can survive our winters gets to live here.

 

[peter hillman]

I've slowed feeding, you can tell by the way the fish act, they're not jumping out of the water for food anymore.