Transition Pond/Fish to Winter

[billdolloff]

My water feature is made up of two ponds, an upper pond and a lower pond, and they are connected by a 35 ft stream that drops approximately 12 feet in elevation of 4 waterfalls. I have a Savio skimmer and Bullfrog pump in the lower pond. This will be my first winter in New Hampshire with gold fish in the lower pond (there are 5 fish in the upper pond but they are moving to the lower pond). So I'm figuring sometime probably in November I make the transition. I turn off the pump in the skimmer in the lower pond, and start up my deicer and bubbler in the lower pond. This takes place (I'm looking for affirmation here) when temps begin to remain at or below 35 degrees at night. At that point, when ice starts to form in the stream and the edges of the ponds I start up the bubbler, deicer, and pull my pump. What do you do for winter prep, and what am I missing if anything? Thanks! Bill

 

[Lisak1]

I have a one word answer - nothing. I just leave it all running and watch nature sculpt in ice.

 

[JRS]

What do you do for winter prep

I pretty much do the same. I have small pumps with exposed hoses, so i pull all those and drain them, as well as my barrel filter and turtle tubs.

The main in ground pond which acts as sump for everything else during the summer, stays full and I add a Tetra deicer but no other equipment. Usually have to add water once or twice during the winter when it gets too low if we do not get enough precipitation. I also try to scoop as many leaves as possible from the pond before the ice forms.

 

[GBBUDD]

Im in ct but lived in nh for 10 years i have a similar set up and i dont shut down̈ on a date i shut down by the weather
We have had winters other than last year. Where temps didnt drop untill the begining of january. I usualy waot untill i see temps drop to tge low 20s before i shut down. You can see my pond in the link below.

Key points to shutting down the pump and pond.
Make sure your pipes are not closed they must jave an open end so when ice develops its not in a closed loop
Its like the fire cracker going off in your hand if you close your fist over it it will blow your hand off. But place tge fire cracker in your palm and set it off it just goes bpom and burns your hand . Same idea.
Ill also remove the pump and place it in a bag plastic so the gaskets dont dry out.
Lastly is to provide air exchange / an opening in tge surface ice. So co2 can escape. . Some use pond breathers , while others use air pumps. With the air make sure you keep the stobe or diaphram closer to the surface do t disturb the water at the bottom of the pond as thats the water is the warmest and where the fish will be

 

[Hound Heaven]

My water feature is made up of two ponds, an upper pond and a lower pond, and they are connected by a 35 ft stream that drops approximately 12 feet in elevation of 4 waterfalls. I have a Savio skimmer and Bullfrog pump in the lower pond. This will be my first winter in New Hampshire with gold fish in the lower pond (there are 5 fish in the upper pond but they are moving to the lower pond). So I'm figuring sometime probably in November I make the transition. I turn off the pump in the skimmer in the lower pond, and start up my deicer and bubbler in the lower pond. This takes place (I'm looking for affirmation here) when temps begin to remain at or below 35 degrees at night. At that point, when ice starts to form in the stream and the edges of the ponds I start up the bubbler, deicer, and pull my pump. What do you do for winter prep, and what am I missing if anything? Thanks! Bill

My only concern in winter is my water line to the lotus tub, it's exposed and will freeze so I turn it off on the coldest days. The lotus never seems to mind.

 

[WaterGardener]

We cover our pond with a greenhouse structure. The water never freezes even when temperatures dip below zero and we have heavy snow. Everything runs year round and I even lightly feed the fish most every day. Water temp stays above 50 most of the time.

 

[GBBUDD]

We cover our pond with a greenhouse structure. The water never freezes even when temperatures dip below zero and we have heavy snow. Everything runs year round and I even lightly feed the fish most every day. Water temp stays above 50 most of the time.

Not that lucky here. Too much snow ponds to big

 

[WaterGardener]

The snow slides off and the structure is substantial. It's built like a house, with trusses. I would think it would be possible to cover your pond, but it might be prohibitively expensive!

 

[GBBUDD]

I could but it would be a heck of a bill and its odd shape = would require a few days to install to make it snow ŵorthy would truely add up