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- Jun 19, 2018
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Dear everyone who has taken time to write.
Firstly, I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and experience. I am most definitely going to rethink our decision next fall when the fish, hopefully, will have gotten through the winter with me and be larger. Really, the answer in my case might be a secondary, deeper outdoor pond with less surface area in a more protected space than the existing outdoor pond which is totally exposed, facing NW, circular and 20 feet in diameter. If I had a second pond closer to the house with less surface area for the winter I could cover it, like Colleen, and also attach it to my generator in the event of power outages. We are planning a conversion to propane this fall and I have asked our installer to attach the garage power to our generator which would protect the winter fish tank in the garage.
All the water in our tank in the garage was pumped in directly from the outdoor pond. The fish were moved gently and expeditiously and all are now inside along with some mosquito fish that came along for the ride.
Outside the temperatures are varying between the 30s and 40s right now and the pond water has been steadily in the 50s in the garage. I have been covering the pond at night with insulation boards that also line the pond to keep a bit of the heat in.
Our plan is to supply water from the house spigot, draining the exit pipe and hose after each use. I have a corrugated hose for draining the filter that I pump out the back of the garage just about daily.
So far so good. The fish are looking healthy and active. The fish waste is minimal so far. I am thinking a small net might serve just to scoop it out if I am vigilant.
Photos are attached of the fish and my water tests.
The pond water (from our barn well) has a dramatically higher pH level than the house water. And, I am seeing that the house water taken from the outdoor spigot shows slightly elevated phosphates. With the proper hose I could probably send water from my kitchen sink out to the garage. The house water runs through particle filters, so will have to give it a test too. It would be more pleasant, also, than wrestling with a hose outdoors when the temperatures go down.
Should I be thinking about quality of life changes in the winter tank? Does anyone recommend introducing friendly bacteria?
Again, thanks for sharing—all coaching and feedback most sincerely appreciated.
Evelyn, called Evie
PS. Plans are to raise the water level once we have made our screen covering.

Firstly, I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and experience. I am most definitely going to rethink our decision next fall when the fish, hopefully, will have gotten through the winter with me and be larger. Really, the answer in my case might be a secondary, deeper outdoor pond with less surface area in a more protected space than the existing outdoor pond which is totally exposed, facing NW, circular and 20 feet in diameter. If I had a second pond closer to the house with less surface area for the winter I could cover it, like Colleen, and also attach it to my generator in the event of power outages. We are planning a conversion to propane this fall and I have asked our installer to attach the garage power to our generator which would protect the winter fish tank in the garage.
All the water in our tank in the garage was pumped in directly from the outdoor pond. The fish were moved gently and expeditiously and all are now inside along with some mosquito fish that came along for the ride.
Outside the temperatures are varying between the 30s and 40s right now and the pond water has been steadily in the 50s in the garage. I have been covering the pond at night with insulation boards that also line the pond to keep a bit of the heat in.
Our plan is to supply water from the house spigot, draining the exit pipe and hose after each use. I have a corrugated hose for draining the filter that I pump out the back of the garage just about daily.
So far so good. The fish are looking healthy and active. The fish waste is minimal so far. I am thinking a small net might serve just to scoop it out if I am vigilant.
Photos are attached of the fish and my water tests.
The pond water (from our barn well) has a dramatically higher pH level than the house water. And, I am seeing that the house water taken from the outdoor spigot shows slightly elevated phosphates. With the proper hose I could probably send water from my kitchen sink out to the garage. The house water runs through particle filters, so will have to give it a test too. It would be more pleasant, also, than wrestling with a hose outdoors when the temperatures go down.
Should I be thinking about quality of life changes in the winter tank? Does anyone recommend introducing friendly bacteria?
Again, thanks for sharing—all coaching and feedback most sincerely appreciated.
Evelyn, called Evie
PS. Plans are to raise the water level once we have made our screen covering.
