"rlb827" wrote in message
. net...
Are you saying that my 26" depth is not enough to keep the fish in the
pond
over the Chicago winter?

It's plenty. I live in zone 5b, and I winter my sarasa comets over every
winter in 18" of water, using the following:

1. cheapo aquarium bubbler with 2 hoses and airstones
2. floating pond heater "donut"
3. a very large PVC "y" connector sunken in the
middle of the bottom for the 4 fish to take cover in.

Haven't lost a fish yet in 3 winters, and the last one was plenty cold and
very snowy. You can do it.

NJ