BV,

I would do it when the pond temperature is very close to the cold water tap
temperature. This will keep the fish from having a temperature change due
to the water change. The two temperatures should be coming close very soon.
Other than that, the fish are least likely to be badly spooked while they
are more dormant than when they are very active, so I would say the cooler
the pond the better.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"BenignVanilla" wrote in message
...
In the "you don't have a diffuser on your bottom drain, you moron?" thread
I
admited to committing this horrible crime. So I have always been planning
on
going for a swim after I build the diffuser so I can install it. I got to
thinking it may be easier to drain a few feet of water out of the pond
first. The question is then, when would this be safest to do? Should I do
it
now while things are cold or should I wait for the pond to get rolling and
do it in the spring?

--
BV.
www.iheartmypond.com