Hi - I have a new 15x17 pond with a 9 ft stream/watererfall. Right now it's
doing great with 8 goldfish and many plants. My concern is the up-coming
winter. The deepest part is about 28" ( about a 3x3 section). I'm thinking I
should shut the skimmer/waterfall off from Nov. thru April and run a airpump
and stone to aerate it and for a hole during a freeze. Does this sound like
the way to go?

Thanks,
Newbie in OKieland

If your winters aren't that harsh (Zone?) that your water temp doesn't drop
below 45F you can leave it going.

I'm in Zone 7a the banana belt of Washington state, where the ponds will
freeze solid on the surface for days. I put my filter on a slower pump, use
the skimmer, plug the bottom drain and run the outlet hose to the top pond,
so the big waterfall & stream do not run. The slow moving water keeps a
hole open in the ice and my filter came on-line almost right away this
spring. ~ jan

See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
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