WAY cool, Jerry!
I live in Colorado Springs and with the exception of where the air stone
is, my pond had been pretty much frozen over since the first hard
freeze. I am hoping our 50+ degree temps for the next few days will
give some relief.
Where are you located?
W. Dale

Jerry Donovan wrote:

"G & K Meyer" wrote in message
...


I got a air pump and stone this year, rather than running a water pump all
winter. We have around a 1200gal pond 3 ft deep, in Colorado, and are
having a colder year than normal.
So question is being the air pump is putting fresh air into the pond
will it hurt anything if it does ice over? The fish are down deep and in
winter mood and use less air and need no food right?
Will the gas get out or do I need to keep it open?
Thanks for the help.



If air is going in, and it is not getting out anywhere, then you had
best stand back. It will build up pressure and eventually explode.

Not!

If air is going in, then it is getting out, typically around the edges
somewhere. The idea is to let the bad gasses escape. If bubbles
are getting in and out, then most likely the bad gasses are escaping
too.

I also live in Colorado. On our little pond, the bubbles often create
some fumerole type shapes where the bubbles come out. They
can be as much as about a foot tall. They are kind of neat.
This following website has a few photos taken about 3 years ago.

http://www.jerryandsandi.com/pond/winterpond.html

The main thing is to make sure air is getting in. When I use too
small of tubing, the tube can get blocked with frozen moisture.
Using larger diameter tubing, and a small light bulb under the
cover that our air pump is in helps keep the bubbles flowing.
Keeping the tubing run as short as possible helps too.

Jerry