"Jerry Donovan" wrote in
:

"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.

I also live in Colorado. On our little pond, the bubbles often create
some fumerole type shapes where the bubbles come out. ... 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...

Jerry

I too used an air pump and grew ice sculptures where the bubbles escaped.
Unfortunately the air intake to the pump would either get plugged with
ice or slip down under the water. I think there were some curious cats
in the neighborhood that played with the air intake.

So this year I went back to leaving the circulation pump on all winter
and added one of those small (25 watt?) heaters to keep a hole open. So
far, despite cold weather, a hole has stayed open in my pond most of the
time. For a few days it iced over. Snow got into the electrical outlet
and tripped the ground fault interrupter; after I reset the circuit the
weather warmed up and now the pond surface is mostly open.

All the fish seem to have survived.

Rich