Overwintering fish question
HI all
I know that I should be enjoying the fish in my pond instead of worrying about putting them to bed for the winter but..... I live in the Chicago area. This is my pond's first year and the water is amazingly clear and healthy and the plants and fish are thriving (3 new babies). It has all been too good to be true. Thus my concern for the overwinter survival of my fish that were transplanted from someones overstocked pond. My pond is about 14x16 and about 26" at the deepest spot which is about 4'x4'. I have ten fantail goldfish ranging in length from 6" to 9" (plus the 3 babies). If I put a floating deicer in over the deepest part of the pond will the depth be enough to overwinter the fish in the Chicago winter climate? Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Randy |
Overwintering fish question
Hi Randy,
Yes, you should be by the pond with a glass of wine. 50 lashes with a limp reed. ;-) I'll post my winter check list and hopefully we'll have some windy city ponders check in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winter Pond Check List Tropicals should be removed and wintered over indoors or discarded. After the first good frost trim up as much dead foligage as you can. Remove leaves as they blow into the pond or spread nets over the pond to catch them (anchor securely). Do not let netted leaves dip into the pond. Stop feeding fish when the water temperature reaches about 55 degrees Choose a method to keep a hole open in the ice. This allows for gases from decomposing plant and fish waste to escape and oxygen to enter the pond. A luft pump with an airstone works well and seems to be the most energy efficient method. De-icers float on the surface and switch on when the water gets cold enough to form ice. The pump can be raised off the bottom and the flow directed up to the surface of the water. If the pump is turned off remove the pump, clean it and store it for the winter. Turn off the filter at about 40 degree water temperature, clean it and have it ready to go in the spring. Never turn on a filter that has been sitting over the winter without cleaning it first - noxious dead bio bugs will enter the pond Ponders in the really frozen zones bring in their fish (the depth of your pond is an important factor). A large stock tank is a wise investment. Add oxygen with a bubbler and net the tank to prevent fish from jumping out. Do not feed the fish if the water temperature is below 55 degrees. If the water is warmer a filter will be needed for fish that are fed over the winter. (A stock tank is also handy for quarantining new fish before adding them to your pond.) A winter pond can be very pretty and enjoyable if you are prepared. Fussing around the pond in 2 degree weather is *not* fun, been there, done that. k30a and the watergardening labradors http://www.geocities.com/watergarden...dors/home.html |
Overwintering fish question
30 " is a little light. It will freeze, keep a 3" hole open with a water
flow from a hose and pump. I let mine run all winter long . It gives oxygen and leaves out gases. Mine is going on it's fifth year. Mother nature will tell the fish to bulk up for the winter and they will hibernate well. Good Luck "K30a" wrote in message ... Hi Randy, Yes, you should be by the pond with a glass of wine. 50 lashes with a limp reed. ;-) I'll post my winter check list and hopefully we'll have some windy city ponders check in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winter Pond Check List Tropicals should be removed and wintered over indoors or discarded. After the first good frost trim up as much dead foligage as you can. Remove leaves as they blow into the pond or spread nets over the pond to catch them (anchor securely). Do not let netted leaves dip into the pond. Stop feeding fish when the water temperature reaches about 55 degrees Choose a method to keep a hole open in the ice. This allows for gases from decomposing plant and fish waste to escape and oxygen to enter the pond. A luft pump with an airstone works well and seems to be the most energy efficient method. De-icers float on the surface and switch on when the water gets cold enough to form ice. The pump can be raised off the bottom and the flow directed up to the surface of the water. If the pump is turned off remove the pump, clean it and store it for the winter. Turn off the filter at about 40 degree water temperature, clean it and have it ready to go in the spring. Never turn on a filter that has been sitting over the winter without cleaning it first - noxious dead bio bugs will enter the pond Ponders in the really frozen zones bring in their fish (the depth of your pond is an important factor). A large stock tank is a wise investment. Add oxygen with a bubbler and net the tank to prevent fish from jumping out. Do not feed the fish if the water temperature is below 55 degrees. If the water is warmer a filter will be needed for fish that are fed over the winter. (A stock tank is also handy for quarantining new fish before adding them to your pond.) A winter pond can be very pretty and enjoyable if you are prepared. Fussing around the pond in 2 degree weather is *not* fun, been there, done that. k30a and the watergardening labradors http://www.geocities.com/watergarden...dors/home.html |
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