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

Overwintering fish question
 

Xref: kermit rec.ponds:128544

Thanks Rich

Are you saying that my 26" depth is not enough to keep the fish in the pond
over the Chicago winter? If so I will bring them in b/c I don't want to lose
them. But if it is completely safe for them to stay in the pond I would
rather they didn't have to be moved. They are still kind of skittish as it
is b/c they have been moved three times this year already.

Rich wrote in message ...
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

Overwintering fish question
 

Point well taken....Believe me I can sit there for a long time and just
enjoy the pond. Although an Absolute and Cranberry would be my summer drink
of choice. Your tips are great.
Thanks I hope I make the right decision as to whether to leave them in and
chance it or to bring tham in for the winter. Our winters can be brutal or
they can be mild. It's a crapshoot.

Cheers
"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

Overwintering fish question
 

"rlb827" wrote in message
. net...
Are you saying that my 26" depth is not enough to keep the fish in the
pond
over the Chicago winter?

It's plenty. I live in zone 5b, and I winter my sarasa comets over every
winter in 18" of water, using the following:

1. cheapo aquarium bubbler with 2 hoses and airstones
2. floating pond heater "donut"
3. a very large PVC "y" connector sunken in the
middle of the bottom for the 4 fish to take cover in.

Haven't lost a fish yet in 3 winters, and the last one was plenty cold and
very snowy. You can do it.

NJ

Overwintering fish question
 

you can leave them in if you put a low greenhouse over the pond, keep your pump
running in a bucket filter, use some aeration and have a 1800 watt heat available in
case the water does freeze over. Ingrid

"rlb827" wrote:
Are you saying that my 26" depth is not enough to keep the fish in the pond
over the Chicago winter?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Overwintering fish question
 

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. snip
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). Randy

Hi Randy,

Well I have a different answer than the rest. If you have the means to
bring them in, you'll be less worried about them. You say fantails, if any
of those fantails are orandas they should come in regardless. Many times
orandas flip upside down when the temps start cooling off. I don't leave
any of my big fantails out in Zone 7a. I can leave the babies out, but I
have more than 3 out there, some very small, enough make it that other than
one of two I can leave them out with just an airstone to keep a hole open.
~ jan

See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

Overwintering fish question
 

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

I pull my pumps up from the botom and continue to run my waterfall all winter.
It was really cold this January in Connecticut and we did fine. I am going to
try an airstone this year just as a second safeguard.
Colleen
Zone 5 Connecticut

Overwintering fish question
 

Are you saying that my 26" depth is not enough to keep the fish in the pond

Mine is only about 26 at it's deepest point and again this will be our 4th
winter.
Colleen
zone 5 Connecticut

Overwintering fish question
 

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
s.com...
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. snip
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). Randy

Hi Randy,

Well I have a different answer than the rest. If you have the means to
bring them in, you'll be less worried about them. You say fantails, if any
of those fantails are orandas they should come in regardless. Many times
orandas flip upside down when the temps start cooling off. I don't leave
any of my big fantails out in Zone 7a. I can leave the babies out, but I
have more than 3 out there, some very small, enough make it that other
than
one of two I can leave them out with just an airstone to keep a hole open.
~ jan

See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

I was thinking the same thing. Fantails dont do as well as common goldfish
in cold water, especially the bigger bodied fantails.
sandra

Overwintering fish question
 

In article ,
(GrampysGurl) writes:

I pull my pumps up from the botom and continue to run my waterfall all
winter.
It was really cold this January in Connecticut and we did fine. I am going to
try an airstone this year just as a second safeguard.
Colleen
I do basically the same thing, however this winter, the GFCI tripped and it was
so cold that the hose end froze in the ice and when I restarted the pump it
wasn't discharging, so I had to shut it down and run the airstone, glad I had
one on hand.

Karen
Zone 5
Ashland, OH
http://hometown.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html
My Art Studio at
http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K....M.Studios.html
for email remove the extra extention