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When is the best time to shut down pond?
When is the best time to shut down pond?
And how? I have 5000gallons with waterfall, 9 Koi, water lettuce,water hyacinth,lily pads,parrots feather,water lily, Thanks Kathy...in Maryland |
I been doing a slow down of the water into my veggie filter when the temp starts to
mostly drop below 45 at night. actually, once the water temp gets below 55oF for more than a day or two it is time to stop the waterfall and start preparing the pond for winter, including putting up a cover and dropping in a heater. snag the hyacinth and lettuce out when they start to look pathetic. start a bucket filter going now so it will be able to take over bioload if your waterfall is part of the biofilter. Ingrid (WilsonKKW) wrote: When is the best time to shut down pond? And how? I have 5000gallons with waterfall, 9 Koi, water lettuce,water hyacinth,lily pads,parrots feather,water lily, Thanks Kathy...in Maryland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. |
I been doing a slow down of the water into my veggie filter when the temp starts to
mostly drop below 45 at night. actually, once the water temp gets below 55oF for more than a day or two it is time to stop the waterfall and start preparing the pond for winter, including putting up a cover and dropping in a heater. snag the hyacinth and lettuce out when they start to look pathetic. start a bucket filter going now so it will be able to take over bioload if your waterfall is part of the biofilter. Ingrid (WilsonKKW) wrote: When is the best time to shut down pond? And how? I have 5000gallons with waterfall, 9 Koi, water lettuce,water hyacinth,lily pads,parrots feather,water lily, Thanks Kathy...in Maryland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. |
Here is what I do for our little pond (near our patio and much much
smaller than yours). Adjust as you see fit for your much larger pond. For the first few times it gets near freezing (below 35F), I cover the pond with a tarp at night. Around here (northern Colorado) there are usually at least a few weeks of good weather after the first good freeze or two. When some of the WH start to look a little bit wilted, I grab a few stronger looking ones and put them inside our glassed in patio. They get to sit inside some large plastic containers next to south facing windows for the winter. They also get fertilizer and soapy spray on a regular basis. A tropical water lily is brought in at the same time. So far, I have been very fortunate with the inside plants during the winter. The water hyacinth, tropical lilies, and parrot's feather have all done well inside. About every other month during the winter, I have removed about a third of my WH and put them in the compost pile.Last year my water lettuce all died, but they have survived in the past. I have moved some parrot's feather inside as well. That stuff grows like weeds in the warm sunny windows. Last year I also left some outside below the surface, and I think it survived as well, but I can't remember for sure. Either way, I ended up pitching a lot of it out in the spring since the inside stuff did so well. At that time, I trim back the rest of the water lilies and other plants, making sure that they are all fully submerged. This is often the time that I get to see some of the new small goldfish that might have survived so far, since they have hidden in the plants all summer. When the temperatures will be well below freezing or below freezing for a few days in a row, I turn off the pump to the water fall, and drain the upper pond. I leave the pump in the water so that it doesn't dry out. I also check the little nightlight bulb for the air pump is working so that the air will be somewhat dry to the bubbler. (keeps moisture from freezing in the airline). The bubbler keeps at least some air escaping either through a hole it keeps in the ice, or around the edge somewhere. It makes some cool looking volcano type shapes when it is very cold. Jerry wrote in message ... I been doing a slow down of the water into my veggie filter when the temp starts to mostly drop below 45 at night. actually, once the water temp gets below 55oF for more than a day or two it is time to stop the waterfall and start preparing the pond for winter, including putting up a cover and dropping in a heater. snag the hyacinth and lettuce out when they start to look pathetic. start a bucket filter going now so it will be able to take over bioload if your waterfall is part of the biofilter. Ingrid (WilsonKKW) wrote: When is the best time to shut down pond? And how? I have 5000gallons with waterfall, 9 Koi, water lettuce,water hyacinth,lily pads,parrots feather,water lily, Thanks Kathy...in Maryland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. |
Hi, I have a pond that I inherited when I bought the house last summer. It
seemed to overwinter just fine last year (I left the pump/waterfall on) and only froze over once. Since it doesn't freeze here very often, I think I'll probably just put netting over to catch the leaves....my only concern is I do have a few months-old babies, but hopefully they'll do fine as well? Kirsten "WilsonKKW" wrote in message ... When is the best time to shut down pond? And how? I have 5000gallons with waterfall, 9 Koi, water lettuce,water hyacinth,lily pads,parrots feather,water lily, Thanks Kathy...in Maryland |
yes. babies up here in zone 5 do fine over winter with an air hole. you dont really
need to worry about that, or use a cordless drill to make a hole when it does freeze over. Ingrid "kc" wrote: Hi, I have a pond that I inherited when I bought the house last summer. It seemed to overwinter just fine last year (I left the pump/waterfall on) and only froze over once. Since it doesn't freeze here very often, I think I'll probably just put netting over to catch the leaves....my only concern is I do have a few months-old babies, but hopefully they'll do fine as well? Kirsten ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. |
yes. babies up here in zone 5 do fine over winter with an air hole. you dont really
need to worry about that, or use a cordless drill to make a hole when it does freeze over. Ingrid "kc" wrote: Hi, I have a pond that I inherited when I bought the house last summer. It seemed to overwinter just fine last year (I left the pump/waterfall on) and only froze over once. Since it doesn't freeze here very often, I think I'll probably just put netting over to catch the leaves....my only concern is I do have a few months-old babies, but hopefully they'll do fine as well? Kirsten ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. |
"WilsonKKW" wrote in message ... When is the best time to shut down pond? And how? I have 5000gallons with waterfall, 9 Koi, water lettuce,water hyacinth,lily pads,parrots feather,water lily, Thanks Kathy...in Maryland ======================= I remove all the tropicals such as water lettuce after the first frost in the fall. That comes about the middle of October where I live. They go into the compost pile. As the water temp reaches 50 to 55 I shut off the extra water pumps that help aerate the water, and the filters themselves when then the water reaches around 50 or I see the fish are less active and hanging around the bottom more. Hardy plants like parrot's feather, Lotus and cat tails can remain in the pond over the winter. I leave them right on the shelves where they sit. -- Carol.... the frugal ponder... "They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same." http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
"WilsonKKW" wrote in message ... When is the best time to shut down pond? And how? I have 5000gallons with waterfall, 9 Koi, water lettuce,water hyacinth,lily pads,parrots feather,water lily, Thanks Kathy...in Maryland ======================= I remove all the tropicals such as water lettuce after the first frost in the fall. That comes about the middle of October where I live. They go into the compost pile. As the water temp reaches 50 to 55 I shut off the extra water pumps that help aerate the water, and the filters themselves when then the water reaches around 50 or I see the fish are less active and hanging around the bottom more. Hardy plants like parrot's feather, Lotus and cat tails can remain in the pond over the winter. I leave them right on the shelves where they sit. -- Carol.... the frugal ponder... "They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same." http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
"Jerry Donovan" wrote in message ... So far, I have been very fortunate with the inside plants during the winter. The water hyacinth, tropical lilies, and parrot's feather have all done well inside. About every other month during the winter, I have removed about a third of my WH and put them in the compost pile.Last year my water lettuce all died, but they have survived in the past. $$ I discovered that these plants don't do well in stagnant or still water. A small bubbler in the tank or tub with them helps keep them alive over the winter. They wont rot. I have moved some parrot's feather inside as well. That stuff grows like weeds in the warm sunny windows. Last year I also left some outside below the surface, and I think it survived as well, but I can't remember for sure. Either way, I ended up pitching a lot of it out in the spring since the inside stuff did so well. $$ My parrots feather lives over the winter here in zone 6 (TN). At that time, I trim back the rest of the water lilies and other plants, making sure that they are all fully submerged. $$ I haven't found submerging them to help any. The hardy ones will live over in either case. -- Carol.... the frugal ponder... "They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same." http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
"Jerry Donovan" wrote in message ... So far, I have been very fortunate with the inside plants during the winter. The water hyacinth, tropical lilies, and parrot's feather have all done well inside. About every other month during the winter, I have removed about a third of my WH and put them in the compost pile.Last year my water lettuce all died, but they have survived in the past. $$ I discovered that these plants don't do well in stagnant or still water. A small bubbler in the tank or tub with them helps keep them alive over the winter. They wont rot. I have moved some parrot's feather inside as well. That stuff grows like weeds in the warm sunny windows. Last year I also left some outside below the surface, and I think it survived as well, but I can't remember for sure. Either way, I ended up pitching a lot of it out in the spring since the inside stuff did so well. $$ My parrots feather lives over the winter here in zone 6 (TN). At that time, I trim back the rest of the water lilies and other plants, making sure that they are all fully submerged. $$ I haven't found submerging them to help any. The hardy ones will live over in either case. -- Carol.... the frugal ponder... "They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same." http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
"kc" wrote in message ... Hi, I have a pond that I inherited when I bought the house last summer. It seemed to overwinter just fine last year (I left the pump/waterfall on) and only froze over once. Since it doesn't freeze here very often, I think I'll probably just put netting over to catch the leaves....my only concern is I do have a few months-old babies, but hopefully they'll do fine as well? =================== My tiny fish (goldfish and koi) live over without a problem. :-) Feed them well now so they have a reserve of fat to help them winter over. -- Carol.... the frugal ponder... "If two men agree on everything, you can be sure only one of them is doing the thinking." ~~~~~~{@ "They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same." http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
"kc" wrote in message ... Hi, I have a pond that I inherited when I bought the house last summer. It seemed to overwinter just fine last year (I left the pump/waterfall on) and only froze over once. Since it doesn't freeze here very often, I think I'll probably just put netting over to catch the leaves....my only concern is I do have a few months-old babies, but hopefully they'll do fine as well? =================== My tiny fish (goldfish and koi) live over without a problem. :-) Feed them well now so they have a reserve of fat to help them winter over. -- Carol.... the frugal ponder... "If two men agree on everything, you can be sure only one of them is doing the thinking." ~~~~~~{@ "They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same." http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Why get a drill & bit, lean over the pond and drill?
Couldn't you just break up the ice with a big stick? I didn't get my pond reall operating until February, so I'm interested in seeing what happens during the winter. The 1" pipe from the pump to the water fall runs about 6" underground most of the way, I'm wondering if that will affect the tendency of the pipe to freeze up. Mike On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 22:41:08 GMT, wrote: yes. babies up here in zone 5 do fine over winter with an air hole. you dont really need to worry about that, or use a cordless drill to make a hole when it does freeze over. Ingrid "kc" wrote: Hi, I have a pond that I inherited when I bought the house last summer. It seemed to overwinter just fine last year (I left the pump/waterfall on) and only froze over once. Since it doesn't freeze here very often, I think I'll probably just put netting over to catch the leaves....my only concern is I do have a few months-old babies, but hopefully they'll do fine as well? Kirsten ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ 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. Mike Patterson Please remove the spamtrap to email me. "I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin |
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