Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1   Report Post  
Old 28-01-2003, 11:01 PM
Joel
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

This is was a test run for trying to keep a hole open over the winter, I
used bubbles, we are also having one of the coldest winters in years, -10F
and the ice is about 8-12inch think.

my question is:

the water did freeze up around the airline, I know its still pushing air
under the ice, the air must be escaping somewhere, is this enough to let
the gases out?

The bad news is, my test pond will have to be filled in as I'm selling the
house and will build again when I move.
my current small pond is only a 4 x 3 x 4ft, when I move I want to do
something diffferent then just a hole in the ground, I want shallow water
to see the fish, could I make the pond 18-24inch deep and at one end and
have a hole 4 ft for the winter at the other end and have the water fall
spill into the shallow water?

Joel.
  #2   Report Post  
Old 28-01-2003, 11:21 PM
Bonnie Espenshade
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Joel wrote:
This is was a test run for trying to keep a hole open over the winter, I
used bubbles, we are also having one of the coldest winters in years, -10F
and the ice is about 8-12inch think.

my question is:

the water did freeze up around the airline, I know its still pushing air
under the ice, the air must be escaping somewhere, is this enough to let
the gases out?

The bad news is, my test pond will have to be filled in as I'm selling the
house and will build again when I move.
my current small pond is only a 4 x 3 x 4ft, when I move I want to do
something diffferent then just a hole in the ground, I want shallow water
to see the fish, could I make the pond 18-24inch deep and at one end and
have a hole 4 ft for the winter at the other end and have the water fall
spill into the shallow water?

Joel.


I have been pouring hot water onto the ice around the
airline every morning. The bubbles are still appearing
and there is a open space between the water surface and
the ice. When I pour on the water you can hear the bubbles
escaping. This is on the lower pond - my upper pond is
maintaining an opening with just the air stone.

--
Bonnie
NJ



  #3   Report Post  
Old 29-01-2003, 01:42 AM
RichToyBox
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Joel,

There is no reason the pond can't be shallow around the perimeter and deep
in the center, or as you have suggested deep at the end away from the
waterfall. If you want the shallow water to be able to see the fish, I
would suggest the deepest part in the center of the pond. If the shallow
water, which is needed to see the fish, is near the waterfall, then the
water will be so churned up, that you won't be able to see them. If a
shallow area were at the other end of the pond, and a good feeding spot were
established, then they will come to the shallow water for you to see them.
I would make the shallow water as deep as possible, not less than 2 foot and
nearly straight up sides to help control predators. I prefer to keep the
water returns away from the deepest part of the pond, since I like to have a
bottom drain do most of my recirculation, and if it is too close, then it
results in a lot of stagnant water area outside of the path from waterfall
to bottom drain.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Joel" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
I want shallow water
to see the fish, could I make the pond 18-24inch deep and at one end and
have a hole 4 ft for the winter at the other end and have the water fall
spill into the shallow water?

Joel.



  #4   Report Post  
Old 29-01-2003, 04:03 AM
Gale Pearce
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Hi Joel
This is the first year I have had a problem with my bubbler - it has
been below 20 F for 3 weeks now, mostly ~ 10 F - My ice is ~ 8" thick- pond
is sealing up to the point airpump will not pump air into pond until I make
a hole with spade bit - In the past years, the air would keep a small hole
open , but not this year - It was OK as long as I kept tapping on the thin
ice dome to break it every day, or 2 , but I allowed the ice to get too
thick above airstone (5" - 6") - now I need some warmer temps to get the ice
above the stone thinned down - this won't happen again - I will keep the
thin ice dome from getting too thick again

Gale :~)
P.S. - zone 7 - 35 mi east of Detroit

" This is was a test run for trying to keep a hole open over the winter, I
used bubbles, we are also having one of the coldest winters in years, -10F
and the ice is about 8-12inch think.

my question is:

the water did freeze up around the airline, I know its still pushing air
under the ice, the air must be escaping somewhere, is this enough to let
the gases out?

The bad news is, my test pond will have to be filled in as I'm selling the
house and will build again when I move.
my current small pond is only a 4 x 3 x 4ft, when I move I want to do
something diffferent then just a hole in the ground, I want shallow water
to see the fish, could I make the pond 18-24inch deep and at one end and
have a hole 4 ft for the winter at the other end and have the water fall
spill into the shallow water?

Joel.



  #5   Report Post  
Old 29-01-2003, 05:46 AM
Nedra
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Hi Gale,
The temps where I live have been -5 to -10 F.(wind
chill) almost
all winter long... this is usual stuff for me to deal with.
My only answer is to use a De-Icer as near to the air
stone as possible. Thankfully the De-Icer kept
a large open spot in the ice and snow. The De-Icer is
made by Farm Innovators. I would imagine that you
can get something comparable online... but I don't have the specifics

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
Hi Joel
This is the first year I have had a problem with my bubbler - it has
been below 20 F for 3 weeks now, mostly ~ 10 F - My ice is ~ 8" thick-

pond
is sealing up to the point airpump will not pump air into pond until I

make
a hole with spade bit - In the past years, the air would keep a small hole
open , but not this year - It was OK as long as I kept tapping on the thin
ice dome to break it every day, or 2 , but I allowed the ice to get too
thick above airstone (5" - 6") - now I need some warmer temps to get the

ice
above the stone thinned down - this won't happen again - I will keep the
thin ice dome from getting too thick again

Gale :~)
P.S. - zone 7 - 35 mi east of Detroit

" This is was a test run for trying to keep a hole open over the winter,

I
used bubbles, we are also having one of the coldest winters in

years, -10F
and the ice is about 8-12inch think.

my question is:

the water did freeze up around the airline, I know its still pushing air
under the ice, the air must be escaping somewhere, is this enough to let
the gases out?

The bad news is, my test pond will have to be filled in as I'm selling

the
house and will build again when I move.
my current small pond is only a 4 x 3 x 4ft, when I move I want to do
something diffferent then just a hole in the ground, I want shallow

water
to see the fish, could I make the pond 18-24inch deep and at one end and
have a hole 4 ft for the winter at the other end and have the water fall
spill into the shallow water?

Joel.








  #6   Report Post  
Old 29-01-2003, 05:35 PM
Gale Pearce
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Hi Nedra - I have a 1500 watt stock tank heater in the pond now- it has been
hanging on my garage wall for the last 8 yrs - only used it once 9 yrs ago -
I have been plugging it in for a couple of hours every 2 or 3 days - it is
supposed to be "tropical" by Sun (40F) - will see if I can make some headway
with the ice around the airstone then
Gale :~)

"Nedra" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Hi Gale,
The temps where I live have been -5 to -10 F.(wind
chill) almost
all winter long... this is usual stuff for me to deal with.
My only answer is to use a De-Icer as near to the air
stone as possible. Thankfully the De-Icer kept
a large open spot in the ice and snow. The De-Icer is
made by Farm Innovators. I would imagine that you
can get something comparable online... but I don't have the specifics

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
Hi Joel
This is the first year I have had a problem with my bubbler - it

has
been below 20 F for 3 weeks now, mostly ~ 10 F - My ice is ~ 8" thick-

pond
is sealing up to the point airpump will not pump air into pond until I

make
a hole with spade bit - In the past years, the air would keep a small

hole
open , but not this year - It was OK as long as I kept tapping on the

thin
ice dome to break it every day, or 2 , but I allowed the ice to get too
thick above airstone (5" - 6") - now I need some warmer temps to get the

ice
above the stone thinned down - this won't happen again - I will keep the
thin ice dome from getting too thick again

Gale :~)
P.S. - zone 7 - 35 mi east of Detroit

" This is was a test run for trying to keep a hole open over the

winter,
I
used bubbles, we are also having one of the coldest winters in

years, -10F
and the ice is about 8-12inch think.

my question is:

the water did freeze up around the airline, I know its still pushing

air
under the ice, the air must be escaping somewhere, is this enough to

let
the gases out?

The bad news is, my test pond will have to be filled in as I'm selling

the
house and will build again when I move.
my current small pond is only a 4 x 3 x 4ft, when I move I want to do
something diffferent then just a hole in the ground, I want shallow

water
to see the fish, could I make the pond 18-24inch deep and at one end

and
have a hole 4 ft for the winter at the other end and have the water

fall
spill into the shallow water?

Joel.








  #7   Report Post  
Old 29-01-2003, 09:22 PM
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

for those with real ice over their air stone... they sell little bare metal core
water heaters that clip onto the side of a cup (for making coffee). they will nicely
burn a hole right thru ice in a short period of time. get a hole started with a
spade bit, put in the heater, fill with water and plug it in. put a little salt in
the water too. INgrid
  #8   Report Post  
Old 30-01-2003, 05:40 AM
Gale Pearce
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Hi Ingrid - have you done this? - the reason I ask is I have a block heater
for a car that I can use this way - do you allow the heater to get submerged
as it makes the hole deeper - the block heater has a plug connection on the
element that is grounded - do the cup heaters have this connection as well
? - also I hope it won't heat the water above 165F - don't want my fish
getting burned lips (sorry, couldn't resist :~))
Gale :~)

wrote in message
...
for those with real ice over their air stone... they sell little bare

metal core
water heaters that clip onto the side of a cup (for making coffee). they

will nicely
burn a hole right thru ice in a short period of time. get a hole started

with a
spade bit, put in the heater, fill with water and plug it in. put a

little salt in
the water too. INgrid



  #9   Report Post  
Old 30-01-2003, 11:41 PM
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

I havent had to do it... yet. But I would definitely hang it from something to
prevent it from getting anywhere near the liner. I am not sure if it can be
submerged or not.. I mean if the wires are sealed. I would THINK so I mean who wants
somebody getting zapped by their coffee heater. INgrid

"Gale Pearce" wrote:

Hi Ingrid - have you done this? - the reason I ask is I have a block heater
for a car that I can use this way - do you allow the heater to get submerged
as it makes the hole deeper - the block heater has a plug connection on the
element that is grounded - do the cup heaters have this connection as well
? - also I hope it won't heat the water above 165F - don't want my fish
getting burned lips (sorry, couldn't resist :~))
Gale :~)

wrote in message
...
for those with real ice over their air stone... they sell little bare

metal core
water heaters that clip onto the side of a cup (for making coffee). they

will nicely
burn a hole right thru ice in a short period of time. get a hole started

with a
spade bit, put in the heater, fill with water and plug it in. put a

little salt in
the water too. INgrid



  #10   Report Post  
Old 01-02-2003, 12:46 AM
Essjay001
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada


"Joel" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
This is was a test run for trying to keep a hole open over the winter, I
used bubbles, we are also having one of the coldest winters in years, -10F
and the ice is about 8-12inch think.

And there was I thinking I had a problem with 1/2" of ice!


Steve R


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.435 / Virus Database: 244 - Release Date: 30/12/2002




  #11   Report Post  
Old 05-02-2003, 09:11 PM
Don
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

I suspended one of the water pumps so that it was only a few inches below
the surface and pointing towards the opposite side of the pond. This
creates a river current across the pond reducing freezing. I also have a
floating water heater (1500 watts) as backup but I have not needed to plug
it in.
The important thing is not to remove the warmer water from the bottom area
of the pond or spray water into the air which would super cool the water.
The pond was clear of all ice last weekend after warming weather. We have
had winter storms the last few days and there is a thin layer of ice on part
of the pond now. It has never frozen over completely. The fish seem happy.
Don
Greens Corners, Ontario

"Joel" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
This is was a test run for trying to keep a hole open over the winter, I
used bubbles, we are also having one of the coldest winters in years, -10F
and the ice is about 8-12inch think.

my question is:

the water did freeze up around the airline, I know its still pushing air
under the ice, the air must be escaping somewhere, is this enough to let
the gases out?

The bad news is, my test pond will have to be filled in as I'm selling the
house and will build again when I move.
my current small pond is only a 4 x 3 x 4ft, when I move I want to do
something diffferent then just a hole in the ground, I want shallow water
to see the fish, could I make the pond 18-24inch deep and at one end and
have a hole 4 ft for the winter at the other end and have the water fall
spill into the shallow water?

Joel.



  #12   Report Post  
Old 07-02-2003, 08:11 PM
Jagath Samarabandu
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Don wrote:
The pond was clear of all ice last weekend after warming weather. We have
had winter storms the last few days and there is a thin layer of ice on part
of the pond now. It has never frozen over completely. The fish seem happy.
Don
Greens Corners, Ontario


Picks up the jaw off the floor..

Whaaat.. What green corner of Ontario are you from and how big is your
pond? I'm in London, ON and there is about 8-10" of ice (with about a
foot of snow on top). The warmer wheather didn't even make a dent on the
snow that was on top of ice. Granted, I didn't have the water
circulating. I didn't think moving water would make that big a
difference. Are you sure you don't have the heater on?

There is one gf in the 1200 gal pond. I'm hoping he would survive until
April. Four of them did survive a completely covered 120Gal pond last
winter, but didn't escape the heron.

Jagath
--
Jagath at canada dot com is where I can be reached

  #13   Report Post  
Old 07-02-2003, 11:59 PM
Don
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Hi Jagath,
I am about 1 hour drive east of you, near Simcoe. As a matter of fact I
was in your fair city today attending the woodshow at the fair grounds.
Years ago I would stand straw upright in the pond and that would let the
gases escape and the ice would become very thick but the fish did OK. Every
few weeks I would hook up the garden hose and "drill" through the ice to see
if everything was alright.
This newer pond is for Gold Fish and is shallow, I don't dare let it freeze
like the old one.
I have never measured this pond but it would be about 12 feet long and a
few feet deep. It has a couple of dozen GF. Today the ice has formed over
about half of the pond but is thin enough that the fish can still be seen.
The heater is not plugged in, I double checked.
Don

"Jagath Samarabandu" wrote in message
...
Don wrote:
The pond was clear of all ice last weekend after warming weather. We

have
had winter storms the last few days and there is a thin layer of ice on

part
of the pond now. It has never frozen over completely. The fish seem

happy.
Don
Greens Corners, Ontario


Picks up the jaw off the floor..

Whaaat.. What green corner of Ontario are you from and how big is your
pond? I'm in London, ON and there is about 8-10" of ice (with about a
foot of snow on top). The warmer wheather didn't even make a dent on the
snow that was on top of ice. Granted, I didn't have the water
circulating. I didn't think moving water would make that big a
difference. Are you sure you don't have the heater on?

There is one gf in the 1200 gal pond. I'm hoping he would survive until
April. Four of them did survive a completely covered 120Gal pond last
winter, but didn't escape the heron.

Jagath
--
Jagath at canada dot com is where I can be reached



  #14   Report Post  
Old 11-02-2003, 06:25 PM
Jagath Samarabandu
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada

Don wrote:
Hi Jagath,
I am about 1 hour drive east of you, near Simcoe. As a matter of fact I
was in your fair city today attending the woodshow at the fair grounds.
Years ago I would stand straw upright in the pond and that would let the
gases escape and the ice would become very thick but the fish did OK. Every
few weeks I would hook up the garden hose and "drill" through the ice to see
if everything was alright.
This newer pond is for Gold Fish and is shallow, I don't dare let it freeze
like the old one.
I have never measured this pond but it would be about 12 feet long and a
few feet deep. It has a couple of dozen GF. Today the ice has formed over
about half of the pond but is thin enough that the fish can still be seen.
The heater is not plugged in, I double checked.
Don


Hello Don,

Nice to (virtually) meet you. Haven't been to Simcoe myself. My pond is
also about 2.5 ft deep. I'm planning to build a small dome for next
winter when I'll put more fish in. Will keep the 'water movement' idea
in mind. If you need to get rid of any excess water plants (or gf for
that matter), let me know and I'll drive over.

Jagath
--
Jagath at canada dot com is where I can be reached

  #15   Report Post  
Old 14-02-2003, 11:03 PM
Don
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hole in Ice - Canada



Hello Don,

. If you need to get rid of any excess water plants (or gf for
that matter), let me know and I'll drive over.

Jagath
--
Jagath at canada dot com is where I can be reached


Hi, remind me during the spring as I am sure to forget otherwise. We had a
comfortable amount last year so hopefully there will be some extra coming
along this year. The watercress, iris, arrowhead and a few floating plants,
the names of which escape me at the moment, did the best. The lilies and
lotus where pretty but it would be nice to have more of them. I hope to try
a few new plants as well this summer.
After all the snow we ended up with this week, it is nice to think about the
pond plants we may have this summer.
All the best
Don


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sea Shepherd Announces: Seal Defense Campaign 2008! Sea ShepherdCrew to Shift from the Southern Ice to the Northern Ice [email protected] United Kingdom 1 06-04-2008 09:41 AM
Hole in the ice? Don Cunningham Ponds 11 07-02-2005 03:21 PM
The old hole in the ice issue BenignVanilla Ponds 5 23-11-2003 06:12 PM
Pond Hole Dug!!! Yahoo!!! BenignVanilla Ponds 21 02-04-2003 04:08 PM
Hole in Ice - Canada Joel Ponds (alternative) 12 14-02-2003 11:03 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:44 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 GardenBanter.co.uk.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about Gardening"

 

Copyright © 2017