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#1
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Overwintering a 50 gallon pond in zone 7b
I've read a couple of overwintering guides, but they all focus on bigger ponds. I've got a 50 gallon kidney shaped pre-formed pond that's set into a raised bed about that's about 2ft. high. The pond itself is just a bit less deep than that. Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? |
#2
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Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? Invest in a $35 floating tank heater, thermostatic controlled, instead, and your fish will do fine. |
#3
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Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? Invest in a $35 floating tank heater, thermostatic controlled, instead, and your fish will do fine. |
#4
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You can buy an air pump, attach an air hose to it... and an air stone at the
end. This will keep a hole in any ice that forms and keep aeration going in the pond. Be sure to cover the air pump with a bucket or something similar. Total output of dollars - probably under $15 or 20. You'll save a bundle! Very cheap to operate. Nedra in Missouri zone 6 "SeaRobin" wrote in message ... I've read a couple of overwintering guides, but they all focus on bigger ponds. I've got a 50 gallon kidney shaped pre-formed pond that's set into a raised bed about that's about 2ft. high. The pond itself is just a bit less deep than that. Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? |
#5
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You can buy an air pump, attach an air hose to it... and an air stone at the
end. This will keep a hole in any ice that forms and keep aeration going in the pond. Be sure to cover the air pump with a bucket or something similar. Total output of dollars - probably under $15 or 20. You'll save a bundle! Very cheap to operate. Nedra in Missouri zone 6 "SeaRobin" wrote in message ... I've read a couple of overwintering guides, but they all focus on bigger ponds. I've got a 50 gallon kidney shaped pre-formed pond that's set into a raised bed about that's about 2ft. high. The pond itself is just a bit less deep than that. Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? |
#6
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Granny Grump wrote: Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? Invest in a $35 floating tank heater, thermostatic controlled, instead, and your fish will do fine. Thanks, just brings up a couple more newbie questions- All the floating products I found on the web specify they are "not heaters", but thermostatically controlled de-icers. I take it they all just bump up the temp of the water to just above freezing point in their immediate vicinity? Thermopond 100 watts up to 1000 gallon Laguna 200 watts up to 3000 gallon Farm Innovator Deicer 1250 watts up to 5000 gallons I also noticed the least wattage will cost the most, initially that is. Is this what I need, or should I use an actual heater since my pond is a bit less than 2 feet deep and the bottom layer of water won't be very much warmer than the top layer of water? SeaRobin Alabama, zone 7b |
#7
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Granny Grump wrote: Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? Invest in a $35 floating tank heater, thermostatic controlled, instead, and your fish will do fine. Thanks, just brings up a couple more newbie questions- All the floating products I found on the web specify they are "not heaters", but thermostatically controlled de-icers. I take it they all just bump up the temp of the water to just above freezing point in their immediate vicinity? Thermopond 100 watts up to 1000 gallon Laguna 200 watts up to 3000 gallon Farm Innovator Deicer 1250 watts up to 5000 gallons I also noticed the least wattage will cost the most, initially that is. Is this what I need, or should I use an actual heater since my pond is a bit less than 2 feet deep and the bottom layer of water won't be very much warmer than the top layer of water? SeaRobin Alabama, zone 7b |
#8
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Nedra wrote: You can buy an air pump, attach an air hose to it... and an air stone at the end. This will keep a hole in any ice that forms and keep aeration going in the pond. Be sure to cover the air pump with a bucket or something similar. Total output of dollars - probably under $15 or 20. You'll save a bundle! Very cheap to operate. Nedra in Missouri zone 6 So, you're saying if I can just keep the water from freezing over, it won't matter how cold the water will get, the fish should survive? SeaRobin Alabama, zone 7b "SeaRobin" wrote in message ... I've read a couple of overwintering guides, but they all focus on bigger ponds. I've got a 50 gallon kidney shaped pre-formed pond that's set into a raised bed about that's about 2ft. high. The pond itself is just a bit less deep than that. Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? |
#9
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Nedra wrote: You can buy an air pump, attach an air hose to it... and an air stone at the end. This will keep a hole in any ice that forms and keep aeration going in the pond. Be sure to cover the air pump with a bucket or something similar. Total output of dollars - probably under $15 or 20. You'll save a bundle! Very cheap to operate. Nedra in Missouri zone 6 So, you're saying if I can just keep the water from freezing over, it won't matter how cold the water will get, the fish should survive? SeaRobin Alabama, zone 7b "SeaRobin" wrote in message ... I've read a couple of overwintering guides, but they all focus on bigger ponds. I've got a 50 gallon kidney shaped pre-formed pond that's set into a raised bed about that's about 2ft. high. The pond itself is just a bit less deep than that. Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? |
#10
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I'm in Memphis and our temps are just a bit colder than yours, although we
too are supposedly in zone 7, give or take. With a 1000 gallon pond, an air bubbler hasn't been enough usually to keep the water from freezing over completely once or twice during the season. But not thick ice! And if your goldfish are smaller, they may not make it through the winter. I use a thermostatically controlled heater, like a trough heater, at the bottom about 2' down, just to keep the water above the freezing point. Even then ice will form in areas away from the heater. I didn't lose any fish last winter. A 50 gallon pond that's in a raised bed, though, is subject to freezing more easily than a larger, in-ground pond. You might be OK with just the air bubbler, but a heater just to keep the water from freezing would certainly provide better protection for the fish. Tim C. "SeaRobin" wrote in message .. . Nedra wrote: You can buy an air pump, attach an air hose to it... and an air stone at the end. This will keep a hole in any ice that forms and keep aeration going in the pond. Be sure to cover the air pump with a bucket or something similar. Total output of dollars - probably under $15 or 20. You'll save a bundle! Very cheap to operate. Nedra in Missouri zone 6 So, you're saying if I can just keep the water from freezing over, it won't matter how cold the water will get, the fish should survive? SeaRobin Alabama, zone 7b "SeaRobin" wrote in message ... I've read a couple of overwintering guides, but they all focus on bigger ponds. I've got a 50 gallon kidney shaped pre-formed pond that's set into a raised bed about that's about 2ft. high. The pond itself is just a bit less deep than that. Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? |
#11
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I'm in Memphis and our temps are just a bit colder than yours, although we
too are supposedly in zone 7, give or take. With a 1000 gallon pond, an air bubbler hasn't been enough usually to keep the water from freezing over completely once or twice during the season. But not thick ice! And if your goldfish are smaller, they may not make it through the winter. I use a thermostatically controlled heater, like a trough heater, at the bottom about 2' down, just to keep the water above the freezing point. Even then ice will form in areas away from the heater. I didn't lose any fish last winter. A 50 gallon pond that's in a raised bed, though, is subject to freezing more easily than a larger, in-ground pond. You might be OK with just the air bubbler, but a heater just to keep the water from freezing would certainly provide better protection for the fish. Tim C. "SeaRobin" wrote in message .. . Nedra wrote: You can buy an air pump, attach an air hose to it... and an air stone at the end. This will keep a hole in any ice that forms and keep aeration going in the pond. Be sure to cover the air pump with a bucket or something similar. Total output of dollars - probably under $15 or 20. You'll save a bundle! Very cheap to operate. Nedra in Missouri zone 6 So, you're saying if I can just keep the water from freezing over, it won't matter how cold the water will get, the fish should survive? SeaRobin Alabama, zone 7b "SeaRobin" wrote in message ... I've read a couple of overwintering guides, but they all focus on bigger ponds. I've got a 50 gallon kidney shaped pre-formed pond that's set into a raised bed about that's about 2ft. high. The pond itself is just a bit less deep than that. Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? |
#12
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SeaRobin wrote So, you're saying if I can just keep the water from freezing
over, it won't matter how cold the water will get, the fish should survive? I live in a zone 7 area and I use an air pump and bubbler. Keeping a hole open in the ice is what you want to do in the winter. Our ponds are pretty fish heavy compared to Mother Nature's ponds. The hole in the ice allows gasses from decomposing matter to exit the pond. The fish will do fine at low water temperatures. Their metabolism slows way down and they just kind of hang out. They don't need to be fed until the water temp. reaches about 55 degrees and is going to stay there sometime in the spring. I bet springtime in Alabama is something to see! kathy :-) 3000 gallon pond 800 gallon frog bog home of the watergardening labradors zone 7 SE WA state |
#13
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SeaRobin wrote So, you're saying if I can just keep the water from freezing
over, it won't matter how cold the water will get, the fish should survive? I live in a zone 7 area and I use an air pump and bubbler. Keeping a hole open in the ice is what you want to do in the winter. Our ponds are pretty fish heavy compared to Mother Nature's ponds. The hole in the ice allows gasses from decomposing matter to exit the pond. The fish will do fine at low water temperatures. Their metabolism slows way down and they just kind of hang out. They don't need to be fed until the water temp. reaches about 55 degrees and is going to stay there sometime in the spring. I bet springtime in Alabama is something to see! kathy :-) 3000 gallon pond 800 gallon frog bog home of the watergardening labradors zone 7 SE WA state |
#14
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"Granny Grump" wrote in message ... Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? Invest in a $35 floating tank heater, thermostatic controlled, instead, and your fish will do fine. Anyone in zone 7 that buys a pond heater/ deicer is wasting their money. (IMHO) I live in zone 5 maybe 4b (Northern Colorado) and have about a 100 gallon pond. I only have goldfish in it, and use an aquarium air pump and stone in the water to allow for there to be an air hole in the ice. It works fine. The ice on the pond has gotten maybe 3 or 4 inches thick, but there has always been air escaping somehow from the pond. It is often an open area, but when the temps go below 0F for a few days, the air escapes through some volcano looking buildups. Even when they close up, the air escapes around the edges. I also scoop out any leaves that might have sunk to the bottom, so that decaying material is minimized some. Applying watts to the solution is expensive, and the fish don't care if it is 33F or 40F. I have not lost any fish during the winter months yet. Jerry |
#15
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"Granny Grump" wrote in message ... Can I keep a couple of regular goldfish in there with winter temps typically at 45-50 F during the day and about 30 F at night? Of course, we can get temps in the teens and twenties on the odd winter day, but it wouldn't last long. I have a pump running a bubble fountain that I plan to remove the fountain head from to make a fatter stream of water just gurgling up from the pond to make it less freeze prone. Do you think the fish will survive in such a shallow pond, or should I go invest in an aquarium and bring them in? Invest in a $35 floating tank heater, thermostatic controlled, instead, and your fish will do fine. Anyone in zone 7 that buys a pond heater/ deicer is wasting their money. (IMHO) I live in zone 5 maybe 4b (Northern Colorado) and have about a 100 gallon pond. I only have goldfish in it, and use an aquarium air pump and stone in the water to allow for there to be an air hole in the ice. It works fine. The ice on the pond has gotten maybe 3 or 4 inches thick, but there has always been air escaping somehow from the pond. It is often an open area, but when the temps go below 0F for a few days, the air escapes through some volcano looking buildups. Even when they close up, the air escapes around the edges. I also scoop out any leaves that might have sunk to the bottom, so that decaying material is minimized some. Applying watts to the solution is expensive, and the fish don't care if it is 33F or 40F. I have not lost any fish during the winter months yet. Jerry |
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