1st winter survivors

15 years ago

Well it's going to be sunny and 40 today and I'm on my last cup of coffee before ging out to move out the remnants of the last snowfall in the driveway before the 6+" predicted for tomorrow night here in SE MN. The milder temps have produced more open water and 2 rosey reds and one of my comets decided to come up from the depths for a look around. they're moving kind of slow and sluggishly but then that water has to be COOOOLD. Anyhow, I'm excited to see any action at all as this was my first winter and I didn't really know how the 'livestock' would do. I expect our more southerly members are seeing more activity but how about you other northern ponders?

Will

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Comments (8)

koijoyii
15 years ago
Hi Will:

I have a large hole in the ice covering my pond from the bubbler. It has been above 32Â° for a while now so the hole is getting bigger every day. We had 50Â° a few days where the ice melted completely, but I can't see my fish for the algae :( I am planning on buying a few bunches of watercress at the grocery store this weekend. Hopefully I can jump start it in my sunroom before the weather warms up. Someone here on the forum said their watercress made it through the winter so I'm just going to toss some in and see what happens. Maybe it'll take off before the fish wake up and I will have watercress in my pond this year. lol

Jenny
evesta
15 years ago
Not as north as you but I hadn't seen much of my fish from November to February because of ice and snow. We have been blessed with a few warm days here and there and the pond has been ice free again for a few days. All my fish made it, even the babies! It was almost 70 yesterday and they were actually swimming around fairly normally.

This is my first winter/spring with my fish so wasn't sure what to expect. My water is clear, I can see the bottom but noticed string algae starting to move in. Can't wait to do my first flush with the bottom drain and get everything going again! Good to hear the fish even farther north are waking up too:)
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John, there was no intention on my part, of dismissing the use of an air-stone and air pump or to diminish the effect it has on venting a pond in winter. I was addressing your statement. "I think an air pump will do a better job at maintaining a hole in surface ice then the 300 gph pump". I believe that, either method, properly installed in the pond, would do the job equally well. But a blast of water from a 300 GPH pump bubbling/rippling across the surface, at a sharp angle, is bound to, in my humble opinion, have more effect on opening up the surface, [area of water movement] than a stream of air bubbles, drifting straight up to the surface, from a small aquarium type pump. But it is not the size of the vent hole that is all important. It is the efficient rate of gas exchange, that is what we are after, in venting a pond in winter. Water can only hold so much oxygen before it becomes saturated. David [DRH]one of the contributors to the article in the FAQ, has been using the air pump bubbler for many years with great results, just as you have by your account. But when the winter really sets in, in David's State of Vermont, the hole created by his bubbler, is by no means three feet in area. The aquarium type air bubbler he uses, is however, still doing the job, as the bubbles carry a large volume of oxygen and as they go, take other gasses to the surface. I guess it is all in what works best in a particular situation. Courses for horses! I would, in all probability use an air pump and air-stone in my own pond, if in the future, I decided to let my bottom drain plumbing and sump freeze up. But I don't want to do that at present time, so I pay the extra cost and opt to run a 500 GPH water pump all winter. Your point on the efficiency of using an air pump and air-stone bubbler, is certainly not in question by myself. Take care, "Horton"
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aquawise
15 years ago
I live in zone 4 and I pulled the covers off of all three of my pond last weekend. WOW they looked great and all the fish made it ok. I have found that a good Vacuum, A good air supply and a cover before the leaves fall changes everything come spring. There is no gunk buildup on the bottom water is as clear as it comes out of the tap. Fish look great and fat, soooooo cool I do not have to spring clean anything, just get the filters up and running, UV lights hooked in and then there will be no green water as the water warms and the algae gets going. YES!
sheepco
15 years ago
Hi Will,

My waters a bit murky, but at least 5 of my big fish are alive and well and one of my grey baby fish has been turning orange over the winter. It now has orange sides and a grey/black back.
The lilies are sending up their first leaves, still 4" below the surface.
1/2 of my pond is still covered, but I have a 1' x 2.5' area of open water.

At least the 4-8" of snow they're predicting for us tomorrow will melt soon!

Sarah
annedickinson
15 years ago
I still have 2' to 3' of snow over the pond so I don't know the results. The fish have weathered the elements for the past 4 winters, so, unless they died of old age, they should be okay once we get some snow thaw.

Anne
johnkr
15 years ago
My pond ice has been thawing during the day and freezing back up at night. Snow is in the forecast for Sunday and next weeks low temps will be in the teens.

My fish are at the bottom of the pond where the water temperature is a little warmer then the upper levels. They won't venture towards the top until the water warms up. I think I would start looking for problems if I did see them near the top at this time of the year.
groundbeef1
15 years ago
My pond is clear. Water is clean, and fish are swimming about. Air temp hit 60F on Wed. Mr. Green Frog popped his head out for the 3rd time this year.

Promptly went back under as air temps have settled into the 25-35F range.

Spring is trying to get here, but that stupid groundhog screwed it all up.
pezabelle
15 years ago
Here in Western WA., we are still in the grasp of winter. It is warming up and my iris and water Hawthorne are showing signs of green. Not sure if any of the fish made it this year, but they have in the past. It will be weeks yet before they make their first appearance for this season. We built a small dock over an old water tank cover so that the fish can swim under and come up under the cover for protection from cranes and other fish eaters, so we don't see them until spring.

Belle

1st winter survivors

Comments (8)

koijoyii

evesta

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