skip to main content

Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Natural ponds with fish vrs man made pond with fish freezing over

16 years ago

Newbie with some "dumb" questions.

I read a lot on here about deicers and keeping a hole in the ice for the fish. In and around where I live there are many natural ponds with fish that freeze over in the winter. Why do those fish survive the winter with out a hole in the ice? Is it because the ponds are so big? just how big does a pond need to be to not need a hole in the ice? Some of them may be considered Lakes but some are less than 1/4 acer and someone has "stocked" it with fish. How big does it need to be to be considered a lake? maybe they are all lakes.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

ccoombs1
16 years ago
It's mainly due to the stocking rate, not the size. Natural lakes are many thousands or millions of gallons of water. There might be one fish per 5,000 or 10,000 gallons. In a liner pond, most people seem to like stocking at the rate of 1 fish per 100 gallons, or even worse. And even though a lake is frozen on the top, there is still a constant exchange of water going on below the surface....water flowing in from underground sources, water seeping or flowing out. The dynamics of a natural pond is totally different from a liner pond and can never be duplicated no matter how hard we try, so we just have to do what is necessary to make it a healthy environment for our fish in spite of the differences.
mucky_waters
16 years ago
It's all about oxygen levels and fish loads.
Fish do sometimes die in some pretty large lakes, and often will survive just fine in small backyard ponds that are covered in ice all winter.
As long as they have enough oxygen to breath they can often survive without a hole in the ice. Lots of people make the mistake of thinking these holes we try to keep in our ponds are just about letting "toxic gasses out", and that's really a misnomer. It' all about gas exchange, bad gasses (CO2, H2S, etc...) out, and oxygen (O2) in.
If you have a small pond and a very light fish load, maybe one or two fish, then you, or rather, the fish might get away without a hole in the ice, because they might have enough dissolved oxygen in the water that they'll be able to survive any freezing period. The more you increase your fish load, the less chance they have of surviving as the oxygen demands will go up and there just wont be enough oxygen to go around.
Here is a link that explains winter fish kill better than I can.
Related Discussions
uh oh..white moldy stuff in pond? dead fish...
Q
Comments (27)
well...I went out to the pond today as most of the ice has melted. Unfortunately, every critter that was unaccounted for is dead except 2 frogs I havent found yet. I'm sure they are dead somewhere. I am def investing in a net this year. So much crap found its way into the pond..turns out the white stuff was a piece of newspaper, a piece of burger wrapper, and what looked like a wet napkin. I'm pretty ticked..none of it was from me..was all stuff from litterbugs. There is also a plastic bag stuck way up in a tree where I cant reach it. The house next door has been vacant, and I suppose some of the crap came from over there. So much litter is in that yard, plus their garbage cans blew over awhile back into the backyard..guess they didnt take that last haul out b4 they moved. I hope there arent any bags in my pond!!! God, people really p!ss me off. Someone threw an empty vodka bottle in my driveway the other day..what is wrong with people??? I need to move out into the middle of nowhere so I dont have to deal with this anymore. Sorry about the rambling..guess I needed to vent. BUT white stuff mystery solved. No fish living. I have decided to empty & clean the whole thing come warmer weather, and start all over again. Maybe I will take some algae mixed with wet leaves from the pond, make balls out of it and whip it at people as they litter by my house..right at their heads..that could be fun. I could wear camo and hide in the bushes, lmao. Sorry to hear about the fires..kinda odd it happened twice. But I'm not gonna get involved in all that lol.
...See More
Dead fish in natural pond
Q
Comments (6)
Letta, I'm not surprised that you had a fish kill in your pond, given the type of winter we've had here in Michigan. It happens, quite often. We've had deep snow cover and weeks of cold, all making for thick ice over the pond that cuts off oxygen. Did you have some type of aerator going this winter? If not, in future years you should consider it. Otherwise, you'll just have to assess the situation and move on. If it's not a total fish kill, the populations will recover, and, in fact, perhaps a thinning out of the population may be good for the survivors. If it's a total kill, you will have to restock if it's not a naturally occuring population with some sort of access from other bodies of water.
...See More
Lost 4 fish in my pond
Q
Comments (38)
These stories have made me sad but very much aware of the danger from the birds. My hubby built and now we are beginning to enjoy the pond in the back yard. I was fearful of placing fish due to the fact that we live on a lake and the pond is in the back. I have seen the herons here on the lake side dive off the dock into 5-8 ft of water and jump back onto the dock with a fish in his mouth. They do eat rather large fish, mostly brim or the shad. We bought 12 goldfish at the baitshop just to see how nature would react, and so far, about one month, we still have the fish. Pond is about 18" deep and we used a cement block with two holes to hold the pump and the first set of plants. We plan to add lots of plants before we spend money for fish. I am very amazed at myself for how attached I have become to fish I usually would have used to catch bigger fish for eating. So wish me luck with trying to have nature on both sides of the house!
...See More
Totally OT: A blue heron & my fish ponds
Q
Comments (15)
Jenn, My weekend television (and as far as I know, my backyard) was "alien" free! LOL Judith, Glad you're feeling up to posting a little. Sorry to hear you've probably decided to not build a pond. Right now since it's below freezing I dread going out to do any work on my ponds, but come warmer weather I'll sure enjoy the benefits. Gagesgranny, Some type of cover is the best way to protect the babies. I have used the black plastic bird & deer netting in the past, but only in the winter to stop leaves. Looks like it will be become a more permanant fixture around here. Sue, I don't understand the banning of koi and not goldfish in a lot of places as I thought one was as potentially as much a hazard as the other, but I'm no expert either. I read about the koi being seized from a restaurant and was also happy to read they had been given back to the owner. My goldfish are just as special to me as my koi are so both are fun to have.
...See More
horton
16 years ago
Good information MW. That is an excellent article from Ohio State.
"Horton"
johnkr
16 years ago
Most natural ponds and lakes are supported by a fresh water supply. They usually have a stream or spring supplying fresh water, so they are constantly getting a water change and an influx of oxygen.
watershed
16 years ago
AND, most people don't brag/complain/notice when they have winter fish kills. Mother nature fixes a lot of probs, and racoons will destroy the evidence.

Plus most natural ponds people will not notice if Freddie the Fish is gone.

Greg
sleeplessinftwayne
16 years ago
I don't know if any of you have noticed that in a natural body of water or a pond with rocks along the edges, there is usually a narrow band of open water on the sunward side of those rocks. It can be only a hair wide and it will still do the job. Sandy

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING How to Make a Pond

By Mitchell Parker

You can make an outdoor fish paradise of your own, for less than you might think. But you'll need this expert design wisdom

DECORATING GUIDES Designing Nemo: 30 Fish Tanks Make a Decorative Splash

By Mitchell Parker

Bring an otherworldly glow and a calming vibe to your home with the living art of an aquarium

GREEN BUILDING The Big Freeze: Inventors Break New Ground to Keep Things Cool

By Olivia Strigari

Old-fashioned fridges can be energy guzzlers, but there are more eco-friendly ways of keeping food fresh, as these global innovations show

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Rustic Cabin With Dive-In Pond

By Becky Harris

Set on 22 acres and with as many modern comforts as rugged trails, this Montana home is an outdoor lover's paradise

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Natural Swimming Pools: More Beauty, No Chemicals

By Falon Mihalic

Keep your skin and the environment healthy with a pool that cleans itself, naturally

ARCHITECTURE It Takes a Village: 2 Homes Made of Multiple Structures

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Separate buildings join in style and intention in these home bases, showing that sometimes more is just right

VACATION HOMES 5 Homes Made for Après-Ski Indulgence

By Becky Harris

Strenuous days on the slopes require a warm and pampering retreat to return to, and these homes' amenities hit the spot

TINY HOUSES Houzz Tour: A Custom-Made Tiny House for Skiing and Hiking

By Mitchell Parker

Ethan Waldman quit his job, left his large house and spent $42,000 to build a 200-square-foot home that costs him $100 a month to live in

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Why Is There a Bathtub in the Backyard?

By Becky Harris

Nope, it's not waiting for bulk trash pickup. These days outdoor tubs are serving soakers, beer drinkers and even the fishes

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Koi Find Friendly Shores in Any Garden Style

By Marianne Lipanovich

A pond full of colorful koi can be a delightful addition to just about any landscape or garden

Sponsored

More Discussions

Leak in my small inground prefab watergarden...?

1

pothos with yellow leaves

7

Stock tank cracked, New tank has brass drain

1

Growing impatiens in water

1