Won't it just freeze as well? It will be the same temp in the pipe wouldn't it?

Just running a pump near the surface is easy and works fine for me, but I usually leave the filters on again as well.

Yes I suspect the surface of the water in the tube will freeze at the same time as the surface of the pond.
You could sink it for fish/ amphibians to use as hidey holes and protection from herons.

I just pour hot water on the surface of ice in a couple of places till it melts (trying not to boil the weed, fish, and tadpoles swimming beneath!

Thanks, guys. Mine's a wildlife pond without a pump and filter. It's 9ft x 8ft and about 20" deep in the middle. Hopefully it will be deep enough.

I'm just worried because we're meant to be getting a bad winter and I was given some goldfish this year that I didn't have last year. I'll put a ball on there and I shall try hot water (in a pan!!) if it freezes over. Meanwhile I shall put a couple of short lengths in as hidey-holes at the bottom. With any luck the fish will make it through.

Hi,

yeh I always just put a football in there but I also disconect my filter hose from the pump when it has finished for the winter so that alloows lots of movement in the top half of the pond.

Daniel