Need Advice for Wintering Fish
bsquared18
8 years ago
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Debbie Downer
8 years agobsquared18
8 years agoRelated Discussions
My fish made it...Now need advice
Comments (4)Most stock tank floating de-icers have a thermostat that will shut the device down when the water temperature is above freezing. You should read the instructions to see if your device has this feature. If it does, the water might not be so warm. I would get a thermometer and test the pond water at different depths. Water reacts to temperature changes much slower then air. If your pond has a decent volume, it will react slowly to a decrease in air temperature and give your fish time to react to the change. My air temperature was near 50F on Friday, but it was -8F on Sunday morning. I doubt the water changed a single degree at the bottom of the pond. I think some warmer temperatures are coming (for the ground hog) next week. That might be a good time to shut down the stock tank heater and let the pond adjust. My air pump bubbler failed at -12F, but has maintained a hole during higher sub zero temperatures. I used a stock tank heater to melt a hole after the -12F, but have not needed it since. Best of luck....See MoreWe lost a lot of fish - need advice
Comments (15)Ccoombs1 is correct about ProformC to some extent in that below 60 it will go to the bottom of the pond and the level becomes too high and poison the fish but if the bottom and top water is being mixed all the time it is not a problem. Volume for the ProformC needs to be somewhat close with in about 10%. The prazi can be off even more and demilin can off even further. You have far more leeway with these than other treatments. I don't think that it is HS or CO2 from decaying matter as not all the fish died at one time which is what I would expect with either of those. It would be possible that the levels could maintain right at the level to start to affect fish for a period of time but if that was the case than when winter hit and the pond froze over the levels should have increased to the point to kill all the fish. But it could be one of those poisons but not very likely. If I had to guess I would believe costia only because of the effects in cold water but it could another parasite that has weaken the fish to the point that the winter is finishing them off. Mike...See MoreFish Babies and Winter - What to do?
Comments (9)Pete.... Nancy is in New york....temps there in the winter are much harsher than in tennessee. Nancy, how deep is your pond? Some people in your climate do leave fish out and some do survive....but the younger they are, the harder it will be for them. If the pond freezes over, they may all die though. A vent hole must be kept open in the in the ice or toxic gasses will build up under the ice and could kill off everything. In nature, fish do much better because the water generally does not get as cold as our garden pond get. A lake or river had deep warmer veins of current flowing under the ice where fish can can stay warmer. In a liner pond, the temperature is pretty much the same from top to bottom, and that temperature can be way too cold for koi to survive. If you want to keep these fish alive through the winter, you probably should plan on bringing them inside....See MoreFish ponds in winter -- what needs to be done
Comments (16)If you're keeping Goldfish and their comets ie cold water fish and you practice good hygiene in your pond bringing them in for the winter at house temperature is doing them no service... Unless you have orando ect, which are sensitive to the cold.. Why not research a little... These fish are in most homes in Japan with no filters ect.. Rain and plant balance equal a happy pond... And if living in a hot climate placing a pond in a shaded spot that gets good wind is ideal... Too many people rush into putting fish in their ponds and don't understand what they are doing.. there are no filters in mother nature... Karp, Koi, Goldfish.. They are in the right pond as tough as boots.. Have only lost fish because 3 newbies got snatched by a cat.. My pond in 4/5 feet deep and 16 feet long it is beached with pebbles and stones dug out of my garden at one side to allow a planting shelf and to allow wildlife in and out... I fed my fish at the start for 1 month then I left them to eat what mother nature provides in the wild... I have an excellent overflow its a simple pipe that when it rains it flows into it... Nylons filter the waste >> I allow the levels to drop by using the water In the pond to drop 1 foot to water my veg garden in early spring and let the rain fill it up again and from water butts .. My pond is only in its 3rd year and my fish reproduced in April there are over 100 little fry... I have 3 pleos BOTTOM FEEDERS that I JUST added to control algae.. I fish out leaves and debris as I see it... And pull out any excess algae by hand... It Looks awful sterile here as we had just started the garden but this is the general size.. The sticks are to stop the dogs digging.. It has grown great this year.. Have lilies, Siberian iris, bog plants and plants that add oxygen to the water.. I think too many people complicate ponds.. Replicate what mother nature intended and you'll be grand.. I have clay pockets and caves made for my fish to hibernate strewn across the pond......See MoreDebbie Downer
8 years agobsquared18
8 years agosusanjf_gw
8 years agoDebbie Downer
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agopurslanegarden
8 years agosquirelette
8 years agolmjk1221
8 years agobsquared18
8 years ago
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