Another winter liner question

[dutchman]

Last year I started with one of those plastic preformed liners. Now that I'm hooked, we removed that and dug a way bigger hole and added a liner. My concern is what to do with the liner this winter.
The fish spend the winter in the garage.
Being only 2 ft deep, the pond would freeze solid before November.
Do I just leave the way it is and let winter do it's thing?
Do I leave the pond half full and let it freeze?
Or should I drain it completely?
Does ice damage the liner?
Regardless of the water content I was planning to cover the area with plywood or something.
Any advise is welcome.......thx

 

[addy1]

i am new to the cold also, from what i have read, let it freeze, without fish you don't have to worry about air holes etc. If you are covering it, you could drain it and have it empty for the winter.

do you have plants?

 

[dutchman]

There are a few plants that are thrown in with the fish, but mostly they are just floaters that i replace every year.
The outside pond if left full, would be a 8' x 10' x 2' thick piece of ice. Since ice expands I assume it would damage the liner. The molded plastic pond we had last winter was drained and covered, but by spring it had heaved up out of the ground cause water got underneath. With the current pond, it was set up way better so water shouldn't get underneath the liner.
Biggest question, do I drain the pond for winter. Remember it gets down to -40 here.

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

Jeez, I'd drain the pond. That's f-f-freakin' c-c-cold!

 

[addy1]

That cold i would probably drain the pond also, start fresh in the spring.

 

[digginponds]

You can leave the water in it,add a small pump to keep the water moving.....Moving water can't freeze.
Plastic liner's do tend to freeze& crack though.........

I say drain it or add a pump

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

What? Dude, you've never seen a river freeze? -40 will freeze a 2' pond solid, no matter if it's doing the cha cha.

 

[digginponds]

What? Dude, you've never seen a river freeze? -40 will freeze a 2' pond solid, no matter if it's doing the cha cha.

if a heater is added,then it could work.but prolly a waste of time. If you want it bad enough ,a pond lover will go to extremes,trust me I have.....................................................................

.Oh a no Im not a idiot,why would I be near any river at the temps that was stated....................jeez,

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

Ah, well, maybe to ice skate? Might be fun.

Heck, I just finally learned to roller skate - at 37. I guess anything is possible.

 

[addy1]

Ah, well, maybe to ice skate? Might be fun.

Heck, I just finally learned to roller skate - at 37. I guess anything is possible.

Ice skated on the Potomac once (Washington DC area) , when it froze, long time ago. The cracking of the ice under my feet made me get right back off. You fall through you are dead.
My dad used to spray the snow with water in the back yard (back when it was colder here) we kids ice skated around the dog wood all winter.

 

[DrCase]

Hockey in the back yard
That brings back my Chicago days

 

[350mike]

I live in Prince George BC where we experience very similar winter weather. My pond is 8 x 12 x 3 with a 45 mil EDPM liner. I'm guessing your liner is the same. I move the fish insde using the water from the pond. Then, I refill the pond with water from the hose, sink the plants to the bottom, empty the pump pipes and wait patiently for Spring. My pond does not freeze solid. It has never frozen more than 14 - 16 inches. The snow on top insulates the pond and the ground temperature seems to keep the bottom water open. I don't know if one foot of water will make the difference or not when freezing solid, but I would not recommend draining it. One year I drained my skimmer which is outside of the pond, and it lifted in the Spring. Since then, I keep the water in it, it freezes solid and the skimmer has not moved since. If you are really worried throw in 5 - 10 4L plastic milk cartons to take up the expansion of the ice when it freezes. We used to this on our above ground swimming pool that was 4' deep and about 20' in diameter, when I was a kid. The reason I don't recommend draining your pond is because chances are that when the frost comes out of the ground in the Spring, the ground may cave it in. This year will be our 10th winter with this pond and we have never had a problem.
Cheers!
Mike

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

Awesome! I have learned something interesting today. See, you can't trust us silly zone 7 people to know a damn thing about real cold. Appreciate the knowledgeable post, Mike.

I still think 2' of water will freeze solid at -40, but you've given a great workaround for that.

 

[Sunshine]

I still think 2' of water will freeze solid at -40

Ha Ha Ya think ?? I was always told that moving water would not freeze. This pic was sent via emails ... Makes me cold just looking at it. Would of been cool to see it tho

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

Wouldn't it be craptastic to slip on the ice there?