First time winterizing

[Marie]

Have a new 1000 gallon pond. Live in NE Ohio. Deepest part of pond is about 4 feet. Thinking about getting a pond deicer and that's it. Will that be enough with our harsh winters we have here?

 

[sissy]

That is all most use or they use pond breathers but the cost of the is more expensive it is offset by energy savings .Colleen in Canada uses pond heaters and I have a 250 watt one but last year only used it 2 times .

 

[mgmine]

I use a pond air stone and unless things really get buried under snow and you are not around to remove the snow then this will work for you. The advantage is that tyhey don't use much electricity and add air to the water. How many fish do you have?

 

[MitchM]

In a harsh winter, even a 1500 watt heater will freeze over.
Use a pond breather.

 

[Marie]

I use a pond air stone and unless things really get buried under snow and you are not around to remove the snow then this will work for you. The advantage is that tyhey don't use much electricity and add air to the water. How many fish do you have?

 

[Marie]

Have 11 koi varying sizes. Three 5" shubunkins and about 20 baby shubunkins born in the pond in July.

 

[Mmathis]

Have 11 koi varying sizes. Three 5" shubunkins and about 20 baby shubunkins born in the pond in July.

Ooh, that's a lot of fish for 1000 gallons, and those babies (the koi as well as the Shubies) are going to grow. Have you considered re-homing some? Winter can be a stressful time for fish as it is.

No personal experience with pond ice where I live, but have heard lots of positive feedback regarding the pond breather. Basically, all you want to accomplish is to keep a hole open on the surface of the water -- this allows for gas exchange between water and outside air. So use of a heater (check energy used), pond breather, air stone.....or a combination.....? I already keep an airstone a few inches below the surface during winter -- just in case (suspended with sections of pool noodle), but I'd be willing to try a pond breather if it ever came to that.

 

[Tula]

I use a combination of things. I have air stones suspended into water about 10 inches. Directly about some of the airstones, I have secured a pond de-icer. I've also secured a Pond Breather in the deeper area of my pond. I won't plug in the de-icer and Pond Breather, till the weather is colder.

 

[The PondFather]

I agree with more than one means to keep a hole in the ice like Tula in Ohio suggested. AND...don't forget circulation. A hole alone is critical, BUT the pond water should circulate gently to move some water past the hole. Better safe than sorry. The fish will come to hole to breathe air if the water's not circulating enough to spread the oxygen out. I speak from experience from my Illinois pond. (and used to live in Ashtabula, OH. so I understand your winters). Also by using two means of keeping a hole in the ice, such as a small heater and an air bubbler, when one fails this year or some later year, the second "hole-maker" will still be functioning so your fish get the oxygen they need.

 

[Smaug]

Have a new 1000 gallon pond. Live in NE Ohio. Deepest part of pond is about 4 feet. Thinking about getting a pond deicer and that's it. Will that be enough with our harsh winters we have here?

This past winter my pump died at the worse moment and the pond froze solid for a few days. After I got a hole open with boiling water I bought a hole heater and used that. Later that winter I started using a small air bubbler with no stone and that worked so well I stopped using the heater. Last winter was terrible for long running cold and I plan to do the same thing this year. In the past I always just left my skimmer pump run but now I see a small cheap bubbler is fine.

 

[MitchM]

In milder climates, an air bubbler can be sufficient.

 

[Smaug]

In milder climates, an air bubbler can be sufficient.

Mild compared to Alberta for sure! Still it was sufficient with temps below 20f for weeks.

 

[MitchM]

I'm very cautious about recommending using an air bubbler though. Moisture can build up in the air lines and freeze.

 

[Lisak1]

We are in the Chicago area - so similar climate. The de-icer worked until it gets buried in snow and then the whole thing was a moot point. We now keep our pond running all year and don't worry about keeping a hole open.

As a side note: Your fish load is high - you need to consider reducing your numbers. Your fish may be fine now, but that many fish will not thrive in that size pond for long. I know you didn't ask directly, but this is a factor that will definitely affect your fish and their ability to survive a long, harsh winter.

 

[Dave 54]

Marie I put together a list of too-do's in an article I did about prepping your pond for winter :-

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/articles/prepping-your-pond-for-the-winter.29/

Feel free to use it it'll help get your koi and shubunkins through the winter months by the way what do you keep Bristol or London Shubunkins ?
Yes there is a difference


Dave