My pond runs all winter, zone 2/3

[j.w]

Good pix Colleen and yes if you can find out the name of the pre-filter that would be great! Boy they aren't cheap are they? One might be able to make one themselves :razz:

 

[callingcolleen1]

Yes some people can devise something similar if they are handy, but if I get the name we might get it cheaper online too, cause pet store all ways more.

 

[callingcolleen1]

And a good pre-filter before the pump will save lots of wear and tear on a pump and you will get more life out of pump too.

 

[j.w]

Yep right now I have my pump sitting in the middle of a big blk plant bucket surrounded by filter media so it's a similar set up but yours would be much easier to clean and more light weight to lift out of the pond.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Boy the weather is sure nice here for January, if it keeps this up I will get that front pond going in February! Currently 41 degrees, spring must be on it's way!

Was busy all day, worked very early shift, played with fish tanks. Think I will set up the old fish tanks in the greenhouse and grow more hornwort in there and in spring I will put fish eggs in so hubby can see baby gold fish and be happy I saved some!

 

[callingcolleen1]

Well it's very cold tonight, going to minus 11 Fahrenheit tonight, so the pond heater will be on, it has been on for last couple days or so. Everything running well, bottom pond always gets more ice cause the flow of water to that pond is slower. My hands are cracked and dry from working on fish tanks and from work too. I think the cold weather hard on hands too...

 

[j.w]

What I don't like when it gets cold is all the shocks you get even when you pet the cats or dogs. Yikes everything you touch...ZAPPO!!!

 

[callingcolleen1]

Yes, cold weather creates dry air in house. Talked to my Mom on the phone tonight and she said when the smoke from chimmney goes straight up, it means warmer weather coming, but when the smoke goes down, it going to be cold weather. That does make sense too cause extreme cold weather associated with high pressure system, and high pressure in winter can be very high, and the smoke would get pushed more to the ground... getting sleepy now, was a long day, time to go hibernate with my Bear and my Poppy in the "den" for the cold winter night....

 

[Dave 54]

I'd say this has more to do with Barimetric Pressure you see Baromters go up or down depending what the weather is doing at the time i;e when its sunny it goes up wwhen rainmging and stormy it goes back down .
At the Moment here is the West Country here in the UK both our weather station and our older fasioned Barrometer are down in the low 945's bm


Dave

 

[callingcolleen1]

I have old fashion barometer, colored water in a glass with a spout, hangs on the wall. In winter you get very high pressure when it is very cold, like when it is minus 40, the water gets pushed down the spout till it is sideways! We have not had that very cold weather yet, but when it comes the barimetric pressure can read higher than 105kPa. In the summer you get very low pressure, when very low, like when a big thunderstorm coming, the water goes up the spout and can fall out cause the air pressure so low, when that happens there is a little cup that catches the water below the glass. I just love my old fashion barometer, best birthday present my sister ever got me over 12 years ago.

 

[addy1]

I had one of those, not sure what happened to it. Those are really neat.

 

[j.w]

Yep that is a cool barometer!

 

[callingcolleen1]

Beautiful day today, everything is melting nice for Ground Hog Day. A large hole now open on bottom pond and the duck is floating free of ice today! Fish were basking in the last bit of sun and happy to report all fish look good.

 

[MitchM]

I can't believe how much open water you have, Colleen. I would be interested to know what the bottom water temperatures are in your three levels.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I would have to find the darn thermometer, but I can tell you that there is very little temperture difference between the bottom and the top of my pond. My heater has not been on now for several days as the weather is much warmer now.

Also if you have good water circulation in your pond with the heater, you will have much less ice, and the remaining ice melts very fast.

I also found that when I moved the hose that carries water to the top pond, there was a big difference in where the ice formed first, and how much ice the bottom ponds got. Water flow and movement makes a big difference and will help defrost your pond very quick.

If you have little or no water movement, then you will have much more ice.