Question about running pond through the winter..

Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Messages
261
Reaction score
102
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6a
This will be the first winter with my pond. My pond is approximately 3.5 feet deep pretty much all around. Its approx 23ftx18ft in circumference. My waterfall is pretty high and the water output through the biofalls is considerable. I have 4 large Koi and 5 small Israeli Commets. My question is can I run the biofalls all winter long? I live in northern Jersey. My pump will be way below the freezing mark and the falls will keep the water full of oxygen. What is the opinion on this? I would take in my Pondmaster pump and filter but keep the Biofalls running. Any input will be appreciated
 

sissy

sissy
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
33,086
Reaction score
15,707
Location
Axton virginia
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7A
Country
United States
If this winter is like last winter it may be hard to do .I had my pond heater going but had to turn off pump to the waterfall and I am 15 minutes from NC .Bio load dies at a certain temp.
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Messages
261
Reaction score
102
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6a
If this winter is like last winter it may be hard to do .I had my pond heater going but had to turn off pump to the waterfall and I am 15 minutes from NC .Bio load dies at a certain temp.

What is bio load? Does that mean the good bacteria gets killed off when it gets too cold? My concern isnt the bacteria. My concern is the extreme cold water being bad for the pump or I heard the waterfall will make the water too cold
 
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
6,276
Reaction score
5,060
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Hardiness Zone
6 A
Country
United States
I live in Cincinnati and leave my pumps in the skimmer, but don't run them. I do run an aerator and de - icer.
 
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
13,359
Reaction score
13,784
Location
Northern IL
Showcase(s):
1
Northern Illinois pond here - ran our falls all winter long. We couldn't see running water, but we could hear it! The pond was fine, the pump was fine, the fish were great! We plan to run all winter from now on.
 
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
3,308
Reaction score
7,293
Location
Rhode Island, USA
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6a
Country
United States
If you keep it running make sure you pay attention to any ice build up. Water could flow the wrong way due to ice build up and run out of the pond and drain it. I keep mine running late into the season late december then disconnect my skimmer pump and bio pumps and lower them into the pond. I do keep air pumps going the entire winter. I really enjoyed the running water with snow and ice on the stream. My stream is very shallow so ice damming can be a problem with heavy snowfall and freezing temps so I choose to shut it down.
 
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
13,359
Reaction score
13,784
Location
Northern IL
Showcase(s):
1
RobAmy makes a very important point - the design of your pond will determine whether it's wise to run all winter. Given the right circumstances it is indeed possible, but you may have design elements that will give you issues all winter long that make it not worth the worry and extra work. Adding water to your pond in the dead of winter won't be an enjoyable pond moment!
 

sissy

sissy
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
33,086
Reaction score
15,707
Location
Axton virginia
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7A
Country
United States
yep good bacteria dies out and the temp .dies at is up for debate .I was told by ponddigger that it will start to die at 40 degrees water temp .but others say less temp. and all depends on your pond depth and how much sun your filter gets .My filters are insulated under and around them and then a liner on top and then my filter tank goes inside and this way if the filter ever leaks it all runs back in the pond .Even my hose for my pumps run inside my filters and up so if anything happens they run back inside the pond also .I just wing it .:)does not matter if bio is dead it still helps keep the water clear .oh plus my pond gets ground heat since it is not far from my septic tank
 
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
6,275
Reaction score
2,818
Location
Plymouth
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United Kingdom
This may help you go half way to prepping your pond for those cold winter months ahead we are lucky we run a large filter system that is in a fully insulated wooden framed filter housing with Policarbonate roofing sheets as its roof , we also covber our pond with policarbonate roofing sheets as a precaution too:-

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/prepping-your-pond-for-the-winter.12870/

However unlike others we UK koi keepers keep the maintenance levels going throughout the winter months and also do a water change each time using the trickle meathod where the heat lft in the pond warms the trickle of water going into the pond its really a bit of a fine art and you also need a dechlorination filter :-

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/winter-and-pond-maintenance.10594/

Hope this helps you some

Dave
 
Joined
Aug 11, 2014
Messages
72
Reaction score
39
Location
High Desert foot hills
Hardiness Zone
9a
You can heat your water. I have designed and used several systems in the past. Solar with a spa back up works the best for your area. Kinda pricey, but you won't have to run out to break the ice.
If you just heat for a trickle you use a small circulating pump and run it through a solar coil, the bigger the coil the hotter the water.
 
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
6,275
Reaction score
2,818
Location
Plymouth
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United Kingdom
You can heat your water. I have designed and used several systems in the past. Solar with a spa back up works the best for your area. Kinda pricey, but you won't have to run out to break the ice.
If you just heat for a trickle you use a small circulating pump and run it through a solar coil, the bigger the coil the hotter the water.
Steve you can buy heaters for koi ponds they are 1kw, 3kw, 5kw, we dont bother prefaring instead to use insulation around the pond and filter housing and use Policarbonate roofing sheets to cover the pond ours never goes bellow 7c even at -15c

Dave
 

sissy

sissy
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
33,086
Reaction score
15,707
Location
Axton virginia
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7A
Country
United States
I have a 150 watt one and it has a sensor that built in that turns it on when the water turns a certain temp .You may need 2 of them and bigger watts .But remember the more they run the more the electric bill goes up .
 
Joined
Nov 2, 2012
Messages
2,395
Reaction score
988
Location
near Kalamazoo, Michigan
Steve you can buy heaters for koi ponds they are 1kw, 3kw, 5kw, we dont bother prefaring instead to use insulation around the pond and filter housing and use Policarbonate roofing sheets to cover the pond ours never goes bellow 7c even at -15c

Dave

I am thinking about covering my pond this Winter. It is about 8' by 9'. How much of an open space to you leave at the top to allow for oxygen and gas exchange. I wonder if the ground would be warm enough to keep my pond from freezing over if I did not run a heater of any sort. My pond goes over 4' into the ground. I assume you use the clear material so that Sunlight can get through the the pond to heat it and to provide light for the algae to perform photosynthesis?
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

Plant question 8
Pond Pump Question 2
Bio Balls Question 3
Gold fish question 11
Question about API Pond Breather 5
Question about winter temps 4
milfoil pond plant...question. 2
New pond questions. 126

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
31,508
Messages
517,998
Members
13,714
Latest member
Cagio

Latest Threads

Top