what should I do differently next year?

[philip_g]

t worry enough about the fish getting smothered under too much ice for too long.

That is what I'm worried about and all I'm worried about. Keeping the water flowing was keeping the ice clear on enough to exchange gasses, even as it sits now there is only an inch or 2 of ice on the surface, it does not get cold here for long periods of time. It's cold for a week and then in the 40's and sunny for weeks on end. Pump is running again and flowing water is clearing up the ice. I'll add a de-icer tomorrow.

 

[sissy]

if you put it on the ice it will melt through it .

 

[nikkijac]

I'm in zone 4 and I turned off my waterfall/pump, and brought all that inside in about october because it was so cold. We got snow in november. I bought a 100 watt floating de icer- it just melts a ring in the ice so the gasses escape for the fish. It was our first winter with fish , and ALL survived .

 

[callingcolleen1]

Good to hear your fish all survived that long cold winter. Just remember in a few years the fish may get too big and that hole may not be big enough. Let's hope this next winter is not so long and cold either!