Dave, we got almost 20 inches of snow yesterday. That weight of that amount of snow proves challenging to roofs on shopping centers built by skilled engineers. We have a house with a steeply pitched roof, but people who have flatter style roofs use roof rakes to pull the snow off of their house to keep them from collapsing. I can't imagine what kind of structure I could build that could do any better. As for solid sheets of polycarbonate - how heavy would you imagine THAT would be at 14 feet by 18 feet? And then how would I get the snow off of that? I know people do clear the snow off their ponds but I'd be afraid that I would find myself through the ice. I like my fish, but not enough to take a cold dip.
No, we'll keep our pond cold and expect our koi to do their best to adapt to the conditions. So far they've done well - no reason to expect otherwise in the future. Today we can't see the waterfall moving as it's completely covered in snow as is the rest of the pond. But past experience tells us all is well.
Many people put together a frame work and attach the sheets to them so you put it up piece by piece and take it apart the same way .
The pitch of the structure would be for you to work out but you could probably copy that of the roof so that iiits self cleaning .
I would never suggest anyone walk on ice unless they first know the depth is such that it would support a huuman adult .
This is where the ponder and the koi keeper differ in the hobby,as protecting the koi from all the winter can throw at it, its our main concern.
Polycarbonate is lighter than you think and two people can easily lift them this is why we make our covers out of it .
Another way would be to construct a Poly tunnel over the pond some koi keepers do it that way and have airlocks either end so the can enter and exit , you see this structure over larger ponds like you own often double glazed some heated.
It was mearely a suggesting a solution to the problem of ice and snow, as to whether you would do this is down to the individual fish keeper we each have our ways Colleen uses a cattle heater, inline pond heaters pond heaters, some like myself Polycarbonate , others polytunnels , some swear by ping pong ball (you heard that right)
Fish and pond Forums can be used for many things in our case helping with fish health .
But its information and ideas and running ideas past people so that they find their own solutions that is equally important .
Dave
