Winterizing, 2010-2011

[Johnnie]

In my neck of the woods (Tri-State area of NY-NJ-PA), the temperature has been about 30ish degrees. I had winterized my pond for a couple days and got it done already for my 8 fishies :fish::fish::fish::fish::fish:

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First, I moved the filter into the pond's corner, hooked it up with a check-valve and all the fancy piping.

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Next I installed a short 4-nozzle-fountain to provide some water circulation and aeration.

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Next I used a stainless steel drum to cover the fountain.

Next I installed an underwater light for fishies to see in the dark because the pond would be covered completely by wood beams, plywoods and a tarp.

Next I went on covering the pond with wood beams and plywoods to hold up tons of snow ... just in case of the repeated-blizzard-attacks... :wink: :yikesu:

Finally I covered the pond completely with a tarp to keep the water from freezing. From time to time, I'll open up the tarp, peek & spy-cam the fishies during the next 5 months, and post them here to share with you guys.

 

[j.w]

Wow they have all the creature comforts of a nice home even in the dead of winter.............but where is the t.v and the lounge chairs :yikesu: I presume they get enough air cuz you are using the fountain for the air circulation. What a cool project :wink:

 

[stroppy]

great idea, my only worry would be if condensation drips off the wood into the pond, if the woods treated could it harm the fish ?

 

[DrDave]

Johhny
Where did you get those cool jets? Great photo history, I look forward to seeing more as winter approaches.

 

[oohilove]

Great photo history !!

oohilove reviews
oohilove reviews

 

[Johnnie]

J.W wrote:
Wow they have all the creature comforts of a nice home even in the dead of winter.............but where is the t.v and the lounge chairs I presume they get enough air cuz you are using the fountain for the air circulation. What a cool project

JW, thanks for your compliments.

stroppy wrote:
great idea, my only worry would be if condensation drips off the wood into the pond, if the woods treated could it harm the fish ?

Stroppy, thanks for your heads-up. As to the ply-woods & treated-wood-beams, I had thought about the chemical-contamination-risk; thus, I had previously soaked and thoroughly cleaned the woods as much as I could. So far, the fishies are still doing OK... No signs of chemical poisoning

DocDave wrote:
Johhny Where did you get those cool jets? Great photo history, I look forward to seeing more as winter approaches.

Doc, these cooling & recirculating jets can be purchased here by clicking the smiley icon:

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[DrDave]

BestNest, I'm on their mailing list, thanks.

 

[Johnnie]

BestNest, I'm on their mailing list, thanks.

Doc, you're welcome.

Updating...

After 5 days later, I found out that solar heating has really worked. The Autumn-sun heats up the tarp like a greenhouse. The water temperature underneath was 59 degrees today.

Hungry fishies were swimming around looking for food.

Since the water temperature was above 50 degrees, I fed the fishies lightly. I made a floater and dropped in some pellets.

:regular_waving_emot

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[DrDave]

What a great idea! Looks like it is performing well. What was the outside high and lows for the day?

 

[addy1]

Very nice job, your fish must love you.

Mine is too large to cover, but it is deep.

 

[Johnnie]

Very nice job, your fish must love you.

Mine is too large to cover, but it is deep.

Love me Do, just like the Beatles song :lol:

What a great idea! Looks like it is performing well. What was the outside high and lows for the day?

Nights: 30ish, Days with sunshine: 50ish recently :frown:

 

[Johnnie]

Updating...

After 17 days of covering, the water temperature is still around 60ish.
Fishies are hungry for food

Hmm.. how do you feed fishies daily through the tarp and plywoods?

An answer is the Koi Chef Automatic Fish Feeder. Thanks goodness for this feeder.

I made a bracket to hold the feeder next to the stainless drum.

I insert the feeder right into the bracket. It fits like a glove. Fishies are automatically fed 8am sharp daily under the cover. When the water temperature drops below 50 degrees, I'll remove the feeder and "starve" the fishies :wink:

:regular_waving_emot
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[DrDave]

Great Photos!

 

[addy1]

Nice job a lot of thought went into that!

 

[Johnnie]

Update...

Today my covered-water temperature was 56 degrees, & outside: 21 degrees. It seems that the water temperature drops 2 degrees per week as expected. Fishies :fish: are still doing OK, and they've gobbled up pellets as usual.

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