will my pond still freeze if I keep the pump running?

16 years ago

I have a small pond I think its 33 gallons, maybe 18 inches deep. I am considering getting some fish and was wondering if I keep the pump running all winter will it freeze?(the pump is a fountain pump and it moves about 120 gallons an hour) I wont get fish if I have to bring them in the house, I keep all kinds of reptiles and couldn't find room for another tank if I wanted to LOL

heres a picture so you have an idea of what it looks like

I wont use the water fall, I will just un hook the hose and allow the pump to keep the water moving over the winter

Thanks

Jenn

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Comments (7)

sleeplessinftwayne
16 years ago
Sorry, Jenn in your zone it is almost a certainty your pond will freeze solid at some point. Your best bet is to keep your fishies in a large, new trashcan with a bubbler and small filter and pump in the garage. I remember all too well trying to rescue my fish in bitter cold on Christmas day. I never lost one in the garage even if there was a skim of ice on top. Sandy
jenndev
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Sandy I know my mom keeps her's in a like cage under her dock in the lake and they have never lost one. great idea about the trash can, but my garage is unheated is yours.
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sleeplessinftwayne
16 years ago
The garage is not heated but it does share a wall with the main house. I put the trash can against that wall. So long as there is enough oxygen in the water there should be no problems. Sady
maryo_nh
16 years ago
Jenn, we keep our water lilies and other waterplants in garbage bags in the garage many years (the ones that need replanting in spring), we put the bagged pots against the house wall. Btw, our garage is under the house - this wouldn't work with a free standing garage. The plants never really freeze. I'm in the colder end of zone 5. I haven't put fish in the garage, but I know many people do it, even in Canada.
It's fun to have a few fish, go for it. I think, with the size of your little pond, start with two. Or just one, even. If they like it, they'll have babies*, and with only two, there's a 50% change they're both the same gender!

:) Mary
*and babies, and babies, and babies...
mondotomhead
16 years ago
Mary,

Do you bag all your waterlilies? Even the hardys? I push mine to the deepest (3.5 ft) part of the pond and leave them there over the winter. I leave my cattails right where they are now on the sides of the pond. I leave the waterfall running all winter too. What waterplants to you bag?

This will be my first winter with the goldfish and I'm a little concerned about them. I've read here they will be OK as long as the pond is deep enough not to freeze and there is filtration.
goodkarma_
16 years ago
Jen, I am going to give you a firm scolding to be the first to mention "Winter" this summer. lol

I think Sandy's trash can idea is a good one. Your pond is lovely BTW.

Regards,
Lisa
maryo_nh
16 years ago
Mondo, this is part of our fall clean-up, and only the plants that we know need to be re-potted after the winter come out. The rest goes to the deep part. It helps us clean the pond bottom a bit better, and the lilies are at hand in April to re-pot before they go back in.
We didn't do this last year, and only a third of the needy ones got re-potted so far... so I know it's a good method for us...
Then we bag the new plants when we have no idea if they're winter hardy. Unless we take them in to go with the winter indoor pond in the tub room. That's what we do with the taros.

:) Mary