Do I ?

[Guest Ferret1959]

Do I leave my pump/filter running during the winter.

My pond is a raised pond about 6'x3'x 2'.

The fish I have where out there last winter and seemed ok but I thought I'd just ask tobe on the safe side.

Cheers

[poledark]

Ferret, it probably depends on whether the fish are active enough to need the oxygen gained from the flow. Also the number of fish, and whether you can safely leave the pump running without a disaster occuring.

The sort of disaster I can think of is if the return pipe freezes and the pond gets pumped empty!

 

On balance I would sugest that for the short term of this freezup I would turn the pump off, but then again if all has been well so far, then leave it running........not a lot of help am I?

 

Den

[peter mccue]

I've always left mine on through the winter to maintain the stream running into the pond, & never noticed any problems with doing so.

 

In fact it keeps the pond clear of a total cover of ice in the extreme weather.

 

One of the reasons I was given by a koi specialist to switch the pump off in winter, was that it recycled the warmer water off the bottom of the pond & returned it colder, thus cooling the pond.

 

I did a few experiments with the pump on & off, & to be honest found very little temp differences at all, if any. It may make a difference if you have a 6foot+ deep pond but mines 3foot 6inches & I don't think thats deep enough to cause any problems.

[Peter Gowman]

Leave the pump running all winter. Although you should keep the intake in as shallow a depth as possible and also locate the pump as near as possible to the fiter/waterfall outlet. This prevents excessive cooling of the pond.

 

It is better to leave the pump running as it keeps the water well oxygenated, assists in keeping the pond ice free during cold snaps. Additionally, if you have a good filtration system, it allows the biology of the system to adjust with temperature changes naturally and then it is not necessary to 'prime' the filter when restarting.

 

I have always left my system running all winter, I have friends who don't, and my fish and pond are in better condition. Make sure that you feed your fish correctly in colder weather.

[peter mccue]

Peter,

 

Do you find temp differences in your pond, if so

what depth is your pond?

 

Good point about the biological filter by the way.

[Peter Gowman]

Peter

My pond is about three feet deep at the ddepest point and there will be temperature differences at that depth. During cold weather there will be definite differences in temperature in ponds of eighteen inches or more. If you are not sure about your pond then watch where the fish congregate in cold weather or simply use a thermometer.