Advice for any one with a frozen fish pond.

[rustic]

Well my pond is now covered in 2" of ice.

You must never strike the ice with a tool / hammer as it may kill the fish, so one solution to creating an air hole to allow gasses out is as follows:-

Fill a one gallon container with near to boiling water and then place on an area of the pond, place a cover over it and every 10 minutes shake the bottle once to even out the water temperature of the bottle, after 30 minutes it should have either cut through the ice, or become frozen in the hole and is now stuck..

I also put an aquarium heater 100 Watts in the hole near the surface, put some bubble wrap over it, so far this has kept an area of 9" diameter frost free.

The idea of placing a foot ball on the pond to do the same thing has never worked for me.

Never feed your fish when the water temperature is below 10 C
Now the water is 0 C just under the colder ice.

In fact the water at the bottom of the pond should be 4 C as this is when water has it's maximum density so will be at the bottom of the pond.

This is how fish are able to survive in frozen ponds and canals.

While you are at it, put some warm water in a container out for the birds.
Best regards,
Rustic

[kbekl]

i have no problems with my fish as it is full of salty water lol

my nan has a waterfall on her pond and it never has frozen up yet

[Fez_uk]

drop a stick of dynamite in it.

[Muckypup]

Sound advise!

I look after several thousand pounds worth of Koi in the pond at work.

Luckilly I positioned the two filters at opposite corners to create a circular motion in the water which usually stops it freezing over completely. There is also a large area of decking they retreat under in the winter, it also dont freeze under there.
Usually give mine a few wheatgerm sticks once the temp has dropped below 10c but only as long as they are taking it and never when the water has dropped below 5c

[rustic]

Originally Posted by Fez_uk

drop a stick of dynamite in it.

You've been watching Crocodile Dundee in New York Harbour..

[zippy656]

im sure it would work..


er.. no water left and the fish would be alover the garden..

but no ice on the pond

[Adz]

My dad puts a wooden frame over ours with a cover & a couple of light tubes for heating.
Worked for nearly 20 + years

[rustic]

Originally Posted by Muckypup

There is also a large area of decking they retreat under in the winter, it also dont freeze under there.

Hi Muckypup, I just want to pick up on the decking issue with fish, I want to build a bridge over the pond and want to use a suitable wood preservative that isn't harmful to the fish.
I have contacted Screwfix, B&Q, Homebase, Wickes, a local Aquatic centre but they all say they have nothing suitable. I am still waiting for a reply from Stapeley water gardens at Nantwich

I assume your decking was pre-treated or tanalised.
Can you give some advice on what I should use?

Best regards, Richard (Rustic)

[tezzer]

well I've been told you can use linseed oil, never used it myself.

[wildbri]

well mine is frozen solid fountain and all... still the heron wont be able to get at them. bri