Hello-
I was wondering what would necessitate the addition of water to some ponds and not others during the winter? My friend down the road has had to add water to her pond (about 400 gals) whereas mine (at 1350 gals) has not? Evaporation?

We both have a winter return set up running from our pumps into our ponds from the skimmer box. Mine maintains a nice size hole in it that keeps open an area that is about 18" wide even though we now have about 20" of snow on top of all the ice.

PS - Would have sent photo but cant figure out how to.

Water loss in a pond will be a factor of a number of things:
1. If there are any leaks in the liner.

2. If any moving water areas have leaks such as in waterfalls. This includes splashing or diversion of water out of the pond.

3. Exposed surface area resulting in evaporation as well as how fast said exposed water is moving and being mixed with air. This includes wind. The more the water is moving and/or the higher the wind, the more evaporates. Nothing will help a pond freeze faster when cold than those horrible winds.

[We had those today. My pond has just a small hole open where the falls splash in. Most of the falls run now in tunnels under the snow and ice. That actually may reduce heat loss from the pond with less exposed liquid water but it doesn't make me feel less stressed about my pond vanishing, freezing in, pumping out over the ice, or something slse going wrong.]

4. Whether or not any animals drink from the pond.

5. Pond size. Smaller ponds will appear to lose more due to their size. They may also be warmer from any heat sources which increases evaporation (the pond will steam sometimes).

To add pictures, when writing your reply, below the box you type in, you will see "File attachments" and "browse." Click on browse and find the file you wish to attach.

"it doesn't make me feel less stressed about my pond vanishing, freezing in, pumping out over the ice, or something slse going wrong"

Geez Robyn, sounds as though you and I are alike. I actually get up during the night, (especially since it's been below zero for days here) just to check that my pump is working and that the pond is not "vanishing". I check it again first thing, even before putting on the coffee :lol:

I was happy to read that the snow and ice cover will help retain some warmth. It is extremely windy at my house on the hill. This is my first winter with a pond and I think that if we make it through this one, we're set.

Another question. Would it help the fish at this point to add water softener salt to the pond to help maintain their stress coat?

I wouldn't add salt to the pond at this point. By "water softener" salt, what chemical do you mean?

I had read that you can help the fish's stress coat by adding regular water softener salt just as long as it doesn't have Iodine or any of the anti-caking chemicals in it. Or use regular sea salt (which is more expensive).

I would imagine that it would be best to wait until spring any way, but this would also help soften my very hard water. :)

If the "softener" salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), that can be used as long as no other chemicals are in it. Our water softener chemical is something else I can't think of right now. I've not heard of NaCl being used as a softener.