Hello everyone, I found a link to this message board from a pond equipment website when I was searching for information and, well, here I am. I want to be a member here because my husband and I are "new" at pondkeeping.

A little about me/us: We are two mid-thirties high school sweethearts. DH is "close" to retiring from the U.S. Army, and I work in government. We both grew up on farms in the midwest (hog and cattle). No kids, but lots of animals (you can take the girl off the farm but you can't take the farm outa the girl). We like to garden, cook and travel.

In 2007, We bought a big, old, historical house (built in 1900, and it is on the national registry) in the midwest USA last year. Among it's many quirks and upgrades, are a 1200 gallon (about 3ft deep in the middle), kidney shaped, tarp lined pond with a big waterwall installed by the previous home owner. It has (had) approximately 12 regular goldfish, 4 small kio, and one large six-year old koi in it. (I know we have lost some fish due to the extreme cold we've had here lately).

My only experience with ponds prior to this were the goldfish my father kept in the livestock tanks to keep the water "goo" content down for the animals.

We also have one golden retriever, one scottie, and two alley turned housecats who are supposed to have jobs as mousers - but the Scottie actually does a better job (and happily) at it than the cats.

Last winter, we had no problems and the pump lines and waterfall worked with no problems, and only lost 1-2 fish. This year has been another story and it has been one nightmare after another because of the really, really cold weather and windchills we've had this year. The pump lines froze in December and we've kept the lines off since. I am just sick with worry over what I will find in April when the spring comes.

So that's why I'm here, I'm still new at this and could use some hand-holding from the veterans and a lot of advice; and I wish I would have found you guys two years ago - it probably would have saved me a lot of sleepless nights.

Welcome!

Hi Croptachi
So your man is an Army man is he, tell him you cant beat the Navy (Royal not US Laughy ).
Did nine years myself enjoyed every minute of it too, it got me out and about visiting a long list of countries including the US never the west coast but a lot of places on the east coast.
You'll find everyone on this site a really nice and helpful bunch and whatever your problem is someone will have an answer to your problem.
My partner Val and I are Koi Keepers with a slight difference in that we keep our Koi indoors in a large aquarium.
We love cats and have two who are both useless when it comes to being mousers and Dillon our Male(really laid back hence the name) is scared of birds Cryerbaby Laughy Laughy
We would like to extend a welcome from here in the UK.
Grouphug
rgrds
broxandval Fishiedude

Hi broxandval and thanks for the welcome.

DH and I were lucky enough to get to live in Germany for three years from 1995-98. We loved it; that's when we were bitten by the travel bug. Unfortunately, we ran out of time before we ran out of countries to visit and we didn't get to visit the UK. We would love to go back someday and hit all the places we missed the first time around.

As far as pond problems, the main one I have right now is trying to melt about ten-inch thick ice so I can get the heater and aerator working again. The pump has been shut off since December, and I worry that when I go to turn it back on in the spring it won't work.

We are supposed to get a heatwave of 40 degrees on Sunday so that may help melt some of the ice. I've tried the boiling water trick, which didn't work, the ice is too thick and it keeps refreezing, it is so cold here. I've thought about taking my hair blow-dryer out as a last resort, but I'm sure that will get looks from the neighbors. Like I said, I'm really sick over what the spring thaw will reveal.

Oh, I forgot to add in my initial post that we're in zone 5.

Hi there,

You need to talk to Koi Krazy. She is in Canada and has to keep a hole in her pond for the heater and aerator in -40 temps.

have a look through this thread from the ponds and Winter section of the forum

http://z2.invisionfree.com/Fishpondinfo/in...35&st=165&#last

until KK comes along.

Thanks ColdGold.

I read through the thread and made a list of things she tried - we are definitely going to cover the pond next year.

I am going to head out to the local livestock supply store today and see if I can't find an industrial strength heater like my dad used for the stock tanks back on the farm. I am trying to keep myself calm by remembering that the goldfish in my dad's tanks almost always survived brutal plains winters and even managed to grow big and fat and spawn in this environment.

Welcome to the forum croptachi Flowersmile
I'm glad you found us.

Your house sounds very cool! You are so very lucky and to get a pond to boot well, it couldn't get much better could it? :)

I hope by now you may have even found the threads here on the forum about getting through thick ice. Koikrazy normally uses an axe to chop through but you have to be very careful when doing that. Boiling water won't work like you found out. It sounds good in theory but with ice that thick it's a lost cause :( I tried it on my pond when the ice was 4" thick with no luck. If you have the 40F weather that would help but I will bet you will have to "make" a hole opening the hard way. I'm going to add some links below to some of the threads here for you to read. You might be very surprised at what you will find come spring. I bet they are all huddled down in the 3 foot area. ;)
Tia

Here are the links in no particular order:
http://z2.invisionfree.com/Fishpondinfo/in...?showtopic=3616
http://z2.invisionfree.com/Fishpondinfo/in...?showtopic=5534
http://z2.invisionfree.com/Fishpondinfo/in...?showtopic=5629
http://z2.invisionfree.com/Fishpondinfo/in...?showtopic=3516
http://z2.invisionfree.com/Fishpondinfo/in...?showtopic=3542

Just a pointer here. You want to be careful that the heater/de-icer you buy won't melt the liner meaning it doesn't touch it. :)
Here is a link for a de-icer: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...557&pcatid=8557
I'm not saying to buy this one but just read up on it so you can get an idea of what your trying to do and how to go about it..

Well, based on the advice from the store salesman, I bought a 1500W Allied floating heater/de-icer. He said I could put it directly on the ice and it would melt through. So, I came home, put it out on the ice about 3 feet out from the edge and plugged it in. I went in the house for about two hours and then went outside to check on it and it had melted down about four inches, so six or so more to go. Hopefully by tomorrow morning I will have a nice sized hole in the ice. It also got up to 46 degrees here today, so I'm sure that helped.

Hi Croptachi and welcome to the forum! First off, I am suprised the allied is cutting through that ice so that is very very good news. I have tried it all and nothing works other than an ice auger once it gets that thick. I would suggest placing the allied on the ice again, next to the first hole so you can get a bigger hole going in there. Once you have a hole you need to get an aerator in there as soon as possible but make sure the airstone does not touch the bottom, you need to leave a space of at least 8-12 inches for the fish to rest with no current. You very well may have lost some or all of your larger fish due to lack of oxygen and gas exchange. However, the smaler ones may be fine. I have seen crazy things in my clay pond so maybe you will have less loss than I think you might. Fish are pretty hardy characters. Please keep us updated. I can really help you as what to get set up for next year, but lets just get you fixed up for now!

Welcome Croptachi.

Somebody on here ( think Tia ) also did a neat little trick that takes alot worry out. Between the heater and power supply I have a string of little white Xmas lights. If the lights are on, the heater is on...and vice versa. Comes in handy when I want to use the dryer ( circuit breaker pops off when both are on. <_< ) I also have it on a remote controlled outlet so I can turn it on and off from the house. ;) ^_^

Sadie, the allied is free floating and I have one of those wire rings on it as a buffer. I have a thermometer in the pond, but it is on the end of the pond that is still frozen.

I now have nice 3'X5' hole in the ice, it helped that it got up to almost fifty degrees here on Sunday so I was able to get outside and "help" the heater by removing chunks of ice that had softened up. Unfortunately, I also found three dead fish that were trapped in the bottom layers of ice. :(

DH says that we are counting this year as our "learning year" since last winter threw us some softballs weather-wise. Still doesn't make me feel any better. :huh:

Glad you were able to read my message before it got 'edited' <_< :P . I don't remember what I said. lol Each season is a learning season for some reason or other....hated to say that. lol Summer will be your planning season, and the following spring will be your 'to do' season. lol I've had A pond for about 4 years now and it's been moved,expanded, and built-up somehow each year. This spring we're leaving it alone...and building a new one next to it. :rolleyes:

Wooops :rolleyes:

It was C2 that had the x-mas light idea ;)

Tia

Everyone has had there "learning" times - These things happen. Next time you will be prepared.

Doesn't make you feel any better but we have all been there.

You are getting things under control now - that's what is important. :)

Welcome to the forum, you will find out quickly the wealth of info available here. Also,this forum is without a doubt the most friendly and most dedicated group you will ever meet. Glad to have you. Hombre