View Full Version : I need help with a pond I might dig
ShadowVengance
07-14-2005, 11:14 PM
We are putting a pond in front of the house, where a tree was just cut down to keep it from looking so barren.
I live in Canada, and we get winter :( and I was wondering how deep would I have to dig it to keep a few koi In it, and keep it from freezing completly into a block of ice and keep the koi alive and happy?
We have a Eurasian Spring under the house which is where we get out well water from.
I hope it works out in favor of the koi... I know koi are like the crappy gold fish of monsters, but no way in hell i'd risk an arowana or something tropical that can't take winter. should I crack it's ice to feed it in the winter? or is this all together a stupid idea, or should I bring the koi in during winter months would that stress it? :screwy:
We are putting a pond in front of the house, where a tree was just cut down to keep it from looking so barren.
I live in Canada, and we get winter :( and I was wondering how deep would I have to dig it to keep a few koi In it, and keep it from freezing completly into a block of ice and keep the koi alive and happy?
We have a Eurasian Spring under the house which is where we get out well water from.
I hope it works out in favor of the koi... I know koi are like the crappy gold fish of monsters, but no way in hell i'd risk an arowana or something tropical that can't take winter. should I crack it's ice to feed it in the winter? or is this all together a stupid idea, or should I bring the koi in during winter months would that stress it? :screwy:
well to start with I dont like to keep my koi in my pond in the winter but it works if the water dont get below 3 degrees Celsuis because if that happends ice chrystals will start to build up at the kois gills and they will get hard to bread and just die.
They go into hibernation at 8 degrees Celsius and when they do that they have to empty their intestine because if they doesnt do that the food thats is left there will start to rot.
I live in sweden and its cold here in the winter...its like 15 degrees celsius below zero so i keep my kois and sterletts in a isolated pond that i have build like a square on the ground wich is 6ft*6ft and 2ft deep, but you can also keep your kois inside where the temperature is below 8 degrees if you want them to hibernate but they will survive if they doesnt hibernate but it will stimulate then to bread in the summer when the temperature goes up to over 18 degrees celsius.
If you still want your kois to be beneath the ice then you will have to get a thing like this: http://www.gardenaquatica.com/img/vinterstad/icefree.jpeg
but i recomend to keep your kois where you can see them at the winter, because you dont know what is going on beneath the ice.
if you have any further questions feel free to ask
//Daniel
ShadowVengance
07-15-2005, 9:10 PM
thanks a lot. i've reconsidered keeping koi in there, i might keep a few rock bass or something though, just for the sake of having fish. Although I dont know yet, it seems my plans have been pushed towards late august.
thanks for the help. i appreciate it.
ShadowVengance
07-15-2005, 9:28 PM
plus it gets about -40 here lol.
I live in the northwest, where it gets cold in the winter as well. If you make your 'pong' deep enough, it should not freeze solid. This would mean at least 4+ feet deep. You would also have to get a method from keeping it from freezing over. You can purchase these floating heat donuts at pet stores, so there is still gas exchange between the frozen water.
However, as cold as it might get where you are at, it may be a good idea to build yourself an indoor holding pond, or possibly purchase a pool. Aquosis makes a travel-friendly re-constructable pond that is designed for koi conventions. Alot of people use these to house koi for the winter in the garage.
Miles
ShadowVengance
07-17-2005, 3:34 PM
Wellp. thats a *****. We keep cars in the garage, I'll just sell those when the family's not looking.
I was wondering I live across the street from a lake, and the fish make it through each year. what if I kept bass?
Ill see if I can arrange a holding pond. thanks man.
Dig deep and wide, the more water the better, at least 4' on average and 2' deeper at one end, don't go koi. Locals or chinese carp are safer and cheaper. Use a bubbler and a heat mat during the winter to keep an open area and a strong submersible pump to prevent stratification.
ShadowVengance
07-17-2005, 6:19 PM
Alright i'm gonna go for diging it about 4-6' deep. hopefully 6 :)
it'll have a large pump and a waterfall type dilio.
I've decided to completly ditch koi and just keep a few small locals.
Its mostly for decor.....but I REFUSE to have a pond and not have fish in it....it's just not....sane. I'm sure you agree.
Alright i'm gonna go for diging it about 4-6' deep. hopefully 6 :)
it'll have a large pump and a waterfall type dilio.
I've decided to completly ditch koi and just keep a few small locals.
Its mostly for decor.....but I REFUSE to have a pond and not have fish in it....it's just not....sane. I'm sure you agree.
What would I know about sanity? You will probably have to mothball the waterfall each winter, both heat pads and bubblers are cheap and sold as pond equipment on line.
rattlermike
07-17-2005, 7:04 PM
just make sure to keep a air hole in the winter i failed to do so one year and lost all my koi and some veary large blue gill i use a horse trough heater that works well
ShadowVengance
07-18-2005, 2:00 PM
Alright. This looks like its all going to work out perfectly. One more thing to look forward to and ignore everything else for :D
SOMEthinsFISHY
07-18-2005, 11:00 PM
We are putting a pond in front of the house, where a tree was just cut down to keep it from looking so barren.
I live in Canada, and we get winter :( and I was wondering how deep would I have to dig it to keep a few koi In it, and keep it from freezing completly into a block of ice and keep the koi alive and happy?
We have a Eurasian Spring under the house which is where we get out well water from.
I hope it works out in favor of the koi... I know koi are like the crappy gold fish of monsters, but no way in hell i'd risk an arowana or something tropical that can't take winter. should I crack it's ice to feed it in the winter? or is this all together a stupid idea, or should I bring the koi in during winter months would that stress it? :screwy:
WE would give any thing to keep koi in Maine you cannot even have them here legally i think that is real stupido !! but i have lots of ponds will show pictures some day !! i bring all of my out door fish in in nov !!
ShadowVengance
07-19-2005, 11:38 AM
WE would give any thing to keep koi in Maine you cannot even have them here legally i think that is real stupido !! but i have lots of ponds will show pictures some day !! i bring all of my out door fish in in nov !!
Congratulations man! I SUPPORT THE REBELLION!
cant wait to see your pics
Mattcomptonassvanhorn
07-28-2005, 2:47 PM
Just cause it gets really cold doesn't mean you cant put an Arowwana or whatever just bring his ass inside when it starts to get cold. and the koi well it needs to be pretty damn deep for Winter in Canada, hope you dont have kids! :hitting: :hitting:
ShadowVengance
07-31-2005, 11:21 AM
hah ya, i dont have any, and I'm not sure i want to risk something like an arowana lol, I like those to much to keep outside , I guess I just need to move to the amazon :D
oscar1
08-23-2005, 9:39 PM
my neighbor brings his indoors to a holding tank in winter
Fastfish
12-31-2005, 1:19 PM
I would go 5' deep, you need to have part of it open in the winter so gases can escape. :thumbsup:
rust9000
12-31-2005, 8:11 PM
Ok make your pond at least 4 ft deep and as long as you have a strong flow of water, like from a waterfall, you can always put a heater in the FILTER so as the water runs back into the pond it will prevent some of the surface of the water from freezing, this will NOT heat the water in the pond, it just keeps the return water warmer to prevent freezing. good luck :D :grinyes:
Magnus30
02-23-2006, 11:23 PM
I think at -40 even the waterfall would freeze, mine did in Michigan at 0 degree weather for a few days
Chad55
02-25-2006, 11:07 AM
My dad's friend has a very big pond. He has some chinese koi and stuff in there and we live in Michigan. He has a really neat idea for a bubbler too. He has a windmill on the side of his pond and that powers the bubbler. He always at least has a small hole in the middle of the pond where the bubbles are. And I thought about it and you could always put the filter part inside and just make a huge coil so the water stays inside as long as possible before flowing back outside. That would be a nice free heating idea since your heating your house anyways. You could like go into a basement or something like that.
Chad