Water Gardening: New member's ponds!!, 1 by maureenr2121

maureenr2121 wrote:
Hi Jody,
I live in NH (also zone 5) and have koi without a heated pond. As long as the pond is over 3 feet deep they get through the winter just fine. You do have to make sure there is an opening in the ice though for the gases to escape. We have a small pump that runs in the winter and that keeps an opening about 6 inches in diameter. Last winter was unusually cold and we got a layer of ice over the running water, but I put in a small electric unit that melted a hole and didn't loose any fish. They really add so much to the pond. It's exciting to see them start waking up in the spring.