I had a person who swore he knew how to build ponds offer to do the job for my 5500+ gal pond for a VERY GOOD AMOUNT of dollars.
I knew how to build all my small ponds but this was way over my head. I am a widow who has wanted a big pond on the farm for 20 years but no one here in Montana knew how to build one with a rubber liner, pumps, filters etc. It also required a backhoe to dig it which my son handled. The rest the retired hydraulic engineer(who knows how to build ponds) did.
It froze up the first, second and third year in the winter. I put a heater in the pond to keep it open but he insisted that we keep the waterfall running all three winters.
Somehow even when I asked that we not have to go through the expense of repairing all the stuff after the first winter, he insisted the water fall be kept running. Again I bowed to his superiority and put the heater back in the pond anyway. It froze up again and we repaired it again.
Well it froze up last winter again...and again, I have to pay for the repairs...not the labor...he took a perfectly good 1 year old Sequence pump of mine for the labor. I purchased a new self-priming pump at his insistance. More power, less trouble and more water for the waterfall.
Today, I was informed of what I have to pay for and I am in shock. AND he insists the waterfall stay on all winter again.
I said NO and he stated that everybody kept their waterfalls running all winter.
I am ashamed to even tell this sad story because I sound like I am totally stupid for trusting this dutchman....(I have nothing against Dutchmen...just this particular one) The pond, after all this trouble is now over twice the original cost.
My questions are......How many people keep their waterfall running all winter...if you live where it could freeze? Do you shut down your pond except for a heater? Am I crazy?
God help me...I am ready to slam a dead mackerel in his face.
Help Me Please...
I'm sorry to hear that you are having so many problems. I think that you need to listen to your heart.
I have a 5000 gallon pond and I leave my waterfall on for as long as I can. There are a couple of months where I have to shut it down because of the extreme temperatures, it freezes over completely. When I turn the pump off, I put in the deicer and an air stone.
Some people put a small pump on crates very close to the surface of the water with the water outlet pointing up. This supposedly keeps a hole in the ice and delivers oxygen as well. I have never tried it myself.
Branka, I was praying someone would have posted here by the time I got up this morning. I need to ask a few more questions if I may.
First let me describe my system....I have a 1/2 HP external pump, a skimmer, a bottom drain that sends water uphill to a small pond which feeds the waterfall. I have a biofilter that I backwash regularly and I clean both baskets(one in skimmer, one on pump) . The man has set this "simple" system up with numerous valves and such for regulating the water flow which includes an inline (above the pump) UV light which he insisted for all three winters to leave in even when the directions for it said to remove it. The tube and the bulb(Expensive little buggers) broke each winter.
I will have to say, he has accepted the fact I want it removed this year.
I have finally memorized what each of the 6 or more valves do but still have no idea how to drain the system if need be.
Now, with knowledge of my system, can you give me an idea of what I can do myself to keep the system safe through the winter? I have the heater and will use an air pump with stone for the fish....but I have to learn to protect this system all by myself. I cannot count on this man to do it for me.
I should add that I have just paid good money to have a shed built over the exterior parts that is insulated and can have a light bulb type heater in it. The last three years all of these things were well covered with insulation and a strong tarp over them. The problem is in the PVC pipes to/from the waterfall and the skimmer....they are slightly exposed and have broken every year and will still be exposed slightly with the new shed. I have told him to insulate them well with either foam insulation or wall type insulation....hope it works.
Mind you, he has changed out the valves, the way it works each repair time. The valves keep getting more expensive each time and he won't use the old valves although they are in perfect working order. but he hauled them all off, I noticed.
If I sound like I am in a panic, it is because I am. I am retired and on a fixed income. I had to borrow money each year to repair his mistakes....and I can't afford to do it ONE more time. I need all the advice I can get from you and anyone else that can help me.
I thank all who care enough to help me on this. Ponders are great people and help when they can.
That is an enviable set up! Mine is much more simple. I have skimmer and a huge (9' x 12') veggie filter. I have two underwater pumps, one in the skimmer and one at the bottom of the pond. Water is pumped from these two pumps, into the veggie filter, over a spillway and back into the big pond.
I am not an expert and cannot give advice based on experience since I don't have a similar setup. But I can tell you what I have read and learned along the way.
First off, in spite of what the pond guy is telling you, your pipes freeze, that is a fact reguardless of what he says. His way is not working and I don't think it ever will. You need to shut down your system before the bad weather strikes. When you shut down, you MUST drain the plumbing lines to keep them from bursting. If you are lucky the lines will be slightly angled and they can drain themselves. If not, you'll have to use an air compressor to blow the water out of them.
To be honest with you, I have no idea if you can leave an external pump out there without water running through it. Common sense tells me that you can but please, please check into this.
At this point your deicer and airstone should get you through the winter until the weather is mild enough to fire up the pump/lines again.
I overwintered my pond this way for three years. Last winter we had a disaster and I lost all of my fish. A dozen koi and many, many goldfish. In spite of all our efforts, there was too much crud on the bottom of the pond and we had an oxygen problem. It was our fault and we have taken precautions so that we never make that mistake again.
When you shut the pond down, make sure the water quality is good and that the bottom is not full of leaves, etc. Cut back all your lilies and vegetation. You can also add a 50lb bag of non iodized salt to the pond at this time. It's beneficial to the fish and is not enough to hurt your plants.
Oh, take the UV bulbs inside for the winter. I don't know how long you use them but many people only have them turned on during algea season. Once the pond is cleared it usually stays clear without the UV, unless you have too many fish.
I hope this helps.
OOOOwee..a big loss...sorry you had to experience that, Branka. The pond bottom is all cleaned up now and will be so after the leaves fall again. I planned to put some Autumn/winter Microbe-Lift in this fall. I have used the Microb-Lift PL and think it does a marvelous job. What stuff is left on the bottom should be taken care of by the Microbe-Lift......at least that is what I have been told.
I never lost one Koi to winter kill, just to Heron and raccoons. I now have a 180 pound Anatolian dog protecting me and mine. He has wiped out the coons and the netting has secured the pond from the Heron.
As to using salt....I know it is a stress reliever for fish as I have used it in my aquariums but I have never used it in my pond. Do you just dump a 50# bag in and let it dissolve on its own? How do you come up with the 50# dose for your pond? With this being the first year for me to have goldfish in their own three ponds, I guess I better plan on using it for them too. I thought I would get rid of more of the "rescued from the zoo pond" goldfish...I think they are mine now...all hundred or so. *sigh*
You have been such a help to me....thank you again.
Belle
This message was edited Aug 9, 2004 9:14 AM
Bell. Don't let the electric bill add up. My pond is 1700 gallons and in the fall I shut down both pumps , waterfall and statue and add a pond heater.
Here in Michigan we get down to -20' and I have no problem. Plants and fish do very well(pond is 6 years old). And I know how the electric bill can grow/ Good luck and happy ponding
Annabelle
Hi Annabelle (another Belle)
You and I are dealing with almost the same weather conditions. What you do is what I have wanted to do since this whole thing started. It seemed logical to me since that is what I do in the smaller ponds I have.
I have put so much money in the pond built by someone else...the pump and filter system, UV-light etc are big expenses that I cannot understand the need to keep it all running if we have the ability to drain the plumbing etc.
The fish are at the bottom and doing nothing, the plants are dormant until spring, and the heater will keep the pond open enough to let the gases out....What more does a person need to do? Nothing!
I needed someone to tell me what you did...Thanks....support is helpful when you are dealing with a guy who thinks women are stupid!
Belle
I spread the salt around the pond and let it disolve itself. I've always used one cup per hundred gallons. I think that the normal dosage is one pound per 100 gallons. I used to have a chart that showed this but lost my favorites when I got my new computer. I see if I'll do a search and see if I can come up with something.
Thanks Branka, if you find the chart I will put it in my favorites too and then we will both have it. I'll cover your back and you can cover mine. LOL
Any special salt? I know it musn't be iodized but where do you buy your salt?
That sounds good Bings! I use water softener salt from Aldi's