I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I am concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do not have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost option.....any advise would be appreciated...

In article <ztGdnV4gSe41BNnanZ2dnUVZ_sSlnZ2d@giganews.com>, Guajalote@gobblegobble.com wrote: >I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal .......and >is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I am >concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do not >have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost option.....any >advise would be appreciated... > I use a small air bubbler and a low wattage heater.The air bubbler can be bought at Walmart for about $7,the heater will cost about $35 and can be bought at pond supply stores and also on Ebay.Rick

You can also cover the pond with a heavy plastic like we do. We make a rough frame of 2x4's over the pond at drape the plastic over that. We do all this and live is SW Ontario and the pond has never totally frozen over. "~ jan" <Seewebsite@jjspond.us> wrote in message news:8qj9k3t11vsd5kc2ltgf0g2t2k7cmn2dfg@4ax.com... > On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:31:51 CST, Guajalote@gobblegobble.com wrote: > >>I live in Michigan and have small pond about 5 x 6 maybe 300 gal >>.......and >>is about 15 to 16 inch deep...I have 6 goldfish about 5 to 6 inch's and I >>am >>concerned that pond may not be deep enough for them to survive......I do >>not >>have place for them inside.......I am looking for a low cost >>option.....any >>advise would be appreciated... > > Get a stock tank heater ($20-25) from a farm supply store. Then go to the > Xmas display stuff and get a heavy-duty on/off switch ($15-20). I have one > with a remote control. This will keep your costs lower by only using heat > as needed. The heaters do have a temp control, but they are primitive. Why > I like to have the control when mine is on/off for sure. > > OR.... you can get a pond one that is only 100 watts at a pet supply place > and plug it in and leave it. Unfortunately they run anywhere from ($50 - > 80). In the meantime, you can use an air stone (should have one anyway) > until it is really cold. ~ jan > ------------ > Zone 7a, SE Washington State > Ponds: www.jjspond.us >

Thanks for all the good ideas...I am thinking to build 2x4 frame and cover with 4mil clear plastic and drape over pond, I have small air bubler pump that I can use......the link Ingrid provided for low watage pond heater does not work, is anyone famaliar with this heater http://www.aqua-mart.com/flph.html or if I cover and put bubler in pond should I put heater in as well? tia

In article <474d78fd$0$1346$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere.com>, dr-solo@wi.rr.com wrote: > the ice must be thick to support it across the pond and yes, the pond must be > pretty > deep. this is used in zone 4 and colder, like in Sweden IIRC. Ingrid > > On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:14:36 CST, Derek Broughton <news@pointerstop.ca> > wrote: > >Nobody has mentioned a technique usually used for somewhat deeper ponds. > >_After_ ice forms, pump a little water out to leave a gap between the ice > >and water. This works as well as covering with plastic, but I suspect it's > >a bit too tricky to try it with only 15" to work with in the first place. I learned all I need to know about ice watching the last season of "Ice Road Truckers" -- To reply by email, remove the word "space"