Backyard pond NFR

[fishbait]

Have a pond/waterfall in my back yard and am thinking about keeping it running all winter this year. Anybody have any experience doing this with some type of antifreeze? Critters and birds drink from it, so need non toxic. Thanks in acvance.........

[STGRule]

What kind of volume does the pump have? Moving water is harder to freeze than static. If it's just a small pump it may not be enough to keep it from freezing up. The other thing you can do is wrap the water feed pipes/tubes with the same stuff that you can use in the house to keep the pipes from freezing. The electric tape might work but I don't know how safe that would be. As for chemicals in the water, the only thing I can think of that may not be toxic is salt. I don't know what the ratio would be. An internet search should give you some answers. If the pond is larger they sell commercial bubblers to keep ice-free areas in bigger ponds. But that won't help the pump and feed lines from freezing.

EDIT: You might try talking to an aquarium shop. The have to make tank heaters for those huge tanks. You only have to keep the water at 33 degrees so that may work.

[ 11-24-2002, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: STGRule ]

[First Bite]

Hey Steve,

I've had a pond and waterfall in my backyard for years and I've never added any type of chemicals.

The only time you'll have a problem is when we get a long freezing cold spell and then the top few inches of water will freeze. When this happens I just shut down the pump until the cold spell is over and then start it back up once the water thaws.

Mark

[Small Fry]

How big is the pond? How deep? Does it normally freeze up in winter?

I have a 60 ft by 80 ft pond in the back pasture and it's only frozen over complety once.
No to antifreeze even non toxic, read the lable.

If it's not real big try floating a log or something that will keep the ice broken up. Tie it off on each side so it has some slack and can't get stuck on shore.

Hope this helps.

[Keta]

Try a stock tank heater if you don't have enough flow to keep the pond from freezing.

[fishbait]

The lower pool is about 3-4 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep, the upper pool is 2-3 feed in diameter and less than a foot deep, then I have this 2 ft tall statue of this bare brested maden holding a couple of buckets that the water cascades down into the upper pool. Pump is a large little giant brand, about 8-12 gal/min. It's mostly for the sound as I love the sound of bubbling/cascading water. In the past I have shut down the pump, drained the statue and buckets and put a gal jug with some rocks in it in each pond to keep the ice from cracking the concrete.

[STGRule]

Probably the stock tank heaters are your best bet with the backup plan of shutting off the pump and draining the statue if we have one of our clear, cold snaps that last very long.

[WaterDog]

I have a pond that is about 450 gallons with a pump that is rated for 700 gph. I have never shut it off. Just do as First Cast suggests. That is all there is too it, no chemicals and no heaters needed.

[Ex-military]

I also have a pond w/waterfall....with water running all winter it's oubtfull you'll have to worry about overall freeze...edges might get some ice if extended cold snap...other than that it'll be fine.

[Brine]

If there are no fish involved, you could raise the salinity level, but to much and there will be some corrosive issues and buildup from eavaporation. Better to leave it alone and shut down the pump when its really cold. A small heater like a stock tank or even plumbing a hot water heater element in line will help if you don't have to much volume. Agitators like the log idea or even an electrical driven machine work also. By and large you won't probably have any problems. In fact you will probably be better off full than empty.