Winter Preparation Question

deemo73 · 12-10-2011, 10:40 AM

Hi

I think i've always been luck never really covered my pond in winter but never lost any fish either.

But i think this winter i might consider covering it since last few winters have been very harsh.

My question

1) Is whats best to cover pond with could i just use some clear Tarpaulin or similar material or do i need more insulation

2) Should cover be kept on all the time or when the days are milder it's ok to remove say during day but put back on before frost begins to fall

3) Maybe quite cold this weekend should i already be thinking about covering or not.

Doghouse Riley · 12-10-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deemo73

Hi

I think i've always been luck never really covered my pond in winter but never lost any fish either.

But i think this winter i might consider covering it since last few winters have been very harsh.

My question

1) Is whats best to cover pond with could i just use some clear Tarpaulin or similar material or do i need more insulation

2) Should cover be kept on all the time or when the days are milder it's ok to remove say during day but put back on before frost begins to fall

3) Maybe quite cold this weekend should i already be thinking about covering or not.

Hi,

I posted about this a few weeks back, this may be of interest. I've not put mine on yet.

Winter Pool Cover

gaz 69 · 12-10-2011, 01:52 PM

yes i aggree with Doghouse mine came the other day looks really good ive made a frame same as pond out of 2x1/2 inch and sandwiched the cover in the midde and screwd both bits of wood together then summer comes take it apart put it back in bag its great off e-bay. Gaz

Doghouse Riley · 13-10-2011, 11:45 AM

I've not got round to fitting my cover yet, but as it's a bright sunny day (here in the supposedly "soggy North-West") I'm going to swop my Oase 8,500 for my ten year-old 5,000. This is because I will not be turning on the waterfall any more, as I think this will now have a cooling effect on the water, as the temperatures are dropping.
It's an easy swop as I use Blagdon connectors, with these though supposedly "waterproof" I don't take any chances they are suspended between hooks in the collar of my pump sump, so only ever get damp.
They are simple to change, no screwdriver necessary, just screw connections.

The fish are still feeding verociously.

A point worth mentioning about pumps. My filter pump is positioned two feet above the bottom of the sump to avoid some of the coarse solids that float up from the bottom drain. As it is quite heavy, rather than let the connection take the weight I suspend it from two hooks screwed into the concrete collar of the sump, from these I pass from one to the other two linked Hoover belts under the union of the pump so that it provides a firm but not rigid support. This eliminates any vibration, something which can affect the longevity of pumps.

deemo73 · 13-10-2011, 02:19 PM

You can never tell with weather, best to be prepared then not. At least you have the cover if not fitted