Cold Weather Forecast

Doghouse Riley · 28-01-2012, 12:23 AM

Just when we thought everything was fine, according to the press we could be in for a few weeks of very cold weather. It's got quite cold tonight, so although with my little heater I was maintaining 9C and some of my koi were taking a few sinking pellets, I know the temperature is likely to drop a bit over the next few days, so I'll stop feeding them now and "batten down the hatches."

Davej · 28-01-2012, 01:08 AM

Hiya

Yes we are due for some winter and it will come as a shock to the fish if we get temps as far below seasonally average levels as we have had above the norm so far.

Roll on April .

Dave

UKHCF FAZ · 28-01-2012, 02:41 AM

tbh my fish havnt really shown any signs of slowing down, i do have a very fine wind breaker mesh around the sides and back and it does have a full covering roof, ive had no ice form at all and the fish seem to be swiming around happily and are looking for food everytime they hear me go in the shed

did have a small problem tonight thou, went out to check them and half the pond had emptied, sh it myself lol, found the problem so all is good, was due a water change anyway

miles41 · 28-01-2012, 08:09 AM

Well, all my fish are in the garage! whilst I'm building their 'new home', so they'll probably be better off compared to outside if it does go really cold.
It will however, stop the building if it freezes

jasonp · 28-01-2012, 09:42 AM

If the forecasters are right it will be getting down to -6 around my way, just hope the temperature in the pond doesn't drop as quick. Guess we have been lucky with the weather until now. Is there going to be a new show and grow this year? roll on summer.

gaz 69 · 30-01-2012, 11:31 AM

well my pond look like a turkish bath its 16-18 fish are doing great will lower it to 12 in late feb for a month then we should just start to have summer oh what a lovely word ha ha

keithatrax · 30-01-2012, 07:26 PM

Well just been out to check the temp it’s now 8.5c without heating, last week was 9.5c so I think I will stop feeding now and keep an eye on the temp over the next few days.

Doghouse Riley · 30-01-2012, 07:34 PM

You're doing well at 8.5c without heating.

I've got a 300watt heater running 24/7 (probably more for my benefit than the fish) but with the pool cover and the filters insulated, I'm only achieving 8C.

Even this minimal heat (day/night metering) is costing £6 a week.

I stopped feeding last week when it dropped below 10c.

keithatrax · 31-01-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley

You're doing well at 8.5c without heating.

I've got a 300watt heater running 24/7 (probably more for my benefit than the fish) but with the pool cover and the filters insulated, I'm only achieving 8C.

Even this minimal heat (day/night metering) is costing £6 a week.

I stopped feeding last week when it dropped below 10c.

Hi DHR I think the pond cover I made is working well plus the bulk of my pond and filter section is built in the ground and I believe the ground temperature at a depth of 1.5-2metres is around 8-10 degrees c so I hope with the setup I have I should be able to maintain a reasonable temperature during the winter without having to heat.

Doghouse Riley · 31-01-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithatrax

Hi DHR I think the pond cover I made is working well plus the bulk of my pond and filter section is built in the ground and I believe the ground temperature at a depth of 1.5-2metres is around 8-10 degrees c so I hope with the setup I have I should be able to maintain a reasonable temperature during the winter without having to heat.

Hi Keith,

My pool is all below ground level so may too be benefiting from below ground temperatures. I read somewhere that water from a household tap can be around the 50f mark due to the fact that the supply pipes are below ground and benefit from the temperature of the subsoil.