If anyone plans to raise YP in MO or in the southern part of plant zone 5 or zone 6, I suggest the pond be more than 8 ft deep to help maintain cooler temps, although I have no real data to verify this concept. I think a 14-16 ft pond would be more beneficial than an 8 ft deep pond for helping keep the pond a few degrees cooler esp during hotter months. Does anyone have experience and temperature records to indicate how much cooler a pond can be if there is a greater volume of deeper water? It makes sense to me if the pond bottom has more surface area exposed to the cool ground temps and receive less sunlight the water will lose heat and the temps will decrease during the period when no mixing occurs. I only run my aerator at night to help maintain cooler temps for the biggest jumbo perch especially when air temperatures are in the 90'sF. All I know is since I've been only aerating at night I lose fewer big YP during the hottest periods of smmmer.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/18/10 09:00 PM.
