Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? Froze up solid

With the recent below zero weather and the lack of water in the pond I'm froze up soild. Lost a lot of water in the pond this winter do to my leak and a dropping water table.

Putting a light blub in the areation hut and alcohol down the air line in my last attempt to open my areation lines, was not successful. So, I shut down the system and will have to wait until spring. With over 3 feet of snow on the pond I'm sure I'll be looking at some winter kill.

Your aeration system was on and the pond froze over?

Yes, thats right, Sniper.

The water level dropped to the lowest I've ever seen it, in the six years I've had the pond. There was already over a foot of ice on the surface and the water table dropped and leaked out. The aeration stopped and I can only assume it's frozen up soild. Also, I have about four feet of snow on the surface and it started snowing again as I'm typing.

I'm hoping when spring comes the fish may have been frozen fast enough they will survive, but I'm not sure it will happen? I've heard some will survive being frozen. We had a shallow fire pond at work that used to freeze soild and the bass always seemed to make it through.

Scruffy,

Sorry to hear that. I can only imagine how cold it might get in NH. I am already freaking out over four days of mid teen weather at night (in Texas). My cabin fever is bad. My wife is ready to put me out in the cold.

A foot of ice, you say! I remember back in (I think) 1977, Lake Superior froze all the way across. The seventies had some cold winters.

I am confident your pond will bounce back. Keep the faith.

Best to you.

Scruffy I had a similar problem in the past before I put in a pump in the stream to keep the level up in the winter.
As the level got lower the aerator opening got smaller probably due to not enough warm water left, and all the snow sure doesn't help.
Hope those frozen buggers make it.

This has been a year for both snow and low temps in my area. 15 inches on the ground now with 3 more being added today. I pity those in my area that have productive ponds that did not take any proactive measures. It will be a good year for fish suppliers.

A buddy talked to someone that he knows that has a fish cam. They looked under the ice and saw a bunch of dead fish on the pond bottom already. No other information on the pond.

Made my way out to the pond for a look at the pond level yesterday, and couldn't believe my eyes. Looks like it's gone compeltely dry. Of course there is four feet of snow on it but it is definetly dry and bottomed out. Never seen it this low in all the winters past.

No hope for any fish making it through. I only hope the spring will put water back into the pond so I can restock. Leak must have opened up with this cold winter.

That sucks!

Thats too bad SF, I feel for you.

It has been a bad winter for pond owners all over.

One thing I have heard twice this winter is the cold may have opened up a leak or caused it.

I dont have a pond yet, and am really thankfull that I never listen to the local contractor and this website is available to learn from.

It won't help Scruffy-fish with his low or no water issues but I posted an option for later winter if D.O. levels are dropping that may save the fish in a pond. It worked for me three winters ago.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=248100#Post248100

Scruffy it sounds like your only recourse to resolve the low water issues is a liner. At least your pond isn't to huge so it wouldn't be as expensive as it would be for a large pond.