Monday, January 18, 2010

Winter wildlife pond maintenance?

i have a small pond which has no fish in it,but a few frogs,snails etc.i put a small water feature in it this year which comprises of a pump going to a filter %26amp; uv system then to a waterfall.question is should i leave it running even during freezing weather or turn off when it gets really cold and let the pond freeze over-will the frogs be ok in afrozen pond?Winter wildlife pond maintenance?
Frogs are fine in a frozen pond - the ice floats on top and the frogs hibernate in the mud at the bottom, where the water is above freezing so long as the pond is deep enough not to freeze solid right down to the bottom, and if there is some mud for them to burrow into. Your pond won't need the pump in winter, so remove and store it, so it doesn't get damaged by freezing up. If you like, you could melt the water by putting a pan of boiling water on the ice to melt its way through, but don't be tempted to bash it, as this will create shockwaves which the wildlife won't like, and may damage your liner. If you already have an electrical connection to your pump, maybe you could instal a small pond heater, which would solve all the problems?Winter wildlife pond maintenance?
I have a similar set-up and always turn the equipment off in the middle of november, removing the pump/filter and putting it in the shed for winter. In my pond there are 3 frogs, the largest being 3 years old and they always survive,and breed early in the new year so leaving the pond alone hasn't hurt them.There aren't any pumps and filters in the wild and nature seems to take care of its own.
http://www.pondlady.com/Articles/winter_鈥?/a>


http://www.pondlady.com/Articles/winter_鈥?/a>


Are two articles I wrote about overwintering ponds. You should find your answers in them.
We used to switch our off. We had a large amount of goldfish who survived quite happily under the ice. If it was still icey for a few days I would pour a little hot water around the edge so they could get oxygen

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