water pump in winter??????

Hi guys, just made a fish pond. Getting 3 small goldfish. Have installed a small 'pond pump' to airate the water. What should I do when the weather gets really cold? Do I leave the pump running or do I switch it off?

 

Hi
It all depends , if you had Koi I would say yes but with 3 little goldfish no.
It all depends what you want how what size is it and importantly how deep , just in case it freezes as the pump wont stop that

Spruce

 

I've always removed the pump in November, cleaned it down and put it away until early April.
I never feed the fish in winter either.

The whole pond just goes kind of dormant, fish and all.

 

Goldfish are park of the carp family, being this they tend to poop and wee a lot, because of this its best to install a bio filter and UV. (The uv will keep the water from going green)

A bio filter works 24/7 in winter you can remove the uv, but you should still leave the bio filter being fed by the pump, just to keep it "ticking over" if you don't leave the pump running you kill all the good bacteria in the filter. Its very rare for a pond to freeze solid.

Some will say you don't need to do it just for a few fish and that you can have lots of plants instead, I have never found this to work, I am also not saying it doesn't work, it just doesn't work that often, and no one can come up with a "use this and this plant and it will work" plan.

 

I must, along with my pond, be a bit of an exception.

I built in in 1989, put in 10 goldfish, its only about 12ft x 6ft.

I now have more goldfish than I can count, I've never had a UV watsit, but have always had a pump and a fairly basic filter box.
The water is clear for most of the year, just maybe some greening up in spring.

The fish along with masses of frogs spend the winter on the bottom or there abouts and apart from the odd dead fish usually around March/April I've never had problems with the pump or filter not running in the winter.

 

Update. The pond is above ground and is about 2ft deep and 2.5ft X 4ft. I have put 3 small goldfish in the pond (I should mention there is a water lilly in there) and not seen them since! Where have they gone???????? The pump I bought has no filter foam, so will get some this week as I notice the water is already a bit cloudy and the sides of the pond are going green. I just wonder where the fish have gone. They are very small goldfish. HELP!

 

This pump "has no filter foam" most pumps don't now. (They used to)

I would assume the fish are hiding in or near the lily.

You will also loose sight of them soon, the water will turn green, you need a bio filter and UV.

 

That's similar to the pump I have.I'm going to get some foam for it. As for the bigger filter etc I will have to save up. I'm registered disabled and have very little spare money to buy such a thing.

 

Since you said

May I suggest you do not bother wasting your money on something that:

1) Is not required.

2) Is of no use

3) Will cause more problems than it solves.

Sorry, but I am trying to understand why you want to buy foam for a pump that does not need it, and will be of no use if you do get it.

 

I thought it would act as a smaller filter and better than nothing at all. They sell blocks that fit the pump I have so thought it must be 'some use'. I'm confused now, well and truly.

 

Dave the foam blocks that they sell to fit onto pumps can be a pain, you have to keep washing them out as they become clogged.
But having said that, it proves they are filtering some of the sediment out of the water.

These days you can buy all kinds of expensive gadgets, the sky is the limit, just visit your local stockist and I'm sure you will come away with masses of expensive stuff.

True the smaller the pond the harder it is to get a balance and you cant expect it to be crystal clear all the time, but persevere with it for a while.
Get some watercress, dont eat it just grow it and pull it out if it gets too much.

 

To understand you need to go back to the beginning.

Years ago a pond pump was just that, a pump that pumped water to a fountain jet or similar.

In order for the pumps impeller (That's the bit that does the work) not to get broken or clogged, sponges were held in place over the inlet by a "cage"

These first sponges had small holes and soon became blocked with dirt and stuff that you find in ponds.

Then came the idea of "cube sponges" These were as the name says a cube shaped sponge, but it went on the outside of the cage. (The idea being bigger surface area, more time between cleaning)

Then some one came up with the idea of "scouring pads"



Just like the ones above.

These had the advantage that they do the same job, and take longer to block.

Some years later some one came up with the idea of instead of having a cage to hold "scouring pads" why not give the cage itself a fine mesh, which has slightly bigger holes, but saves money in the long run. (no scouring pads to fit or make)

So that is what they did, which is why most pumps now have "no sponges or scouring pads"

The confusion arises from the fact that a biological filter has sponges.

Below is a side view of a biological filter. Item 2 is 3 varying layers of sponge.



The sponges are there to remove large particles, they are nothing to do with the biological process of the filter. (Although a small amount of biological action does take place, its so small as not to be mentioned)
The main "action" (if you will) takes place in the filter media (Item 3 in the drawing)

So, to add sponges to a pump that does not need them not only wastes money, it is completely pointless.

 

Now I'm getting a better understanding of things. Thank you all for taking the time to explain

 

This is going to sound silly, but do I get watercress that's suitable for a pond from my local aquatic centre? I guess I plant it up with aqatic compost and then place it on the bottom of my pond, about 2ft deep. Don't want to make any more mistakes!

 

What you are asking about is called a veggie filter. Watercress is grown in a shallow "bed" that hangs in the pond, it has no soil, only gravel, and is grown from seed. (It hangs in the pond so that it is never too deep, two feet would be far too deep) Try Tesco or B & Q for the seeds (I was shopping In Tesco on Monday, and ours now sell seeds)