Zone2 Ponding

[Zone2]

Hi All, I am new here and just wondering if anyone else out there ponds in a zone 2?  I have been successfully doing it for 3 years now.  Winter is a real challenge but I have never lost a fish (knocking on wood).  I have 7 koi and about 30 goldfish.  My biggest koi is almost 3 years old and 24" and 8 lbs. The pond is open from May to October.  I usually stop feeding mid october and don't resume until may.  My only thought about how my fish get so big so fast is the 21 hours of daylight I have in the summer months.  As of this morning, the ice on the pond is currently 18" thick still   :'(

[Julles]

Yeaaaay!!  Another Canadian!  Welcome, Zone 2.

I'm down here in South Texas, so I definately can't answer your questions.  But I wanted to say "hi" and there are plenty of northern folk who will respond to your post.  Also, we've been talking about cold-weather ponding all winter, so you might scroll through past posts to learn more.

[ponderer]

WOW! I would think having a pond in zone 2 would require a lot of determination. Welcome !! I think you are one of the coldest "cold weather ponders " here. If not  I hope others will check in!
 

[ponderer]

We are definitely interested in pictures!

[marla]

Zone2, welcome to the forum.   Hmmmmmm I do know a ponder in Alaska (on Canadian board I frequent), but I'm thinking she is in zone 3.   Is your aerator one that creates lots of small bubbles, or do you use a small pump that breaks the surface with a bubble?  The later might help.  Do you keep the heaters by the aerator?   Yes it would be great to see some pictures.

[mcp]

Welcome! We are definately interested in seeing your pictures.

[miguynmkoi]

Welcome!  Zone 2?  That is mighty cold...18" thick ice?!?!?!    Coldest place I've been to in Canada is Fort McMurray.  You anywhere near there?!

[Zone2]

I am finally getting around to pictures!  The first one is of the tent, then pond is inside of that for the winter.  The second one is of the pond with its other cover on it.  The third picture is the pond without the cover.  The ice is still about 16 inches thick right now.  The fourth picture is of the koi after I clear the ice, you can see a few of them in the open hole.  The big orange guy is 24 inches and 8 lbs and is almost 3 years old.  The fifth picture is of the pond in the summer and the sixth picture is of my clay pond where I grew out the koi and that is how they got so big so fast, , it holds about 500,000 gallons at capacity but drops rapidly in the summer.  I can post more pictures of it with the fish if anyone is interested,

[Zone2]

Oh and just so you believe me, , heres a picture of my thermometer!   :'(

[marla]

Thanks for the pictures...the clay pond and the built one are stunning.  Now I don't feel so bad about the cold weather we have had again this year, the only time we hit those temps are with windchill factors....but we will get sometimes get into the -20*F for a day or two.   At least the last few days have been above the freezing mark, so I know spring is on the way.  Your fish are huge and very pretty.

[emm]

That's quite the setup you have Zone2!  Your summer pond is lovely and your fish are huge.  Do you grow any aquatic plants or are you mainly a fish ponder?  Do you shade the pond through the summer as well?  I can see the legs of some sort of structure and a big shadow to the left of the pond in the summer photo.  Just wondering.
emm 

[tinkster]

Welcome you have very pretty ponds.... and yes more pictures.. the more the better.

That thermometer gives me the chills just seeing it.. has anyone told you there is a mason dixon line heheheh

tinkster


tinkster

[Zone2]

Hi Emm, I do not grow any plants as of yet.  I tried last year with no success at all.  I do bring up some plants (weeds, ) from the clay pond and plant them in my filter and they do well.  I will try again this year.  I tore the pond apart in the fall as I am going to redo it with a way larger stream with an upper pond.  I am also going to build a pond for just the goldfish as well.  My pond is only 2400 gallons and there are 7 koi in there and I have 2 more in an aqurium in the basement that will be going out this summer too so the pond will be at capacity without the goldfish.  I do not like to over crowd even with good filtration.  I do have to cover the pond in the summer.  Since the pond was just built last summer I just used one of those picnic shelter type things.  This year after the pond is re built I am going to build a pergola (well not me personally) for the shade.  The pond is in 100% sunlight and in the summer we have daylight for 21 hours a day and boy can that grow algae  I also use liquid peat to help as well.  I will see what else I have for pictures that I can post.

[tlc]

Why do you have a pile of snow in front of your pond cover?
I just love the little lights you have strung on it. Are they colored? 

[Zone2]

actually that is where I pile my ice I take out of the pond.  My little string of lights are clear, they are just there so I know my aerator is still running.  If the lights are on then the aerator is running.