Freezing Water

Over the next couple of days, we're supposed to get some extremely cold weather for this early in the winter, with lows in the single digits.  This area is just going to get a glancing blow from the weather system that is moving across the country, and we shouldn't get the snow predicted for other areas.  But this forecast does mean it's time to remove the pump and fountain from my pond, and to put out the pond de-icer. 

As winter sets in, pond fish will remain in the depths of the pond, and go into a state of semi-hibernation.  The water in the lower levels of a pond will not get as cold as the surface.  I don't want it to freeze clear over, as that would kill the fish and the water lilies.  The fountain creates movement in the water that prevents freezing over, at least in part of the surface, but it moves water from the warmer depths to the surface, and the colder water down to the bottom.  This means the fish and plants are exposed to colder temperatures than if there were no pump. 

So during the winter, I put out my pond de-icer.  This keeps an area of the water surface from freezing over, so that harmful gases don't build up in the water, yet protects the fish from the colder temperatures that constant pumping would cause. With the de-icer in place, I don't have to worry about the pond over the winter.