winterized pond: happy fish

by S.J.Skinner
(Nepean, ON, Canada)

This is year 3 in zone 4 and I have 3 year old goldfish who have never left my pond. In winter, I place a small aquarium bubbler under a bucket next to the pond. Its tube goes straight (no kinks) into the pond and is held 15cm (6") under the water with a string tied to a rock. Then the bubbler runs 24/7. The pond freezes over top. Yes, that is correct -- there is a solid-seeming ice sheet on the top of the pond all winter. No matter, fresh air is getting in through the tube under the ice and nasty gasses are presumably seeping out somewhere. The fish are happy. And getting big!