The 2010 Big Freeze

[blacksmith37]

I just checked my 800 gal (36" deep) pond temp at 51.2 F (Thur 5 PM). I have a 250 watt heater and the surface is covered with foam sheathing AND two air mattresses; pretty ugly. I just added another broken 200 watt Ehiem ; It is stuck in the "ON" position but I doubt it will overheat the pond. I am not concerned about the Koi , but a couple weeks ago zebra and giant danios and swordtails were still alive.
I have been putting hot water into a bird bath; quite a few birds are coming for water. I got the idea seeing Robins standing on the foam board to drink from the pond (a few days ago).

[villa1973]

so what happen are they ok?

[blacksmith37]

I have computer problems , so usually can't post. As of today ,water 52F , it was down to 48F or lower. I still see a few swordtails (?).

[blacksmith37]

That post worked ; I'll try again. I have had the 250 w heater in ,and covered most of the time. The 300w heater burned out sometime the first week it was on. I think there are also some danios left. Very suprising because the global warming has kept so cold for so long. I also turned on the 40' stream the last few days.
Defiately are danios; They hit flake food on the surface- even at 52F !

[blacksmith37]

I guess this is the same topic: Duckweed, val, and parrot feather(mirophyllim) can all tolerate being frozen. A while ago I picked up a 1/2" thick layer of ice full of duck weed , looked surreal. (From a 29 on the deck that gets pretty cold). Today that same duck weed is fine.

[blacksmith37]

Darn, another blast of global warming ; freeze predicted for tomorrow night !!

[blacksmith37]

Mar.4, temp 54F; Its a miracle -my son adjusted the computer. And some of the swords and danios are alive. When I took off the foam sheathing ,there seemed to be nothing but Koi, but a little flake food brought a bunch of action. The swords nibble but the danios "hit " the food like trout hitting flys. I hope the global warming is over for this winter. My orchids look pretty poor ,being inside for so long.

[geoff_tropheus]

it is so weird this winter. The front half was really mild in my opinion, but this back half has been colder than I can remember in a long time.

Hope all your fishes are ok..

[tcuduc]

big freeze?

check out the pond after 9" of snow hit us last month

[cichlid1409]

thats a cool pic. hope everything survived.

[tcuduc]

our winters are normally not as cold as this past year's.

but for instances like this, going 6' deep really helps the koi deal with the weather.

the earth is a great insulator

i think i'll feed them some wheat germ for the first time today. been fasting them since last week in nov