Winter weather and ponds

It's the dead of winter and many parts of the US are getting hammered by blizzards, sleet, ice and wind storms. Our ponds are suffering. Well, actually, our ponds are most likely just fine; it's our fish we worry about.

Gases must be exchanged for fish to breathe. The noxious gases must have a hole through which to leave and the good gases must get into to the water.

I always suggest leaving a hole open in the ice, either using a commercial deicer or a pot of warm water placed on the ice in the morning. You can also thaw the ice by hooking up your garden hose to an indoor tap and running the water over the ice. Hook it up to the cold water. I would suggest if you must run the hose for a long time, to screw on a dechlorinating device between the hose and the water tap unless you use well water.

HOW TO SPEAK POND

You are learning that if you are a pond hobbyist, there is an entire vocabulary that we pond people use. We describe specific things and use odd terms with which to do it. Because of that, I have put together a pond person's glossary. I hope it can be of some help.