New to ponding

I have a couple of questions. I have a new pond this summer...about 200 gallons. I just have some goldfish and small koi and Plecostomus. I live in Oklahoma and wondering if I need to bring the Plecostomus in when winter hits? Also....I was told by a pet smart employee that I would need to get a floating heater for the pond. Just curious what I will need to do when cooler weather hits?

I would say you'll definitely need to bring the pleco in - they're native to tropical climates.

This message was edited Sep 7, 2015 11:37 AM

The Pleco will not survive the winter outside. I lost mine to cold when the water temps dipped below 60 degrees.

You do not need to worry about the goldfish and koi IF your pond does not freeze solid to the bottom. As long as there is water down there, they will be fine. So it depends upon the depth of your pond and the freezing depth of your soil. IE: if the freeze depth is 2 feet, your pond better be 3 feet deep. The fish will be napping on the bottom of the pond in the clear space.

Pond heaters keep enough water clear forming a water pocket within the ice. They don't keep the entire pond free of ice and there may be frozen water below them - the goldfish will still be napping at the bottom of the pond in that ice free space. I keep goldfish and waterlilies in my ponds and have never used a pond heater. Here is an article about them:

http://www.pondbuilder.com/pond-blog/bid/76222/Winter-Pond-Maintenance-Heaters-or-Aerators

If you do decide in favor of a pond heater, do your homework before buying one.

Thank you so much Daisyplantlady! Last year we had a very tiny preformed pond which was only about 50-60 gallons. It would only freeze on the very top and I would break it apart. I had 5 goldfish and only one died. We enjoyed it so much we dug a bigger one this summer. I just want to do all the right things to keep the fish alive. I also have water Lillie's....will they die out and come back in the spring? I will do my homework and I will check out the article. I appreciate your advice!

Thank you so much Daisyplantlady! Last year we had a very tiny preformed pond which was only about 50-60 gallons. It would only freeze on the very top and I would break it apart. I had 5 goldfish and only one died. We enjoyed it so much we dug a bigger one this summer. I just want to do all the right things to keep the fish alive. I also have water Lillie's....will they die out and come back in the spring? I will do my homework and I will check out the article. I appreciate your advice!

I have hardy water lilies in my ponds. Our freeze depth is 18 inches. My water lilies freeze into an ice block every year. The fish stay lower in the pond and are always fine. I think there are always casualties after winter but losing one is no big deal.

I don't know what zone you are in but if you just had ice on the top of a 50 gallon pond, you don't have anything to worry about. Tell the nice man to keep his pond heater.

Daisy

PS: Don't bang on the ice. You are giving your fish a headache.