BOATS AND CANALS

You must not let your pond freeze over for very long, otherwise dangerous gasses could build up to the detriment of your fish. DO NOT break the ice by hammering on it, the shock could stress and even kill your fish, instead just pour cold or slightly warm water over it. Hot water could kill any fish that just happen to be nearby. I always leave my pump and filter running everyday, all day even throughout winter, running water takes a lot to freeze so my pond never freezes over completely.

Bear in mind also that fish will not eat if the temperature is below 40°F, about 5°C, in the cold winter months feed with a suitable winter food for example wheatgerm.

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Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

We have a semi-natural pond and a boggy area.
The pond does tend to freeze in bad winters, but there are no fish to worry about. However, I do have a couple of pieces of wood and usually something like a small soft rubber ball (about tennis ball sized), these all have rope attached so I can pull
them out to leave air spaces.

I do try to keep a clean dish of unfrozen water out for a birdbath in bad weather.

The birds can drink and bathe in the trough of water that runs into my pond this is always running so never freezes over. I have even seen 'cats' drinking from it, although I must admit I don't like cats in my garden for obvious reasons but I won't harm them.

Eventually my pond will be turned into semi-natural pond.

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Maurice

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I suspect that there has been too much disturbance this year for us to have much in the way of toad/frog spawn. As I want to do some sorting out, that is a good point.
What had been the "damp" log-pile, isn't any more ... I do have some new / replacement material, though.

As soon as we've finished the gateway drain, I'll be examining the options for refurbishment.

Let's have a photograph please when you are happy with it.

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Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

I'm going to be taking quite a lot of images ...