From reading the comments I believe it is OK to leave the skimmer box full of water in winter? We drained the waterfall back into the box but the skimmer and closed the little door. Is this correct?
Correct! What we would recommend is closing the weir door to it or blocking the intake of the skimmer box, as fish sometimes will swim in there over the winter and don't make it over the season. But otherwise you are fine to have water in your skimmer so long as the pipes are drained!
Great videos! How do you winterize the feed line from an external pump into a wetland filter? I can't wrap my head around draining that line as it enters the water column of the wetland. Same goes for circulation jet lines. Within the water column that is. I understand sloping the lines on the exterior of the pond. FYI I'm in MN where we could have 20+" of ice freeze on our bodies of water. Would also love to see a video on winterizing your exterior pumps.
I just got my pond up and going in early July, so, kinda didn't wanna shut it down 3 months later. I'm gonna take a rip at running it through winter. Connecticut winters, aren't quite as brutal as Chicago area winters. But,.... I do have visions of myself having to race around like you just mentioned Chris, to shut it down in a hurry, should arctic air hang over New England, more than a couple days. Thankyou for the tips.
Nothing--I live in southeastern VA so it doesn't get as cold here and we only get a limited amount of snow. We also don't have any trees in out backyard and the intake bay gets very little debris. Having a pond is the easiest "pet" with so much less work than a fish tank--a spring cleaning with some equipment maintenance and very little for the rest of the year... I spend more time weeding the flowerbeds than I do maintaining our pond!
Have I been doing all wrong? I have 2 pumps in the intake bay and I've only been taking out the check valves. Leaving the pumps in the pump vault. I also clean the wetland filter because I didn't want all that water running back into the pond. Also I have the pro air 60 kit. I put the stones together on a milk crate but it's about 16" below the surface. Is that to deep? Whatever you can answer is appreciated. Thanks.
We do recommend you take out the pumps to protect them from cold temperatures while not in use. As for the air stones yes really anything below 14" is too deep, keeping them near the surface will help keep that hole open without cooling the water too much.
Chris, love all the information!!!! I've had my pond for several years now and I did not know all the reason why you turn bubbler off in the deep area😮
Tis the season
💯🔥💙👍
So what if the skimmer box freezes, will it crack ? Should you drain below the skimmer box ?
No, the skimmer box is made to withstand through extreme outdoor conditions and lowering the water level exposes your pond too freezing over.
From reading the comments I believe it is OK to leave the skimmer box full of water in winter? We drained the waterfall back into the box but the skimmer and closed the little door. Is this correct?
Correct! What we would recommend is closing the weir door to it or blocking the intake of the skimmer box, as fish sometimes will swim in there over the winter and don't make it over the season. But otherwise you are fine to have water in your skimmer so long as the pipes are drained!
So counter intuitive as you think heat rises so you would think the warm water would be on top.
Great videos! How do you winterize the feed line from an external pump into a wetland filter? I can't wrap my head around draining that line as it enters the water column of the wetland. Same goes for circulation jet lines. Within the water column that is. I understand sloping the lines on the exterior of the pond. FYI I'm in MN where we could have 20+" of ice freeze on our bodies of water. Would also love to see a video on winterizing your exterior pumps.
👊👍🫵💕💕😎
Thanks for this Chris. Already looking forward to opening the pond in spring.
Why not put the air stones near each other to help keep one hole open?
I just got my pond up and going in early July, so, kinda didn't wanna shut it down 3 months later. I'm gonna take a rip at running it through winter. Connecticut winters, aren't quite as brutal as Chicago area winters. But,.... I do have visions of myself having to race around like you just mentioned Chris, to shut it down in a hurry, should arctic air hang over New England, more than a couple days. Thankyou for the tips.
You can keep it running through the winters, if there is a cold snap however you can also add a de-icer or extra aeration. 🙂
How will you maintain your pond this winter?
Nothing--I live in southeastern VA so it doesn't get as cold here and we only get a limited amount of snow. We also don't have any trees in out backyard and the intake bay gets very little debris.
Having a pond is the easiest "pet" with so much less work than a fish tank--a spring cleaning with some equipment maintenance and very little for the rest of the year... I spend more time weeding the flowerbeds than I do maintaining our pond!
I'm curious as to why you guys don't blow out and plug the plumbing.
When the pumps are pulled out the plumbing lines already drain into the skimmer box.
Great video Team Aquascape! Always a sad time, but so happy I’m doing it the right way!
Have I been doing all wrong? I have 2 pumps in the intake bay and I've only been taking out the check valves. Leaving the pumps in the pump vault. I also clean the wetland filter because I didn't want all that water running back into the pond. Also I have the pro air 60 kit. I put the stones together on a milk crate but it's about 16" below the surface. Is that to deep? Whatever you can answer is appreciated. Thanks.
We do recommend you take out the pumps to protect them from cold temperatures while not in use. As for the air stones yes really anything below 14" is too deep, keeping them near the surface will help keep that hole open without cooling the water too much.
Chris, love all the information!!!! I've had my pond for several years now and I did not know all the reason why you turn bubbler off in the deep area😮
Glad it helped!🙌
I just want to run it forever!