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  1. #1

    Question Closing Down Pond for the Winter (Energy Costs)

    Probably a unique scenario and Google hasn't returned anything helpful advice, hence the question.

    I have two ponds, the smaller of the two ponds is closest to the house and normally gets covered over winter, pumps turned down, UV off and I run a smaller air pump but this winter due to energy costs I'm thinking of shutting it down and transferring the koi to the larger pond. I'm not too concerned about load on the larger pond as that is understocked but I'm wondering how would I shut down the smaller pond temporarily so I don't damage anything. Obviously, come spring next year and assuming energy costs are "reasonable" then starting the pond back up will be a pain but that might have to be way forward.

    For example, do I leave the water in the pond and cover as normal but empty the filter and pipework, or should I drain everything?

    Current Setup:

    Pond 1

    • 5,000 litres
    • Pond Liner
    • Nexus 220


    Pond 2
    • 20,000 litres
    • Fibre Glass
    • ProfiDrum Eco 55/40, Bakki Shower plus moving bed.


    Any advice welcome, thank you.



  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion samp09's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LeeM View Post
    Probably a unique scenario and Google hasn't returned anything helpful advice, hence the question.

    I have two ponds, the smaller of the two ponds is closest to the house and normally gets covered over winter, pumps turned down, UV off and I run a smaller air pump but this winter due to energy costs I'm thinking of shutting it down and transferring the koi to the larger pond. I'm not too concerned about load on the larger pond as that is understocked but I'm wondering how would I shut down the smaller pond temporarily so I don't damage anything. Obviously, come spring next year and assuming energy costs are "reasonable" then starting the pond back up will be a pain but that might have to be way forward.

    For example, do I leave the water in the pond and cover as normal but empty the filter and pipework, or should I drain everything?

    Current Setup:

    Pond 1

    • 5,000 litres
    • Pond Liner
    • Nexus 220


    Pond 2
    • 20,000 litres
    • Fibre Glass
    • ProfiDrum Eco 55/40, Bakki Shower plus moving bed.


    Any advice welcome, thank you.
    If you turn everything off all your bacteria will die and come spring you'll basically have a new pond again with new pond syndrome.

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  4. #3
    Yes, that will, hence why I said it'll be a pain come Spring. So I need to weigh up the cost saving vs. work in the Spring but I'm just wondering how I should leave the pond over winter?

  5. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Best way imo is either leave stock in and keep it running or close down all together thinking about future costs ect and just run the 1 big main pond .

    Another way is if the small pond is gravity fed lose the pump and go air lift return

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  7. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Best way imo is either leave stock in and keep it running or close down all together thinking about future costs ect and just run the 1 big main pond .

    Another way is if the small pond is gravity fed lose the pump and go air lift return

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    Thanks. That's what I've been thinking:

    1. Close down the smaller pond for the next 6 months or so and move the fish to the larger pond and accept I'll have NPS when it comes to start up the pond.
    2. Leave the smaller pond running as minimal as possible.

    IF I went with option 1, I just wasn't sure if it was best for the liner and pipe work for the water to be drained or left in, if the latter I know I'll have to have a good clean out.

    The smaller pond is gravity fed, I've currently got a 5k variable superfish running the skimmer line but I tend to switch that down to 1 or 2 over the winter, a 10k variable superfish on the nexus which gets turned down to 3, UV off, one 75lpm air pump running the nexus and bottom drain air with covers on. The air lift is a new concept to me so not something I'm too familiar with but I have a 40lpm ET40 pump that I could potentially use which would be a lot cheaper to run throughout the winter at least.

    Off to do some Googling on how it works, thanks!

  8. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Switch the skimmer off all together.


    Try to retro fit a airlift to the main big pond which would/could completely off set the running costs of the small pond ??

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  10. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Switch the skimmer off all together.


    Try to retro fit a airlift to the main big pond which would/could completely off set the running costs of the small pond ??

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    Thanks. I'd like to keep the small pond, it's close to the house and is a nicer location to sit by on an evening but I have to confess cleaning the nexus out drives me insane so its due a drum at some point. They're kind of a his & hers ponds!

    Both my filter pits are tight so I'm not going to have a great deal of room to play with. Just researching airlift now, whilst I get the principle I'm not 100% on how to feed the nexus or drum filter?

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  12. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LeeM View Post
    Thanks. I'd like to keep the small pond, it's close to the house and is a nicer location to sit by on an evening but I have to confess cleaning the nexus out drives me insane so its due a drum at some point. They're kind of a his & hers ponds!

    Both my filter pits are tight so I'm not going to have a great deal of room to play with. Just researching airlift now, whilst I get the principle I'm not 100% on how to feed the nexus or drum filter?
    I have the nexus and will be putting a airlift winter/spring time I will be just putting a 110mm rubber connector on nexus outlet dropping it to 5ft from surface level and just doing a u bend design they are becoming more and more popular. @john1 has just installed a u bend airlift on his draco drum filter pond and believe its working a treat

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  14. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Alburglar's Avatar
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    If you haven't got fish in it, it makes no difference whether it's full or not. Whether the pumps going or not. You won't be feeding the bacteria with elements from nitrate cycle so almost all of it will die off.

    The algae will probably survive though. So I'd keep the water in leave it alone and drain/refill on spring. Putting your filter media in the active pond, even just floating in onion sacks on the surface will help keep it seeded and give you the best start after winter.
    Last edited by Alburglar; 01-11-2022 at 09:41 PM.
    2660 Gallons. 4" Bottom Drain and Skimmer. Draco Solum 16 Drum. Anoxic Filtration. Air lift returns.

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