SAVING Rare Koi From Freezing Ice Water

There was a mistake in the explanation though. It is NOT about geothermal heat (at least not primarily) - it is about the fact that water is at its desenst at 4 degrees Celsius. So 4 degrees warm water will sink to the bottom and therefore the most stable temperature will be at the bottom of the pond. If the pond freezes over, this might also be the warmest temperature.

as a Canadian, seeing someone get stressed out by -10 degree weather confused me so bad for a moment

Definitely dig a deeper pond! Great idea to put a tent up around it! Glad you had a team to help you! A couple questions (I've put up and worked under event tents in lots of cinditions): How many pounds are the weights on each leg of the tent? Looked like you had some good weights so you're likely taken care of. There should be a minimum of 25 lbs on each leg so the tent doesn't fly away or become a spider. Do the sidewalls Velcro to the tent top? I wasn't sure looking at them whether they did or not. If they only go under the top, you may find that velcroing them will seal out more of the cold.

Yes please, build a bigger and deeper pond, love the pond guy and professor they do fantastic work! Really great to have such good friends to work that hard for a pizza,lol. Nice tent, love the windows on the side. Looks like it's working, can't wait to get an update. Thanks George and friends, great job!

Build a bigger pond!

Guys theres a livestock tank heater for $50. I use it in my pond in winter. Thats all you need

Build up a bit mulch around bottom perimeter of tent will help to keep heat in tremendously ..we do this up north its amazing..even pile dead leaves around outside perimeter, make sure they are dry before doing so..u can even add frost blankets 2 permiter an reuse every yr..its worth it...from CT

average summer day in canada:

Please deeper pond! When you build that bigger pond, maybe you can have a greenhouse type structure as part of the design so you won't have those same issues next winter? I'd love to see that work. Have a little oasis. Maybe your mom can take advantage and grow some plants that are from a warmer USDA zone. Make a whole thing of it.

What you created on the plants is called hoarfrost. It is really neat to see you created a humid environment that allowing that to happen in the cold. Normally you do not see it unless it is several degrees below freezing, like in AK. But you have so much moisture under the tent, it did it! So fun!

Just want to drop a bit of knowledge here. I built and have maintained a 5000 galloon koi pond/ stream for about 12 years now. It's 4 feet deep in the deep end, but averages about 2.5 ft. I run 2 10in disc aerators full time. You mentioned one piece that is important, which is having deep enough water. However, the most important part is oxygenating the water, and making sure the ice doesn't freeze over and trap ammonia underneath the ice. (Which is the most often way fish die.) In 12 years implementing this strategy/making sure I don't have leaf buildup etc. I've never lost a mature koi, and I'm in a colder climate than you are. I've never covered the pond (only a net for leaves) or heated the pond.

Lol on 0:35 in the vid the cat skidding around on the pond was so cute ☺️ 😅

Something to keep in mind, all the stuff you mentioned with how they survive and what is required in the water even while frozen. If you adapted a pool cover design strong enough for you to walk on or shovel the top covering of snow off of. This can be covering several air tubes or air stacks (smoke stacks with cover) After that you just need to find a way to add semi warmed water to areas of the pond, or maybe take rocks heat them and then place them near areas the fish can swim to get closer to without being boiled or burnt. The tent collects snow and could cave in also, the wind you mentioned shouldn't be an issue for a flat pond cover. For your enjoyment make it so it has handles or is maybe sectional. Instead of trying to get heat into the water to make it like springtime, rely on the fish and their hibernation and the fact that you can add the odd bit of food or warmer water if it gets too cold. What you were trying was fighting the weather, you should have tried looking for ways to make it easier for them to hibernate. Think of how animals manage when there are no humans or the owners have forgotten and moved on. I say this idea, to save you some money and frustration, especially if the weather gets worse or someday a new owner comes along. Gotta make it easier and enjoyable or eventually after you pass, it will all be changed.

I am so ready for a bigger outdoor pond!!!

Me being a Canadian: “so uhhhhhhh you want some ice cream?” That one friend who just moved to Canada: “HOW THE HELL DO YOU EAT ICE CREAM WHEN ITS THIS COLD?!” Me: “wdym it’s like only -15 you will be fine”

build a bigger pond

Build the bigger pond! I love fish and seeing how you protected them just warms my heart! I hope you and your fish are doing well!

BUILD A BIGGER POND!

at 3:48 “i wanna see santa” caught me off guard- 😭

"If we don't do something fast" sets up a camera to watch the pond freeze slowly so he can get to it when there's ice to crack