Well first of all, let me just say WOW!

Almost 400 readers responded to our recent website survey, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive...

Click here to see for yourself:
http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Surveys/results.htm

Thank you to everybody who took the time to fill out our (short) survey, and for sending us your feedback and suggestions. As you can see from the survey results page above, most of you really like the website and wouldn't change a thing!

However, I do have some good news...

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We are making good use of this 'slow' season, finalizing plans for adding hundreds of awesome new pond products, and lots of NEW and helpful *free* resources. We'll be releasing our new mega-pond-site sometime in the spring, so stay tuned.

If you have any other useful suggestions or feedback for how we can make the site more user-friendly or helpful for you (and your pond), please let us know.

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Before we get on with today's Pond Q&A, here are a couple of 'readers comments' and acknowledgements that we thought we'd share:

"Hello folks

I am sure you get tons of thank you's from all of us, you continue to help with your tips, and now the archives. I do know it is a lot of extra and hard work to supply this to us and this is just a simple, thanks a million note from another appreciative pond and fish lover. Have a great holiday season as it draws near and thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

JimM

BF> Well thank YOU Jim... We love to hear from happy readers! It makes all the extra work worthwhile. Sometimes we wonder if anyone's actually reading my ramblings, so it's nice to know you're out there.. We'll do out best to keep up the emails and other useful hints this coming year, and we have several other great ideas planned...

"Hi Brett,

love all the info in your e-mails!!!! Can't wait to check them and see what's new!!

I have an 800 gal. pond , and my water has been clear all summer, I have a very good filter system, but I've shut all my pumps (3) off for the season here in Southern Kentucky, and now my water is yucky brown, what is causing it and is there anything to do that I've already shut it down for the season?? And also can it harm my fish? ( Koi and Goldfish). I have a net over it so there's no "stuff" in it. Hope you can help and really enjoy all your info!"

Thank's so Much!! Etta

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BF> Hi Etta, love to hear that enthusiasm from my fellow pond enthusiasts.. Of course, in my case - that would be 'incurable fanatic', but we're all like that when it comes to our ponds, to some degree. Heck, whenever I'm out back fiddling and playing around with my pond, even the squirells look at me like I'm a cashew in need of a jar..

But on with your question - It's normal for your water to start turning brown in Fall and Winter, when the pumps are off and the water just tends to get dirty don't worry - the fish will be fine. It's probably even LESS stressful for them as their metabolism slows down, with dirty water they don't have to be as concerned about predators seeing them and going 'fishing'. Fish are very aware of their surroundings up and out of the water, especially when the water is crystal clear. So, I wouldn't worry about a thing.

Hope this helps.

"Hi,Brett’

I receive your e-mails every day on the questions that are asked of you and your answers. I look forward to them every day. One of todays question was when to turn off the pump. I have a small pond with 11 gold fish. It is 6x8 but only 16 inches deep. The water temperature is 48 degrees today and I stopped feeding them last week when it got to be between 50 and 55 degrees. You suggested removing the pump at 40 degrees. I will wait a little while yet then and hope for the best.

When fish hibernate, are they totally stationary or do they still swim around slowly in the water? They still come to me when I approach but I am not feeding them as I said. Do they sleep or are they still active even in very cold water?

I look forward to yours answers and hope to hear from you."

Rick Hamilton ,Ontario

BF> Hi Rick,

I've edited down your question a bit, but here are the essentials.. You can go ahead and remove the pump now if you want or just leave it off really - at 48 degrees the fish are not really eating much or producing much waste, so the pond water should be fine. But if you'd like to keep it running until it gets a little colder, that's fine also. The fish won't mind. I just don't recommend circulating the water when it gets down below freezing - it's best to let the fish lie dormant at the bottom, at the warmest 'thermal layer'

When fish hibernate, they will remain semi-awake, in an altered state on awareness. Their fins will still move slowly, but only by instinct at just enough to keep them buoyant and balanced. You are right not to feed them now, it's a bit too cold. If you do, just make sure it's not much, and it's low protein or wheat germ food..

Send us some pictures from Canada when you get some snow.. Now that I live in Florida, can any of your Northerners remind what color snow is ;-)) Just kidding.

Happy Holidays,

Brett Fogle

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