Should I drain my pond for the winter or leave a de-icer?????

[The Duck Dad]

I live in Wisconsin and it gets down all the way to -35 sometimes in the winter. should I leave a heater and aerator or should I just drain the thing? I am not worried about my goldfish they are just feeder goldfish and I will feed them to my pet fish when winter comes. first time owning a pond so any suggestions????


Thanks!!!

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

If Wisconsin dairy farms can keep their cattle water drinkable, I would think a de-icer would work. Not sure an aerator would make it though unless it was very close to the heater. I'm just guessing as I'm from Oklahoma (though I did love in WI for a year a while back) and we just don't get that level of cold.

 

[CluckerFamily]

My parents have a smaller pond than you and it is one of those think plastic ponds, they leave it filled for the winter, no deicer.

 

[Ratchnick]

Drain it, even if you can keep it thawed you likely can't keep it clean at 35 below. Not to mention that would be a big electric bill.

 

[The Duck Dad]

My parents have a smaller pond than you and it is one of those think plastic ponds, they leave it filled for the winter, no deicer.

what I am worried about is the pond liner cracking or breaking from the ice but thanks!

 

[The Duck Dad]

If Wisconsin dairy farms can keep their cattle water drinkable, I would think a de-icer would work. Not sure an aerator would make it though unless it was very close to the heater. I'm just guessing as I'm from Oklahoma (though I did love in WI for a year a while back) and we just don't get that level of cold.

Yeah, they have one with a heater and aerator but I might as well drain it because the electric bill will probably be pretty high....... our ice gets about 15-20 inches thick so I will have to run it constantly. The duck gets cold so she won't want a swim. I have a lake in our backyard so I can just take my duck to have fun there. she can swim in the bathtub
but thanks for the suggestion!