Will my fish die tonight from the cold? How can I protect them.?

Question

We have a fish pond with waterfall.
Should we cover it tonight, from freezing.
28 degrees tonight in Jax, FL.
Never had a pond before.

Answer 1

If you have a waterfall, I assume you have a pump that recirculates the water. If this is so, then there is no need to do anything. The slow movement of water will keep it from freezing. And besides, one 28 degree night is not going to do much freezing. As long as the pond doesn't totally freeze "solid" ...the fish, regardless of what variety they are, are not going to suffering any ill effects. They have been out in the elements and are acclimated to your surrounding weather and water conditions. They can survive even if there is 2 inches of frozen ice on the surface. They have plenty of air under the ice, if in fact this were to occur. In Jacksonville you will get the warm weather back in a day or so..Hope this answers your question.

$Billy Ray$

Answer 2

EDITED:
Koi's oxygen requirement is generally believed to be a concentration of around 6 parts per million (PPM) of oxygen in the water
Koi need a lot of oxygen
http://www.coloradokoi.com/koi_oxygen.htm
Goldfish FAQ
http://www.flippersandfins.net/goldfishfaq.htm
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*************NOTE****************
Before taking anyones advice do the research first then get tips
LOGIC: Above links dispell covering up the pond .

If it gets that cold your water fall will keep it from freezing over. Contrary to what most people believe it's not good to let a pond stay frozen over. Methane gas can buildup and kill your fish. The methane gas is a result of fish waste. I live in MO and have a garden pond of KOI, gold fish , Shebunkins and 2 perch. I use perch for birth control of the gold fish. My aerator keeps it from freezing over I turn the fall pump off because the wind blows the water out. If it's freezing for several days with a windchill I use a cattle warmer with a guard. That keeps it open.
*********NOTE******************
Never break ice on a pond it can damage your fish because the sound waves travel in the water.

If you live in a place where your water will get below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need a deicer to keep your fish alive during the winter. If the pond water completely freezes over, then your fish will receive no oxygen and will die. The deicer melts the pond enough to provide holes in the ice for oxygen.
http://www.pond-o-mania.com/infogardenpondsupplies.html

When the pond freezes over, you must create an ice free opening in the ice, so gases can be exchanged and the fish can breathe.
http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Backyard-Ponds/More-Winter-Pond-Care.htm
No credentials just a gardener with a very expensive hobby of water gardening and a love of nature.

Answer 3

depends on the kind of fish you have. Ordinary goldfish are winter hardy, and will take a lot of cold temps. My pond freezes over pretty much in really cold weather and the fish are fine. Koi are hardy also. But if you have warm water fish, I would cover your pond. You also might get a pond heater, just to be on the safe side. You should be able to get one at a garden center where they sell pond supplies.

Answer 4

yeah what they said..