hello! I often read that for winter, as long as a pond is approx 3' deep it generally won't freeze solid in the winter. I was wondering if that only applies to ponds that are in the ground, or would a "pond" that's a 3' deep rubbermaid stock tank above ground still be ok? I live in Denver and i'm not sure how cold it gets here in the winter. So i wanted to know if i could winter over commons and commets in a 3' above ground pond? Thanks!

I would think that an above ground pond would freeze completely. THink about it. if you have an inground pool, you have "warm" ground surrounding 2 of the 3 sides, with the top being the 3rd (exposed) side. If you have an aboveground one, the side of the pond is exposed as well, cooling it off much more efficiently. However, if it is aboveground, is it moveable? can you drain it and move it indoors for a few months?

Our in-ground pool freezes to at least 2-3 feet deep in ice - in cold years it has gone to more that 4 feet of ice ( -25F or more). I love to chop a chunk of ice from it, for chlorinated water freezed in long cylindars about 1 inch in diameter. They are wonderous to look at, but would be deadly to fish life ( even without the chlorine!).

Most people around here bring their fish in in the winter, or have in-ground ponds that are 5-8 feet + in depth. Even at that depth they estimate that they loose 15-20% of their fish every year - more in a cold year. This is one of the main reasons I cannot bring myself to have an outdoor pond - I have no room indoors and could not bear to worry all winter about my fish!

As Mickey has said, can you bring the pool inside - in the basement or at least the garage - for a few months? That would perhaps be the best solution of all. One fellow in our club has built a shed that he keeps heated to about 40 degrees all winter and he winters over his fish in there. Maybe you might be able to do something like that!