Last Updated: 1/3/16

1. I did pond work on 12/6/15. It was actually pretty nice out, in the 50's. Both the 1800 and 153 gallon pond thermometers read 42 degrees F, and it is now aquatic glove time. I think I have a hole in the right glove. I squirted the filter floss, put in a few additives, and topped off just the big pond. Rain had filled the other ponds but the big pond leaks out the biofilter lip all around. I got a new Luft pump to replace the one at the big pond which was almost dead (only worked on high and made lots of noise). I pulled the net off the 153 gallon pond and the big net off of the waterfall in the 1800 gallon pond. I would have normally collected leaves within about 10 feet of those areas but I never have time anymore. I will pick leaves out of the water but cannot worry about what is around anymore.

2. The spring peepers are calling; it must be March. The rose is in bloom; it must be June. The bulbs are sprouting, and the watercress is taking off; it must be April. I'm cleaning my pond is shorts and short sleeves; it must be May. Nope, it's 12/13/15, and it's 70 degrees F! The 1800 gallon pond was at 54 degrees F, and the 153 gallon pond was at 51 degrees F. I changed the filter material and squirted the bioballs in the warm weather. There were two green frogs and a huge pickerel frog in the biofilter, and they were warm and bouncy! I fed the pond fish which I also did the day before. The orange and white goldfish with severe bloating is still alive but I don't know how as she's huge.

3. What a difference a week makes! It was 40 degrees F on 12/20/15. The 1800 gallon pond was at 40 degrees F, and the 153 gallon pond was at 48 degrees F. I didn't get in the pond, just added water and a few additives and that's about it.

4. Well, it was back to 70 degrees F in the air on 12/27/15. The 1800 gallon pond was at 56 degrees F, and the 153 gallon pond was at 54 degrees F. I was feeding the fish for about four days straight (just once a day). The frogs were out. The birds were singing. My winter jasmine was blooming. I got in the pond and squirted off the filter flosses which were pretty dirty for "winter" time. The water iris leaves are now growing through the net. There were still live water hyacinth in the pond! It had rained for days so all the ponds were naturally topped off. Little wild flowers are blooming in the waterfall. It's supposed to get cold though in to 2016.

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