Posted by DAVID on November 30, 2006 at 09:59:10:
The last 3 years I have left my pump on all winter based upon some of the advice I have received and research I have done. Due to increased power bills I decided to do additional research - and low and behold there are just as many pond owners and web sites that insist upon turning pumps off during the winter months so the colder temperature of the water going over the waterfalls and flowing along the creek between the ponds does not mix with the warmer water at the bottom where the fish are. Since bacteria are essentially dormant and the fish are at low respiration rates, is the pump really necessary now?