Posted by Janet Christian on November 30, 2006 at 15:36:27:
In Reply to: Advice Needed: Should pumps be left OFF or ON? posted byDAVID on November 30, 2006 at 09:59:10:
If you are in the Austin area then you want to leave your pumps on. You only want to turn off pumps in areas of the country where the pipes and circulation can cause the water to super-cool. Also, you have to get sustained cold and deep ponds (deeper than 5') to worry about thermoclines in the water. Finally, because we do have extended warm periods in the winter, our filters do not go totally dormant. Leaving the pump on makes sure that the filter bacteria continues to live. (Filter bacteria starts to die after a couple hours without water circulation/oxygenation.) In our part of the country ponds are much better off if they are left to circulate. And it definitely makes for happier fish.
If you are turning off your pumps because of the cost to run them you might look into more energy-efficient pumps. A good quality pond pump should not cost much to run. And you will extend the life of the pump by not turning it off and on -- just like with a lightbulb.