Last Updated: 1/7/12

1. On 12/4/11, I squirted off the 1800 gallon's filter floss. The 1800 gallon was at 44 degrees F and the 153 gallon at 42 degrees F. I pulled out the re-calibrated pH meter. It said the 1800 gallon pond had a pH of 6.71 at 43.0 degrees F, and the 153 gallon pond had a pH of 6.53 at 45.0 degrees F. The air temperature was 50 degrees F. I cleaned up some leaves. I removed the net from the 153 gallon pond and threw it away. It was full of holes. I trimmed back vegetation from around that pond and collected as many leaves as I could. I will have to hand remove leaves from the pond (until next fall). At least nobody got strangled in that net as it was very poor quality.

2. Winter came overnight. There was ice on the ponds the morning of 12/11/11. The 1800 gallon's water was at 41 degrees F, and the 153 gallon's pond water was at 39 degrees F. The air temperature was below freezing. I pulled back the main 1800 gallon pond net off the waterfall. I put the de-icers in both ponds. I put the green Rubbermaid lid over the top of the biofilter where the de-icer is (to hold in heat and keep the wind from affected the de-icer). I set out the lighted penguin by the 1800 gallon outlet so I could see at a glance that there was power out there. It was cold, and I had to do other things so I didn't take the time that I should have to remove leaves in and around the ponds.

3. On 12/18/11, I squirted off the floss which was dirtier than you would think for early winter. The 1800 gallon was at 44 degrees F and the 153 gallon at 48 degrees F. There were the remains of a frog on top of the pump intake but severely degraded. I topped off the ponds. I cut lemon balm out of the waterfall and removed leaves here and there.

4. On 12/26/11, I did a few quick things at the pond. The 1800 gallon pond was at 46 degrees F and the 153 gallon pond at 44 degrees F. The air temperature was 40 degrees F with a breeze. We had had rain a few days previously so none of the ponds needed added water. I removed a few leaves from the ponds.

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