Mag drive 9 and pond question/problem?

[ryangrieder]

So my girlfriends fathers pond, around 1000-1500g, with around 10 fish about 8-9 inches being the largest, 4 inch the smallest during the winter usually runs 24/7. He is one of those guys who is scared to turn off the pond in the winter cause the fish might die. So this year his main pump line is messed up, might be cracked or something, and we can't dig it up until spring so he can't keep it running this winter. He has a good size floating heater in the pond (even though it's still freezing, but not cold enough to freeze over). His fish seem to be gasping for air a bit and swimming on top of the water and every now and then trying to stick their head out of the water. So I just got two big air pumps and hooked them up to a 30-36" air stone.

Is that air pump going to be enough?
Is there anything else I could do or do most people usually just put a heater on it and leave it all winter?

I also took the pump off his uv which is a mag 9. For some reason it does not want to run when I put the cap on it and screw in the 4 bolts. When that cap is off it runs fine, but once I put a little pressure on the cap onto the pump, it stops. I took out the impeller and cleaned it all off. I am not missing any parts out of it either. The pump is about 1-1/2 year old. I want to put the pump on the side of the pond and use it like a powerhead to keep the water moving in a circle around the pond. Hoping this will move the air and bubbles around the pond a bit more and maybe pull some oxygen into the pond as well.

Why is the pump not spinning the impeller when I put the cap on?
Is the pump going to do what I just said thinking it will do?
And is it even worth doing that?

 

[ryangrieder]

Anything?

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Do a water change, sounds like it could be something else. I know it sounds crazy in the winter but i do it all winter long. Maybe could be getting shocked also.The air stone is a great idea and if you realy want some other advise go to this website. its like Mr for ponds
WWW.KOIPHEN.COM

 

[fripclaksid]

I would cut the heater if I was you. The cold water should have more oxygen which might help out the fish gasping for air.

Also are they koi? If they are carps or in the goldfish family, I would highly recommend just letting the pond freeze. The freezing will slow the digestion and help the koi "hibernate". Although I wonder what the temp is at right now if it's high the sudden drop might cause stress and the slowdown of their insides might not go into effect. But I would recommend researching as I'm not a 100%.

Most people usually just let it freeze. It's very natural.

Your idea with the pump sounds like a well thought out idea which would probably help. I've heard pumps can "lose" their magnetic ability which might be the case, though I wouldn't think it would "lose" it that fast.

Good luck! keep us updated!