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newbie winter fish question

So I just sunk my 275gal tank in the ground, and am raising catfish to survive the harsh NJ winter. Then I started to wonder how these fish actually survive a winter. With the growing season over, how is the water being cleaned? How much do they eat in the winter? Do I need a filter in the winter? And if so, I don't see how I can do that in below freezing temps.
One last question, ....what are the latest growing crops I can have in my greenhouse?
Thanks for all the newbie help! FIRST POST COMPLETE! :D

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Permalink Reply by TCLynx on May 27, 2012 at 7:11am

It will all depend on the water temperatures. I would stop feeding them completely when the water gets below say 50-55 F You may need only minimal filtration as long as you are not keeping too many big fish through much of the winter but you should keep some aeration going to make sure the water surface doesn't freeze and block gas exchange. Filtration for winter might be as simple as a tube of foam that the air can lift water through to keep some bacteria converting waste the nitrate.

You can probably keep certain crops growing much of the winter though as long as you can keep the grow beds from freezing solid. Like kale and broccoli can handle cold. Biggest trick will be figuring out how to grow them without having frozen pipes to/from the grow beds.