Have you posted this on the pond forum? You might get more responses there.

I have known people that used the drip system and it seemed to work for them...but I don't have the personal experience to say for sure.

A heater would be good as a safety precaution. Again I am not that familiar with your zone. Here we bring the fish inside for the winter. I know in some other places heaters are used to keep an open area in the top for the exchange of air.

Good luck,

Sierra

Hi Cowdog,
You won't need a heater in zone 8 unless we have an abnormal freeze. I wouldn't leave the top frozen over for more than a day, but goldies are fine with what we would consider freezing water. You can use a heater or just sit a boiling pot of water on the ice to melt a hole in case of an Arctic Express. As for the dripping water hose, are you on a well or municipal water? The chlorine and chloramines from a municipal water supply would be harmful unless you can filter the chlorines out in some way.

Pam