how to cool down pond in summer?

[snapping247]

Hello, I'm making a 300 gallon rubbermaid tub pond in my front yard(thats the only place I can put it) And it gets full sun all day long, its get the most sun at about 3:00-4:00. I want to keep lilies,water poppy,umbrella palm, and cat tails. Basically all water plants. PLus im going to be running a laguna filter and UV steralizer. I also want to keep a few turtles in there but i wanted to know how i can keep the temp. down in the summer? Im not making it intill the summer but i wanted to know what i can do, so the turtles dont boil lol. do you think they plants will offer enough shade?Thanks.

[crimsonmoon]

you could landscape around it maybe? like trees that stay on the smaller side (i love red buds). other than that idk lol. sorry
also, when i had my turtle, she ate EVERYTHING. any plant i put in there. she even learned how to eat the snails. ive never kept outdoor pond plants with turtles so i can't say a definite on whether or not your plants would be toast with turtles. just some food for thought.
hope i could help :)

[Reddog80p]

With only 300 gallons temperature would fluctuate quite a bit depending on outside air temp. If your in an area that gets chilly, you could have the problem with freezing also during the winter months.

[toddnbecka]

Why a UV sterilizer on a pond? Anyway, full sun is great for water lilies, the more light they get the more they'll bloom. Give them a chance to become established and they'll provide all the shade needed. Turtles are find for the summer, but what will you do when the weather gets cold? Hardy water lilies can be left in the pond through the winter provided they're deep enough to keep from freezing solid. One other point to consider, turtles eat fish. Fish are useful in a pond to eat mosquito larvae, which is why I have rosy red's in my backyard lily garden. Unlike goldfish or koi they don't eat water lily roots either.

[snapping247]

Thanks guys, I'm thinking about not putting turts. in the pond, being that its going to be right next to my paver patio i would want it to look nice with lilies, and all different kinds of plants.

[hankn]

Buy a garden umbrella and place it so it provides maximum cover during the hottest hours of the day. In fall, take down and store.

[ITHURTZ]

floating plants

[The Zigman]

Fountains and waterfalls are a good way to cool a pond, but they both promote a good amount of evaporation..

[excuzzzeme]

Along with the temperature you need to be concerned about oxygen depletion during the hottest days. Your plants may not be enough to sustain the O2 level.

Fountains and waterfalls that Zig suggested are also a good way to get the O2 into the water.

[snapping247]

i have a laguna filter wich is going to pure into the pond to create airasion

[Flaringshutter]

Also - remember that the nights in summer are quite warm, and you'll have a lot of oxygen depletion going on at night with all those plants. Putting out oxygen during the day, they won't cause any problems, but they'll be using up quite a bit at night, and with the warm water not holding much oxygen anyway, you might want to think about a fountain or waterfall to cool and aerate.

[snapping247]

I have a laguna powerflow 1000 filter, heres pics. of it

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq194/jakebarnes_2008/PONDFILTER006.jpg

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq194/jakebarnes_2008/PONDFILTER003.jpg

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq194/jakebarnes_2008/PONDFILTER004.jpg

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq194/jakebarnes_2008/PONDFILTER002.jpg

The two output nozzles are going to be puring into the pond causing alot of airasion.

[Waterscaper]

That filter is over kill and that is always the best way to go in my experience with ponds, with this and as many plants of as many different varieties as possible you should not need uv , I think you are going to be happy with your results, but this will undoubtedly result in your wanting a larger pond, and that can only be a good thing.

[Desertponder]

The 300 gallon stock tank is not going to get too hot even in full sun. At least its my experience they won't. It would probably depend on the climate you are in but I'm in the hot desert. As long as you keep the water moving and provide aeration you'll be fine.
If you wish you could put up a large umbrella to help shade it or some shade sails.

[Mr. U]

If you want to have your pond stay cooler during the summer, you may have to dig deeper, thus creating a bigger pond. Providing shade via landscaping could help keep the direct sunlight away from your pond. I have a friend that scrapped his pond project. He had a pre-fab pond liner that was too shallow and was out in direct sunlight. I don't know what finally did it, but it was either the algae that formed, the neighborhood cats, or the neighborhood kids, or his cutting corners and trying to do the project the cheap way. The end result was a dead pond filled with goo. I even gave him bamboo, umbrella palm, and hyacinth plants to help him - all dead.