how do u keep a koi pool from freezing
- Thread starter BadRoma1
- Start date
I'm not sure where you are but, my ponds will ice over in the winter. There are reeds and such that break the surface and provide for some gas exchange. I'm not sure you'd need something like that unless your pond would freeze really deep for a long period of time. I'm in the south so other parts of the country are different.
hth
chris
hth
chris
Actually, we need some more information here.
For one, unless you have an astronomical sized pond, you can't support "100's of free Koi." Koi get very large and need excellent, top notch filtration and water quality.
Secondly, just what do you have to keep the fish in? Do you have a pond? What kind? How many gallons and how deep? What is your climate where you live? If your pond is at least 3 feet deep and wouldn't freeze solid in your climate you really don't have to heat it. You only need to keep a hole open in the surface ice to allow for gas exchange.
Depending on what you have for a pond, the stock tank heater may work but you will notice it on your electric bill. They are electicity hogs.
For one, unless you have an astronomical sized pond, you can't support "100's of free Koi." Koi get very large and need excellent, top notch filtration and water quality.
Secondly, just what do you have to keep the fish in? Do you have a pond? What kind? How many gallons and how deep? What is your climate where you live? If your pond is at least 3 feet deep and wouldn't freeze solid in your climate you really don't have to heat it. You only need to keep a hole open in the surface ice to allow for gas exchange.
Depending on what you have for a pond, the stock tank heater may work but you will notice it on your electric bill. They are electicity hogs.
Yeah, those heaters are energy pigs. They're usually 1000-1500w, and it would be running 24/7 for about 3-4 months depending on the severity of the winter. Thats 24+ kWh per day, and the cost of electricity (at least around here) has taken a hike recently. Not cheap to run.
It is possible to make a DIY de-icer, not that it keeps the pond "de-iced" but it does keep a hole open in the ice. My pond had 8-10" of ice and this de-icer kept a hole open.
http://wernersponds.com/deicer.html
Top of the page shows a greenhouse style deicer. I like the directions for the "tub" de-icer..no pictures but the bottom of the page gives the directions for a de-icer using a shallow tub and regular light bulbs. I used a deeper rubbermaid tub (15 gallon?) but the same idea of the 4" pipe around the bottom edge so it floats. I also used the insulation inside the tub that looks like bubblewrap with silver sides. Help to reflect the heat down and not out. I used 2 flourescent 13 watt bulbs, cheap to run and 2 so if one goes out the other is back up. The pics are no longer there I think because the guy who had the idea now has a DIY CD that he sells with the directions/pictures.
I need to make a new one this year, or I'm hoping to cover the pond with a low greenhouse!!. The rubbermaid tubs are not UV resistant and after 2 years outside (dummy me, should have put it in out of the sun in summer
) the plastic deteriorated and broke. Cheap to make, cheaper yet to run vs a stock tank heater and just as affective.
http://wernersponds.com/deicer.html
Top of the page shows a greenhouse style deicer. I like the directions for the "tub" de-icer..no pictures but the bottom of the page gives the directions for a de-icer using a shallow tub and regular light bulbs. I used a deeper rubbermaid tub (15 gallon?) but the same idea of the 4" pipe around the bottom edge so it floats. I also used the insulation inside the tub that looks like bubblewrap with silver sides. Help to reflect the heat down and not out. I used 2 flourescent 13 watt bulbs, cheap to run and 2 so if one goes out the other is back up. The pics are no longer there I think because the guy who had the idea now has a DIY CD that he sells with the directions/pictures.
I need to make a new one this year, or I'm hoping to cover the pond with a low greenhouse!!. The rubbermaid tubs are not UV resistant and after 2 years outside (dummy me, should have put it in out of the sun in summer
) the plastic deteriorated and broke. Cheap to make, cheaper yet to run vs a stock tank heater and just as affective.
That's a really neat idea and so cost-effective. :thm:frloplady said:
I'm thinking about making a small koi pond myself and I may just adopt your DIY de-icer idea.