Pond Heaters

[John Burton]

We had a good freeze last week, ended up with ice across my entire pond
except 1) where the water falls from the bio filter and 2) the skimmer.

Question is this. In order to be prepared for the next freeze (spring ain't
here yet) I'm wondering what type of heater (or bubbler) I should install.
Y'see I have an 11' x 16' pond, about 24" deep at the deep end. Seven
Comets and one Koi in the pond as of last spring, but I haven't seen them
for nearly two months. I expect they're hiding in the hidey holes built by
all the rocks that line the pond.

Suggestions?

--
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=

john burton
Bach 50B3
Bass Trombone, Charleston NeoPhonic Orchestra
South Charleston, West Virginia

[GrannyGrump]

>We had a good freeze last week, ended up with ice across my entire pond
>except 1) where the water falls from the bio filter and 2) the skimmer.
>
>Question is this. In order to be prepared for the next freeze (spring ain't
>here yet) I'm wondering what type of heater (or bubbler) I should install.

As long as you have a hole open for gases to dissipate (sp?) You don't
need a heater.

However, if you really feel you need one, go to a farm supply and get
a floating stock tank heater.

You can order online from www.northerntools.com

[tim chandler]

John,

You might also want to check out
http://www.worldpetstore.com/ponddeicer.html
They have a floating heater and a submersible, the submersible is 1500
Watts.

Tim

[RichToyBox]

You only need to keep a hole open in the surface of the ice for gas
exchange, allowing toxic gasses to escape and oxygen to enter. An aquarium
air pump with an air stone will keep the surface moving enough to prevent
freezing in many ponds, and they are much cheaper to operate than the
heaters. The stock tank heaters are useful, but to limit electrical usage,
only plug them in as the pond really starts to freeze over. They have a
thermostat that comes on when the temperature gets near freezing, but the
small size of heater, and relatively large open pond makes them energy hogs
trying to heat the pond, when they can only keep a hole open.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"John Burton" > wrote in message
...
> We had a good freeze last week, ended up with ice across my entire pond
> except 1) where the water falls from the bio filter and 2) the skimmer.
>
> Question is this. In order to be prepared for the next freeze (spring
ain't
> here yet) I'm wondering what type of heater (or bubbler) I should install.
> Y'see I have an 11' x 16' pond, about 24" deep at the deep end. Seven
> Comets and one Koi in the pond as of last spring, but I haven't seen them
> for nearly two months. I expect they're hiding in the hidey holes built
by
> all the rocks that line the pond.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> --
> ~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
>
> john burton
> Bach 50B3
> Bass Trombone, Charleston NeoPhonic Orchestra
> South Charleston, West Virginia
>
>

[BenignVanilla]

"John Burton" > wrote in message
...
> We had a good freeze last week, ended up with ice across my entire pond
> except 1) where the water falls from the bio filter and 2) the skimmer.
>
> Question is this. In order to be prepared for the next freeze (spring
ain't
> here yet) I'm wondering what type of heater (or bubbler) I should install.
> Y'see I have an 11' x 16' pond, about 24" deep at the deep end. Seven
> Comets and one Koi in the pond as of last spring, but I haven't seen them
> for nearly two months. I expect they're hiding in the hidey holes built
by
> all the rocks that line the pond.

I use a small pump sitting in a filter box in the shallows. It moves the
surface water without circulating the lower, warmer water. Some other PORG's
have had bad experiences with this method, but so far, it is working just
fine for me, keeping a nice hole open. I'll check in again in February and
see how happy I am. LOL.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[VomSilbertal]

You're ok as long as the whole surface is not frozen. By having the opening
where the waterfall is the gasses in the water can escape. I use an aeration
system in my pond for this reason.

[Rich]

My heater broke some years ago. I use a pump to circulate water, and keep a
hole open.



"VomSilbertal" > wrote in message
...
> You're ok as long as the whole surface is not frozen. By having the
opening
> where the waterfall is the gasses in the water can escape. I use an
aeration
> system in my pond for this reason.

[BenignVanilla]

"Rich" > wrote in message
...
> My heater broke some years ago. I use a pump to circulate water, and keep
a
> hole open.
<snip>

I am doing the same, this my first winter. I have a small pump sitting in
the shallows. So far it has kept a 1/3 of the pond clear of ice.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[GrannyGrump]

>I am doing the same, this my first winter. I have a small pump sitting in
>the shallows. So far it has kept a 1/3 of the pond clear of ice.

That's more than enough for the exchange of gases.

[ponder]

and please turn off the waterfalls, it will freeze and back up and empty the
pond.

"BenignVanilla" > wrote in message
...
>
> "John Burton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > We had a good freeze last week, ended up with ice across my entire pond
> > except 1) where the water falls from the bio filter and 2) the skimmer.
> >
> > Question is this. In order to be prepared for the next freeze (spring
> ain't
> > here yet) I'm wondering what type of heater (or bubbler) I should
install.
> > Y'see I have an 11' x 16' pond, about 24" deep at the deep end. Seven
> > Comets and one Koi in the pond as of last spring, but I haven't seen
them
> > for nearly two months. I expect they're hiding in the hidey holes built
> by
> > all the rocks that line the pond.
>
> I use a small pump sitting in a filter box in the shallows. It moves the
> surface water without circulating the lower, warmer water. Some other
PORG's
> have had bad experiences with this method, but so far, it is working just
> fine for me, keeping a nice hole open. I'll check in again in February and
> see how happy I am. LOL.
>
> BV.
> www.iheartmypond.com
>
>