A solar cover laid on the surface of the water interfers with the gas
exchange, toxics out, oxygen in. With the lean-to or a domed structure, gas
exchange is the same as without a cover. The solar cover has a relative R
value for heat to cross from the water to the cold outside air. The lean-to
structure has a lot of dead air, which is a pretty good insulator, between
the water and the outside. My lean-to is covered with 2 layers of poly
sheeting and 1 layer of the solar cover, so my R value from warm air over
pond to cold outside air is higher than just solar cover. Plants do not
have to be removed from the pond if covered with lean-to structure, and I
keep tropical plants over the winter with blooms on tropical lilies until
late January, cannas bloom all winter, taro blooms during the winter. Since
a solar cover is designed for direct water contact, all of these plants
would have to go.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"MC" wrote in message
om...
What are the pros and cons of lean to versus a solar type surface cover?

wrote in message
...
I am in zone 5, Milwaukee north of you and to keep the pond clear of ice
all winter
is cover it with a plastic lean to and run an airstone and/or a pump.
The freezing
does not actually get that deep. That is how deep it has been recorded,
probably
during the "little ice age" and no snow cover or out in the middle of a
farmers
field. this is the depth used for burying people so their coffins dont
get heaved
out of the ground by frost.
all summer long my pond heats the surrounding soil. the 1.5 feet sticks
up out of
the ground is insulated.
in any case, 500 watts did 1600 gallons kept water at or above 50o all
but one month
this last winter. Ingrid

(MC) wrote:
I believe the frostline in Chicago is 36" meaning that the ground
freezes up to 36 below ground. In zone 7 I could see the ground
staying 55 degrees, but not here.


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