First Tropical Pond Build
- Thread starter charles-n-charge
- Start date
http://www.heatingyourpond.com/submersible-heaters.html
According to the calculator above, you would need 20.5KW (20,500 watts) to heat 5,500 Gallons to 75F if the ambient air temperature is 45F.
If the heater cycles on for 8 hours per day (using the national average of $0.11 per KWHr) it will cost you around $540 per month. You don't see anyone running a tropical pond (unless they live in a tropical climate) because it is impractical to heat.
I got this reality check a few months ago...maintaining large bodies of water at tropical temperatures is ridiculously expensive.
According to the calculator above, you would need 20.5KW (20,500 watts) to heat 5,500 Gallons to 75F if the ambient air temperature is 45F.
If the heater cycles on for 8 hours per day (using the national average of $0.11 per KWHr) it will cost you around $540 per month. You don't see anyone running a tropical pond (unless they live in a tropical climate) because it is impractical to heat.
I got this reality check a few months ago...maintaining large bodies of water at tropical temperatures is ridiculously expensive.
That's some very good info to have. Thanks.
I'm thinking that if I use a few natural methods for heating, along with a way to try to hold the temperature, that it won't use as much electricity.
My current plan is to use a solar pool cover (to hold the heat in), water heater (to produce the heat), and a small air heater (to keep the air under the cover warm) that it'll work. I actually think that just the air heater and pool cover would do it to be honest.
Water loses its temperature to the air around it, so if I can keep the air over the water warm, the water should also stay warm. At least in theory.
I could be completely wrong though, so feel free to call me out on that one if it doesnt make sense
I'm thinking that if I use a few natural methods for heating, along with a way to try to hold the temperature, that it won't use as much electricity.
My current plan is to use a solar pool cover (to hold the heat in), water heater (to produce the heat), and a small air heater (to keep the air under the cover warm) that it'll work. I actually think that just the air heater and pool cover would do it to be honest.
Water loses its temperature to the air around it, so if I can keep the air over the water warm, the water should also stay warm. At least in theory.
I could be completely wrong though, so feel free to call me out on that one if it doesnt make sense
Water temp is at 50f on the surface and at the bottom. The goldfish are all huddled up at the bottom and are moving pretty slowly. None of them are dead though, i still find that amazing lol
I've put gold fish in my above ground pool in the past over the winter (as an experiment).
The outside temp would drop to -25C in the winter. In the spring all the gold fish were well and alive.
The outside temp would drop to -25C in the winter. In the spring all the gold fish were well and alive.
Just brought home 14 baby plecos the other day. They were on sale at petsmart for $1.15 a piece so I took all they had left. Hopefully theyll do well in the pond once they're large enough. They're all about 2" and theyre currently in my 35g grow-out tank. I'm giving them algae waffers, chopped veggies, and raw shrimp (My largest pleco loves to suck on raw shrimps).
All together I now have 17 plecos. largest is 13-14", second largest is about 10", third is about 6", and the other 14 are 2".
I think this may be too many plecos for a 5,500g pond, but considering how sunny texas is, there should be enough algae growing for them all to eat. Aggression is my only worry.
Any input guys?
All together I now have 17 plecos. largest is 13-14", second largest is about 10", third is about 6", and the other 14 are 2".
I think this may be too many plecos for a 5,500g pond, but considering how sunny texas is, there should be enough algae growing for them all to eat. Aggression is my only worry.
Any input guys?
They are very impressive when it comes to extreme water conditions. Very hardy fish.
What I find amazing is that I brought them home, put them in a 5 gallon bucket for two days with an airstone, put them outside for 15 minutes, put the bucket in the water for 30 minutes, then dumped them all into a big cold pond; and not even a single fish died throughout this entire process.
Anyone who thinks goldfish are lame fish are strongly mistaken lol they've proven their coolness to me.
I still use them as feeders though, but now I do it with a hint of guilt...
nice build so far bud.. cant wait to see it through, i just subscribed.. and thats definitely a big lot of plecos lol..
