First Tropical Pond Build

[Duncan6618]

Looks like you have plenty of room for a solar heater. I'm thinking of trying one next winter to see how warm I can keep the water through our cold spells. My pacu died when the temp got below 55F but they were fine and still eating when the temp was around 60F. I would think you could manage to keep the temp above 60F pretty easy with just one solar panel if you covered the pond during the cold spells. The kits I've seen are around $300.

Or you could try something like this for less $
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvZaCCsSOr4&feature=player_embedded

 

[charles-n-charge]

This is stuff I've considered before, but heres the major issue: Winter= very little sunlight. So most solar heating methods simply wont work during the winter season.

 

[charles-n-charge]

Just found this thread, love it. Any more updates on what the pond is looking like right now?

About the same but with lots of leafs. I'm constantly skimming them out.
Still no filtration on it whatsoever.
And I had my first death in the pond the other day. Walked outside and saw a little dead goldfish floating at the top. I'm assuming it is the one that looked brain-dead when I released them all

 

[aldiaz33]

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

Check out post 116 of this thread: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...Yourself&p=1399512&highlight=heat#post1399512

This guy had an 8,000G outdoor plywood tank in Washington and kept some of the fishes you are trying to keep. This proves that it can be done, but it's going to cost you a whole lot of money. As you mention, insulation is crucial, but you are also going to have to use some major power to maintain tropical temps when it drops down into the 20s and 30s.

Why not just throw some Koi in there so you don't have to worry about heating it? With the money you would be saving on heating costs, you could buy some show quality koi.

 

[charles-n-charge]

Check out post 116 of this thread: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...Yourself&p=1399512&highlight=heat#post1399512

This guy had an 8,000G outdoor plywood tank in Washington and kept some of the fishes you are trying to keep. This proves that it can be done, but it's going to cost you a whole lot of money. As you mention, insulation is crucial, but you are also going to have to use some major power to maintain tropical temps when it drops down into the 20s and 30s.

Why not just throw some Koi in there so you don't have to worry about heating it? With the money you would be saving on heating costs, you could buy some show quality koi.

Because of the fact that I already have the fish.

And the water in the pond is holding a temp of 55-60 even during our days that are below 40. Our winters are very lite, we only have a few days that drop below 35, most of our winter is in the high 40's to mid 50's. I'm thinking that a 10-20 degree difference could be done without electricity.

 

[charles-n-charge]

This is my extremely complex and detailed heating system...

1) in-put.
2) Pipe on the inside of the barrel that releases the water above the water-level
3) Used to release steam/pressure that is built-up inside the heating chamber
4) Always water to freely flow out of the barrel at the top as it fills (hot water raises, so hot water is what leaves. in theory)
5) out-put
6) fire under barrel. it'll most likely be a semi-closed chamber full of hot embers though (burns slower but is still hot enough)

This, along with a solar pool cover, should be all I need as far as heating goes.

 

[Muske]

By solar pool cover, do you mean the bubble wrap style that floats on the surface?

Are there still plans for enclosing the pond? That is going to really helps keep temps. up. Even a temporary winter greenhouse/quanset will do and can be taken down in spring.

Is the blue pool liner treated with any algaesides? The goldfish are good testers, but the summer sun might photodegrade the liner and release harmful unknown chemicals into the water. Might be good to keep the tropicals indoors (if possible) til the filtration and summer sun has done some work on the pond.

Dont feed the goldies if water temps. are below 50. 50-60 degrees feed a wheat germ based food for eas in digestion a couple of times a week. Above 60 feed a good quality Koi food daily since the kitties and Aro will load up on them and they will be fat and healthy by then.

Are you planning on putting a surface skimmer on it? It will do wonders for leaf collection.

2X overturn would be the minimum I would go for. Using several energy effecient, strong pond pumps for filtration and extra areation in the summer. This is however coming from a person who strongly believes in overfiltering everything.

Looking good so far. Good luck and can't wait to see the cats in there...

 

[aldiaz33]

I read on a pond forum where somene used these pool solar covers (basically blue bubble wrap that sits directly on the ponds surface) and lost all of his fish. He thinks it was because with the bubble wrap directly on the pond's surface, there was no oxygen exchange and the fish suffocated. So if you plan to use a solar cover, make sure you have a stong air pump to oxygenate the water.

 

[derekp]

Its coming along nicely. Just a word of caution, I dont know if you were planning on putting the pacu in there too but if it were mine I wouldnt. I have 5 pacu and I didnt put them in my pond this summer because they chewed the liner in my 700 gallon indoor pond. They pretty much chew on anything including electrical wires and air lines. If they decided to chew the liner in the pond it would be very costly and time consuming to fix. Just a warning, it is up to but if I were you I would leave them in the aquarium.

 

[charles-n-charge]

By solar pool cover, do you mean the bubble wrap style that floats on the surface?

Are there still plans for enclosing the pond? That is going to really helps keep temps. up. Even a temporary winter greenhouse/quanset will do and can be taken down in spring.

Is the blue pool liner treated with any algaesides? The goldfish are good testers, but the summer sun might photodegrade the liner and release harmful unknown chemicals into the water. Might be good to keep the tropicals indoors (if possible) til the filtration and summer sun has done some work on the pond.

Dont feed the goldies if water temps. are below 50. 50-60 degrees feed a wheat germ based food for eas in digestion a couple of times a week. Above 60 feed a good quality Koi food daily since the kitties and Aro will load up on them and they will be fat and healthy by then.

Are you planning on putting a surface skimmer on it? It will do wonders for leaf collection.

2X overturn would be the minimum I would go for. Using several energy effecient, strong pond pumps for filtration and extra areation in the summer. This is however coming from a person who strongly believes in overfiltering everything.

Looking good so far. Good luck and can't wait to see the cats in there...

Yes the bubble-wrap style is what I'm talking about.

I'm not sure about the enclosure yet. It's an idea thats still up in the air.

Not sure about the liner. I never really thought about that one honestly. Good call

I'm only feeding the goldies when the temp gets about 60+

Definitely doing a surface skimmer

And my turn-over rate will probably be around 1.5ish