How Hardy are RTCs

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benzjamin13

benzjamin13

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Sep 12, 2005
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Would I be able to keep one in an outdoor above ground pond in SoCal (Los Angeles area)? Would it last through the winters?
 
Very hardy, but will have problems with poor water quality. They should do fine in a pond year round in SoCal. I know of someone who kept a RTC out doors in Indiana for many years.

I didn't see the aboveground part at first lol. Exactly how cold does it get in the winer out there?
 
jconley;1111654; said:
Very hardy, but will have problems with poor water quality. They should do fine in a pond year round in SoCal. I know of someone who kept a RTC out doors in Indiana for many years.

I didn't see the aboveground part at first lol. Exactly how cold does it get in the winer out there?
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Well...this past winter was the coldest I've ever been through with the temperature dropping into the low 30's maybe high 20's at night.
 
Hmmm.... that would be a problem, unless you could cover and heat the pond.
 
I probably wouldn't try it, at least not year round.
 
You could insulate and build a waterproof box around the pond with an insulated lid, and heat it. Wouldn't take much. I did it with my pond when it was outside in montana. I kept the water at 80 f. when it was -40 windchil and 3ft of snow around it. I used a 500w titanium heater. Even the box for the filters was insulated. Pond was 350 gals.
 
necrocanis;1112039; said:
You could insulate and build a waterproof box around the pond with an insulated lid, and heat it. Wouldn't take much. I did it with my pond when it was outside in montana. I kept the water at 80 f. when it was -40 windchil and 3ft of snow around it. I used a 500w titanium heater. Even the box for the filters was insulated. Pond was 350 gals.
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How was your electric bill!?!? lol.

I was gonna suggest something similar but figured the utility cost would be just silly.

Also if you can give an average increase of cost, percentage wise, in your electric bill (and assuming it's not crazy), you can bet your *** that I'll be doing that soon!!!!!
 
no, the utilities were unaffected. It was the same as heating it indoors. The heater hardly ever ran because of all the insulation. I made a box around the pond great stuffed all the seams, put plastic coated styrofoam insulation on all flat surfaces inside, and used regular attic batting to fill all voids. I filled it to the max. Once at temp it hardly ever ran when the top was in place. I mad an insulated top for it also. That's the real key is to seal the heat and moisture inside. My electric bill went from about $75 per month to around $85 per month, and that was with everything in my house running.
 
necrocanis;1112080; said:
no, the utilities were unaffected. It was the same as heating it indoors. The heater hardly ever ran because of all the insulation. I made a box around the pond great stuffed all the seams, put plastic coated styrofoam insulation on all flat surfaces inside, and used regular attic batting to fill all voids. I filled it to the max. Once at temp it hardly ever ran when the top was in place. I mad an insulated top for it also. That's the real key is to seal the heat and moisture inside. My electric bill went from about $75 per month to around $85 per month, and that was with everything in my house running.
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Question Answered!! Of course I'm about as handy as a foot so I'll have to enlist some of my more able friends;) .
 
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