So...I see you guys with your massive tanks...how exactly does everyone do it? I have a 640g pool thats getting upgraded to a 1200g...and I need to come up with a (economical) way to heat the water. The pool will be outside during the warmer months of Wisconsin (as it is now) and what happens during the winter...I still have to work out. But how do you guys do it? Thanks, Fleshy
How to Heat LOTS of water
- Thread starter FLESHY
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Solar power would be a nice way - using a greenhouse effect to heat pipes for instance. Read up on solar ovens if you're interested - it's one of the most economical ideas you'll encounter 
Best idea so far is to take a sump pump out of the pool, and run it through a black hose and then back into the tank. This would be on a timer so it would only run during the daytime, but still it relies on there being sunshine which we havent had in wisconsin for almost a month. (we have been having constant rain.) I need something that is actually consistant...hoping other people might share how they have done it, or if they had any ideas about how one might. Thanks, Fleshy
Evacuated hot water solar tubes work great with some sun.
A small tankless water heat with a recicrulating pump on a thermostate would be good also for less sunny months
A small tankless water heat with a recicrulating pump on a thermostate would be good also for less sunny months
it's all gonna depend on your ambient temperature and what temp you want to keep the pond at. using conventional heating, it's gonna take about 5wpg to raise the temps 10 degrees F over the ambient temperatures, like room temps are 70, and you want to keep the water at 80, it will take 5 watts per gallon of water.
take a look at aquaticeco.com, they have heating for aquaculture, so a 1200g pond should be no problem. these guys have serious equipment!
take a look at aquaticeco.com, they have heating for aquaculture, so a 1200g pond should be no problem. these guys have serious equipment!
Heating is basically a math function. It takes a certain amount of energy to heat 1 gallon of water one degree - Done.
Two things impact the cost of this process, Energy cost and insulation. Heat in. Heat out.
Gas in my area is way cheaper than electricity. If your pond is next to your gas hot water heater then run the Pex line system with a pump connected to a temp probe. The pump turns on at a temperature set point and circulates the hot water through coiled up PEX line in the bottom of the pond. Unfortunately it would not be cost effective it to add another gas hot water heater just for this system.
Solar is great (here in Phoenix) but still has high start up cost.
Insulation is the key for you. You need a cover for that pond! If possible on the expanded part of the pool put down styrofoam between the dirt and the pond liner to give it some insulation from the ground.
Two things impact the cost of this process, Energy cost and insulation. Heat in. Heat out.
Gas in my area is way cheaper than electricity. If your pond is next to your gas hot water heater then run the Pex line system with a pump connected to a temp probe. The pump turns on at a temperature set point and circulates the hot water through coiled up PEX line in the bottom of the pond. Unfortunately it would not be cost effective it to add another gas hot water heater just for this system.
Solar is great (here in Phoenix) but still has high start up cost.
Insulation is the key for you. You need a cover for that pond! If possible on the expanded part of the pool put down styrofoam between the dirt and the pond liner to give it some insulation from the ground.
Insulation is key...unfortunately it takes a lot of styrofoam to make a base for a 1200-1500 gallon tank. Looking into some of the options present here. I also saw some options on the 4300 build thread.
Anything solar powered is questionable in the winter when the sun is elusive. You need to look to the same type of systems that are used to heat basements and floors up north in the winter. Furnace powered boiling water systems. If you have one already, just add a zone and run the appropriate insulated pipe out to your pool then add a PEX coil or other heat exchanger (see Aquatic EcoSystems.com).