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  1. #1
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Mature Champion pip895's Avatar
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    Considering fitting a cheap ASHP

    Currently I have a 2KW emergency heater on my pond that only comes on below 6deg. The idea is to ensure that the pond never falls below 4deg - last year it struggled and the temperature dropped to just over 3deg so at that point I turned off the BD and BD aeration (put a small bubbler in the mid water level instead as I am 75% covered using a floating cover) and let the pond layers settle. This seemed to work as I tested the water using a thermocouple on a pole and the lower layer went up to 3.8 deg. The 2kw heater was on permanently for nearly a week.

    The inefficiency and lack of capacity of the system has got me thinking about installing an ASHP but I really cant justify thousands of pounds on a pucker system. The system payback would be ridiculously long. ASHP are now pretty mainstream and domestic systems come up second hand on eBay not infrequently. There are also small new or reconditioned domestic systems about pretty cheaply ~£500.

    Is there any reason I couldn't use one of these? I know cheap swimming pool systems can be very inefficient at low temperatures but that doesn't seem to be a problem with domestic systems as they are designed to work down to -15degC - what am I missing.


    6000g in ground koi pond
    +3000g lily/Anoxic pond attached
    29 koi (40 to 65cm)
    Bottom drain, Mid water & Skimmer to Drum
    JBR boichamber->Blue eco 500 pump ->below surface return.
    Blue Eco 240 -> Large MB -> Waterfall -> Planted Anoxic pond (25 baskets)

  2. #2
    Member Rank = Nisai Jasec's Avatar
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    I've heard of some people using Dream ashp.
    You can pick up a 5kw for £500-600.
    jase

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  4. #3
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Mature Champion pip895's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jasec View Post
    I've heard of some people using Dream ashp.
    You can pick up a 5kw for £500-600.
    jase
    Dream was one of the ones I was looking at - they are pool ones rather than domestic so should be easier to fit. I have heard that they can be a bit noisy so that is concerning me a bit, but its not that close to the house and is facing away from us...
    6000g in ground koi pond
    +3000g lily/Anoxic pond attached
    29 koi (40 to 65cm)
    Bottom drain, Mid water & Skimmer to Drum
    JBR boichamber->Blue eco 500 pump ->below surface return.
    Blue Eco 240 -> Large MB -> Waterfall -> Planted Anoxic pond (25 baskets)

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  6. #4
    Was having the same conversation Friday with a couple of mechanical engineers I work with. I don’t want the noise of an ASHP, especially at night so when I redid my central hearing I added a few extra BTU to the boiler just in case I wanted to add a heat exchanger for the pond which would be a decent solution however, the left field conclusion we came to would be to use a biomass boiler/wood burning boiler.
    If you live near some woods (Frensham?) then you could have a free fuel supply.
    The small boilers are about £1200
    Or get an Aga lol
    A colleagues friend has a 12,000m2 home (yes) and uses a biomass boiler, albeit a big one, and only has to light it every 2 weeks which is pretty impressive.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  8. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Mature Champion pip895's Avatar
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    Its a bit of a long pipe run for a boiler in the house - and I think fitting a boiler in the filter house would be quite an undertaking - ott for the little bit of emergency heating I am looking at. I guess if noise at night proved an issue then we could always run it in the day/evening - at least the higher daytime temps would keep the COP up. the choice is something like the Dream or go for one of the smaller house heating ones that would be a bit more of a fiddle to set up but is quieter and a bit cheaper - has anyone done this?
    6000g in ground koi pond
    +3000g lily/Anoxic pond attached
    29 koi (40 to 65cm)
    Bottom drain, Mid water & Skimmer to Drum
    JBR boichamber->Blue eco 500 pump ->below surface return.
    Blue Eco 240 -> Large MB -> Waterfall -> Planted Anoxic pond (25 baskets)

  9. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion andikoi's Avatar
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    i keep looking on ebay at the home air con units that also heat,i thought about putting one in my new pond house and heating the air which should in turn heat the water,also should stop condensation,but can you use these for such an idea,andi

  10. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Scorchio's Avatar
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    Considering fitting a cheap ASHP

    I fitted a crystal ASHP. 8.5 seems to be doing the job. Coldest night so far for me is -2. I'm very exposed and plenty of wind from the valley.
    The pump is not at all noisy when on.

    Theres a link on the web to one running so you can hear just how much noise they make. Google crystal ASHP and you should be able to find it.

    Edit to show correct KW
    Last edited by Scorchio; 05-11-2018 at 02:11 PM.

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  12. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Mature Champion pip895's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scorchio View Post
    I fitted a crystal ASHP. 7KW seems to be doing the job. Coldest night so far for me is -2. I'm very exposed and plenty of wind from the valley.
    The pump is not at all noisy when on.

    Theres a link on the web to one running so you can hear just how much noise they make. Google crystal ASHP and you should be able to find it.
    Are these the ones? - just they don't seem to have a 7KW one??

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Swimming-...-/400409628010
    6000g in ground koi pond
    +3000g lily/Anoxic pond attached
    29 koi (40 to 65cm)
    Bottom drain, Mid water & Skimmer to Drum
    JBR boichamber->Blue eco 500 pump ->below surface return.
    Blue Eco 240 -> Large MB -> Waterfall -> Planted Anoxic pond (25 baskets)

  13. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Scorchio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pip895 View Post
    Are these the ones? - just they don't seem to have a 7KW one??

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Swimming-...-/400409628010
    Hi Yes that’s the ones.
    Sorry it’s 8.5KW.

    Give them a ring there really helpful.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  14. #10
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Andy is currently sellling his Duratech plus 14kW on here for a bargainous cheap price. You wont find better than that for that money, and you probably need to be looking at that kind of size to get any kind of efficiency.

    Buying an underspecced unit on the grounds of not wanting to heat to a very high temperature is not advisable- it would just be on all the time struggling to do its job. Since the compressor uses electricity that makes your COP worse and wastes money. The guy who owns heatpumps4pools is an expert on this stuff and will happily chat to you about your options.

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  16. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Skoosh88's Avatar
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    If I had the money I would go GSHP and make it pay me back £20 per KWh under the renewable heat incentive Considering fitting a cheap ASHP


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  18. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Skoosh88's Avatar
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    Family man is selling his duratech dura +7 for half price Considering fitting a cheap ASHP


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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