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  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    do you run a shower over winter

    Getting a shower installed next week, i am in two minds wether to run it or not or wait till spring... its a 3 tier with weir outfall, i can slide the middle polycover over and make room for it but have read on here over the years that majority turn their showers off during the winter as the cold air will chill the returning water and over time reduce the pond temp down.
    I need to submerge each tier in PP prior to installation what dosage would you reccommed i use to disinfect the media and how long should i submerge for ? media is crystal bio in top tier and bottom two tiers BHM.
    Thanks in advance Steve


    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

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  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
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    if you turn the shower off over winter the bacteria will die in the media and decompose in it too,
    so would need cleaning and starting from square one every year...

    mine is in the filter house where it won't lose heat as easily as out side in the cold....
    but most ponds i've seen with them just clad in polycarbonate..
    and may even insulate mine in winter....

    losing a bit of heat won't matter that much now, with your ASHP set up on the pond.

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  5. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Whitey79's Avatar
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    Mine is the same as daves as it's inside my filters house with the weir exiting through the wall and it's now all polly carb covered to keep the heat in want to keep running to save bacteria to get a head start next spring

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  7. #4
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    I would get it fired up Steve as you are heated,insulate it well to keep wind chill out and heat in.
    If you are going to keep lowish temps over winter I would slow it down a bit as it may not mature much till spring/ summer anyway.
    As regards pp, if new I wouldn't bother just give it a good wash out and the media a few will probably disagree but there are no nasties in there if new.

    Mine is in the garage and exits through the wall to the pond and not heated so I slow it down a bit.

    Your pond is coming on well Steve with ashp and shower going in,what ashp did you get ?
    John

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  9. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Spongebob's Avatar
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    I have a rotoshower, I was going to leave it, but long pipe runs and difficult to insulate. So Ive stashed all the crystal bio in the nexus which somehow fitted with doubled air supply, seems to have worked ok, readings remaining the same. Id definitely start it if youre heated. Inside is defo the place for a shower if possible
    Fibreglassed/5000 gals/4.5 m Tunnel/Spindrifter/Twin drums/Bio chambers/Beads/Showers/Remora ASHP

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  11. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Personally I think it boils down to how much you need the extra bio filtration.

    If you really need it ASAP, then I'd start it now. If not then I think I'd leave it till next year.

    The reason I say this is it will add to the power usage, not just in terms of the pump to feed it, but as you point out, also for the additional heating that will be required, as the shower will take out some of the heat that the ASHP is adding. So for me, the additional costs this winter would outweigh the benefit gained from running an immature filter, especially if you now are on the energy price cap.

    Plus shower media is much quicker at maturing than plastic media. So if you were to turn the shower on, say in early March, it should be doing its thing well (although maybe not 100%) by the time summer comes round.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

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  13. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai AntB's Avatar
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    I just run mine in winter with no additional insulation and also the pond is heated and uncovered. Insulating will save a bit of heat loss, but will affect the gassing off capabilities of the shower. I have insulated the shower and covered in the past, but don't bother now.

    I would add that the shower is in quite a sheltered position now the garden is more mature.
    6,000 gallons, aerated bottom drains, Duratec heat pump, Profidrum, Biomax 50, Bakki shower

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    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai JimJones's Avatar
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    Get it installed now

    I have a shower running from a superfish 20k pump

    In winter just half the power down to keep the media wet and keep the bio going.

    Once temp start to get warmer I just put the pump back to full power.

    Jim

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  17. #9
    You could leave it for this winter if you aren't desperate for the bio and start in spring, once you get it going carry on through winter if heated. Can't see the point in turning them off, by the time they get running 100% it's almost winter again, waste of time running a shower at all in that scenario.
    34,000L, 2xSpindrifters, Aqua Sieve2, Nexus300, 24in K1/bead, Momotaro Bakki, 17kwThermotec Inverter

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  19. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    I would get it fired up Steve as you are heated,insulate it well to keep wind chill out and heat in.
    If you are going to keep lowish temps over winter I would slow it down a bit as it may not mature much till spring/ summer anyway.
    As regards pp, if new I wouldn't bother just give it a good wash out and the media a few will probably disagree but there are no nasties in there if new.

    Mine is in the garage and exits through the wall to the pond and not heated so I slow it down a bit.

    Your pond is coming on well Steve with ashp and shower going in,what ashp did you get ?

    Hi John
    The ASHP is an Astral Pro Elyo Touch all year heat pump 10.5kw, cost me £1k its 5 months old and only used for 3 months, the shower is also used, £500 its 1000mm 3 tier with 1 x crystal bio and 2 x BHM, its had very light use and not very old as was used to run a grow on tank, so because its used to be safe i need to disinfect the bio so wondered what PP dilution rate i should use....all the best Steve
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

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  21. #11
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Hi Steve,
    As the shower has been used then yes defo pp it,not sure on the dosage but would put in a load as it's cheap enough and leave it a day or two.
    Been looking at ashp yours looks cheap enough have you a link Steve?

    Isnt chloramine T another steriliser?
    John

  22. #12
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Just caught on did you get the ashp 2nd hand?
    John

  23. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Just caught on did you get the ashp 2nd hand?
    yes mate there around £2000 + new....
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

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