Thread: Heated versus Non Heated Pond

i am thinking about adding a heater to my 2000G pond, what are the pro's & cons and your thoughts on it. i was thinking a 9kw inverter would be ok.
thoughts please.
Thanks
Paul

I'm running an 9kw thermotec inverter on my pond around 3000 gallons, seems to keep up ok

Pros for me so far
Consistent temperature, no drops through the night
Even though the weather has gone cooler I'm still at 24c
Able to extend the summer/growing season (see above)
Ashp is extremely quiet, I only know it's running when I see the leaves blowing near to it
I can keep the temperature to what I see as acceptable imo during the colder months and not have to watch my koi huddled down on the pond floor.
Controlled rise in temperature during spring time

Cons
Electric bill
Koi food bill

Overall it's worth it for me

Originally Posted by ABN67

I'm running an 9kw thermotec inverter on my pond around 3000 gallons, seems to keep up ok

Pros for me so far
Consistent temperature, no drops through the night
Even though the weather has gone cooler I'm still at 24c
Able to extend the summer/growing season (see above)
Ashp is extremely quiet, I only know it's running when I see the leaves blowing near to it
I can keep the temperature to what I see as acceptable imo during the colder months and not have to watch my koi huddled down on the pond floor.
Controlled rise in temperature during spring time

Cons
Electric bill
Koi food bill

Overall it's worth it for me

Same here, there's no Cons as far as the Koi are concerned - my experience so far has been really good with consistently happy and healthy koi all year round (aside from unrelated medical concerns).

it’s a no brainer. It’s not expensive to heat to ten degrees as I do. The fish are much happier.

I would rather argue the merits of consistently raising your country's unstable summer peak water temperatures to around 25 degrees.

Heated and Grew KOIs
The list compiled here features examples from regions unable to achieve the highest natural water temperatures seen in Japan, demonstrating how these challenges have been overcome to enhance KOI's physical stature and boost their immunity.

I'm another that would say it is really good, it is great getting a full year of enjoyment out of the fish, and not seeing them sat on the bottom for months!!

It is also good if In the winter you can utilise an EV charging tariff, and do a lot of the heating through the night, it's even worth considering getting the tariff even if you don't have an EV in my opinion!!

ONE Side note, if heating please do cover the pond and any windows, or you will feel the bite of costs a good chunk more!!

Originally Posted by dbs

I'm another that would say it is really good, it is great getting a full year of enjoyment out of the fish, and not seeing them sat on the bottom for months!!

It is also good if In the winter you can utilise an EV charging tariff, and do a lot of the heating through the night, it's even worth considering getting the tariff even if you don't have an EV in my opinion!!

ONE Side note, if heating please do cover the pond and any windows, or you will feel the bite of costs a good chunk more!!

I already have 7pKW with octopus overnight 2330-0530 so i suppose that is when the temp drops. will get celotex to cover the window

Perfect yeah, if you can put your heating on a timer, utilise that timing as the main boost, then there is less cost of topping up during the day when/if the sun is out, I let mine drop slightly in the evening to get the best compromise, not worth boosting it up at triple the cost, I have Solar PV electric storage too, but I can sell it at double the cost rather than running the heatpump at night

it's all a bit of a juggle

Originally Posted by dbs

Perfect yeah, if you can put your heating on a timer, utilise that timing as the main boost, then there is less cost of topping up during the day when/if the sun is out, I let mine drop slightly in the evening to get the best compromise, not worth boosting it up at triple the cost, I have Solar PV electric storage too, but I can sell it at double the cost rather than running the heatpump at night

it's all a bit of a juggle

so with the cheap electric , what are your daytime winter water temps and what do you boost to on the timer ?

Originally Posted by Jedstone

so with the cheap electric , what are your daytime winter water temps and what do you boost to on the timer ?

Last year the coldest months of Jan & Feb I kept at 15 degrees ish - I'd have the ASHP set to 15, it would pull it up to that no problem, then in the daytime I may boost it for the odd hour if it dropped more than say 1/2 a degree.

This year I'm thinking of trying for 16 degrees Jan and down to 15 for Feb, then start ramping it up again... the way I see it, as long as insulated and covered before it gets too cold, the heat stays in the water from the summer and you are just topping it up whilst it slowly lowers if that makes sense

Originally Posted by dbs

Last year the coldest months of Jan & Feb I kept at 15 degrees ish - I'd have the ASHP set to 15, it would pull it up to that no problem, then in the daytime I may boost it for the odd hour if it dropped more than say 1/2 a degree.

This year I'm thinking of trying for 16 degrees Jan and down to 15 for Feb, then start ramping it up again... the way I see it, as long as insulated and covered before it gets too cold, the heat stays in the water from the summer and you are just topping it up whilst it slowly lowers if that makes sense

sorry for all the questions, but do you not have to let them have a short winter at all

I have ordered a Remora I9, arrives tomorrow

Originally Posted by Jedstone

sorry for all the questions, but do you not have to let them have a short winter at all

No problem asking at all, I think there is arguments for both, a rest is good for them to some as it may prolong their lives, but for others like me I prefer to not make them venerable to diseases and infections that 'may' already be present and have the chance to flourish unchallenged when the koi's immune system is drastically low, well virtually shut down.

I have done both and did lose fish, but I did also add them during the year so may have introduced something, so the reasoning I am not certain, all I do know is that since I have heated I have got to see the fish year round, both the fish and the water appear to be more healthy and the odd fish that was ill I have seen them through a couple of winters which I believe they would not have survived if the water was say 4 degrees...

The long & short of it, to me they look and behave great all year round for my enjoyment