The Daily pond temp thread

[Ajm]

Cleveleys, Lancashire, Air temp at 11am was 6c, pond now down to 8c, uncovered, unheated and no insulation on pipework etc. Fish still looking for food especially the little chag but now only getting very small amounts.

I've never covered, even when I was in Caithness in the Far North of Scotland where every year I could guarantee a few weeks of Ice covering the pond. Warmer down here by far so reckon the fish will cope fine but jealous of some of the temps I'm seeing on here. Can't see me ever heating due to finances but now seriously considering covering next year if I can get hold of enough stuff at the right price... we will see.

This is the first year I've done a half decent cover (big change next year) and the temp and fish behaviour change is brilliant like

[Spongebob]

18 today, #Chilly

[smartin]

Hi Steve, is the heater on constantly or to a set temp?
And to how many gals?

Hi John,
I hope your well.....
its on all the time and is costing around £1 .20 to £1.30 a day to run, its set at its lowest setting which is 18.c which is immaterial as the pond won't quite reach that but its close at 17.5c...... just over 2000 gallons, i have the heater inside the jap matting section of the Evolve 4000 which i have done deliberately in the hope it will aid the bacteria ongoing during the cold weather, it seems to be helping...... all the best Steve.

[smartin]

Cleveleys, Lancashire, Air temp at 11am was 6c, pond now down to 8c, uncovered, unheated and no insulation on pipework etc. Fish still looking for food especially the little chag but now only getting very small amounts.

I've never covered, even when I was in Caithness in the Far North of Scotland where every year I could guarantee a few weeks of Ice covering the pond. Warmer down here by far so reckon the fish will cope fine but jealous of some of the temps I'm seeing on here. Can't see me ever heating due to finances but now seriously considering covering next year if I can get hold of enough stuff at the right price... we will see.

Some of the guys managed to get some polycarb sheets from window and conservatory companies who have second hand stuff from new customer installations, might be worth ringing around mate you might get lucky or even offer a charity donation....... i think its grief for them to get rid of second hand sheets...

[arceye]

Some of the guys managed to get some polycarb sheets from window and conservatory companies who have second hand stuff from new customer installations, might be worth ringing around mate you might get lucky or even offer a charity donation....... i think its grief for them to get rid of second hand sheets...

Cheers Smartin, thats not a bad idea at all..

[arceye]

Air temperature 7c.. Pond at 7.8c getting chillier. Fish still pretty active and still looking for food, had to give them a little bit as the little chag was in position with its mouth wide open waiting for me to pour some pellets in its gob.... don't think it will be small this time next year lol.

[Ajm]

Some of the guys managed to get some polycarb sheets from window and conservatory companies who have second hand stuff from new customer installations, might be worth ringing around mate you might get lucky or even offer a charity donation....... i think its grief for them to get rid of second hand sheets...

Mine is second hand bit like a patch work quilt but it must be working . Got it free 35mm

[Ajm]

Super hard frost last night . -3 over night now still feels like -2 on phone pond at 11.8 20201128_083134.jpg
20201128_083416.jpg

[smartin]

I was on the beach this morning at 3am digging lugworms, it was a bit chilly on the hands.....

[g mac]

I was on the beach this morning at 3am digging lugworms, it was a bit chilly on the hands.....

Wow that is dedication. Did you catch?

[Spongebob]

17 today, cold last night but cloud came in in the early hrs so no frost here.

[arceye]

Don't know how cold we got last night but was 1c at six this morning, no sign of frost but we escape it a lot here compared to further inland.

Anyway, air temp at 11am... 5c .... Pond at 6.6c.. fish slower but still on the mooch but nothing going in today.

AJM, that cover is definitely making a big difference by the looks of things. Think I'm being convinced of the merit.

[Ajm]

Don't know how cold we got last night but was 1c at six this morning, no sign of frost but we escape it a lot here compared to further inland.

Anyway, air temp at 11am... 5c .... Pond at 6.6c.. fish slower but still on the mooch but nothing going in today.

AJM, that cover is definitely making a big difference by the looks of things. Think I'm being convinced of the merit.

Was in the car picking a new castle for little legs for Xmas. And at 1030 the car was reading -0.5 !!!! Am moving in with the fish

[farmergoggin]

16c pond temp here

[dbs]

Cold night last night but not as cold as it has been here in sunny Norfolk, the new pond is just holding 8.1 and fish are lively ... I also fitted the jump guards on today and hope they will help reduce some of the wind chill, maybe

[DiabloDave]

I’ve decided to keep mine at 17.9C for the foreseeable as the fish seem very happy and are feeding like crazy. I both half a dozen 14cm from KWB in the summer and they have grown really well - eyeing up against my other fish I’d say the one who’s grown the most is about 35cm. They’ve even decided they now like mussels which they have never been particularly interested in before.

[arceye]

A little milder today,
10am air temp 9.1c... pond at 7.6c .. fish pretty active and begging for grub. Gave in and gave them a very small amount.

[Ajm]

Cant help it some times can ya . Is 1 degree a big fluctuation over a day any one know what fish are OK with fluctuations wise

[DiabloDave]

Cant help it some times can ya . Is 1 degree a big fluctuation over a day any one know what fish are OK with fluctuations wise

1C fluctuation is ok, ideally you don’t want more than that though - 2c I think they can cope but need to be cautious if feeding as I believe it could cause problems when it’s below 12C.

[arceye]

I reckon they are fine with a degree over a day, 2 even. I've generally always fed if they are looking for it.. but by that I mean a few pellets rather than a handful, fish are generally pretty good at knowing if they want / need it or lakes canals etc would be full of floaters.

That said anything below 7 and and I refuse them.. but they don't ask so much then.

Its surprising what they can get through temperature wise even though extremes are best avoided.. my last pond went through the really bad winter about 10 years ago where in the far north of Scotland we had air temps down to minus 10c for about three weeks and the snow never left the ground for a couple of months, though I don't know what the pond got down to there was 2 or 3 inch of ice on top of the pond and me melting holes for gas exchange.. I don't imagine they enjoyed it for a moment but they did all come through.

All that aside, the benefits of covering are looking better by the day, that and I want a variable pump also so that I can turn flow down during cold spells / night which should also help to avoid extremes of temperature swing. I think there is a line between what they can take and what they can actually thrive in and we need to try and keep to the correct side of that line as best we can.