The Daily pond temp thread

[samp09]

Changed up from a pressurised filter to a EA EazyPod at the beginning of the season, looking forward to being able to relax with the fish. Instead I’ve had more problems with water quality since the temps have gone up. Battling high ammonia/nitrate and phosphate. Don’t think I’m over feeding (usual amounts as before). Pond is wavering between 19-21deg. Any suggestions? Have been doing regular water changes, reduced feeds etc but still having spikes.

If the media in the filter was all new then you have new pond syndrome and this can last a while. I had mostly new media all summer last year and was getting nitrite readings throughout.

[Smallfry88]

Yeah, I had hoped the peak and trough two months ago meant I’d managed to go through the cycle to the other side. Unfortunately the hungry koi destroyed the water lilies last week which have been thriving for 15years and were probably helping keep the phosphate levels down. Just goes to show that I’m still a newbie and the weather has turned the koi into ravenous destroyers.

[EME101]

I'm sitting at 30-31+ for the last 14 days. I keep worrying but the koi dont stop feeding .. water parameters are fine. Full sun day in - day out.


Having read so much about 25 degrees being the limit , have we really got it right? All my koi are sourced from Koi-area and consequently Japan ... not sure what Im doing right at the moment ?

[RS2OOO]

I'm sitting at 30-31+ for the last 14 days. I keep worrying but the koi dont stop feeding .. water parameters are fine. Full sun day in - day out.


Having read so much about 25 degrees being the limit , have we really got it right? All my koi are sourced from Koi-area and consequently Japan ... not sure what Im doing right at the moment ?

My pond has never got to 30C, maybe 28 at the most and only for a brief period. I have raised fry at 30C without issue but did notice appetites falling off at 28C and above.

Now I'm running a heat pump which is set to 23C all summer, what I find amazing is even at that temp the Koi all huddle around the inlets when the heat pump comes on. Now they're used to the sound of it switching on, they literally dart over to the inlet the second they hear the pump kick in.

Here's a pic from last year, sorry for poor quality, had to zoom from a distance as they come over for food when they know I'm there:

[RS2OOO]

Pond (heated) currently at 23C.

From today I'll be dropping 0.5C every couple of days with a target of 16.5C for the beginning of October.

After that I'll gradually reduce to 10C for end of December, then fast the Koi for 8 weeks or so to lose some fat off the big ones and hopefully resorb some eggs from the females. During that fasting period I'll only feed occasional frozen mussells.

[dbs]

Pond (heated) currently at 23C.

From today I'll be dropping 0.5C every couple of days with a target of 16.5C for the beginning of October.

After that I'll gradually reduce to 10C for end of December, then fast the Koi for 8 weeks or so to lose some fat off the big ones and hopefully resorb some eggs from the females. During that fasting period I'll only feed occasional frozen mussells.

Sounding good mate - I'm hovering around 20 naturally, ASHP set at 20 and not cut in much at all, albeit I expect it too at nights any time soon

As for a plan for mine... not got one yet, but likely keeping at 20 for Sept/October > 19 Nov > Dec 17 then drop to 16 or 15 for Jan/Feb <thinking>

[ABN67]

I'm currently at 24, thinking I'll hold that until end of October then slowly drop it down to around 16 through the winter months and start bringing it back up around end of March, don't think I'll let it go below about 16 as the pond has only been running since June so I want to keep my filters maturing so I can get past the dreaded nps rather than having the cold temps knocking them back having to go through it all over again in spring. Covers to be sorted over the next week or 2

[RS2OOO]

Sounding good mate - I'm hovering around 20 naturally, ASHP set at 20 and not cut in much at all, albeit I expect it too at nights any time soon

As for a plan for mine... not got one yet, but likely keeping at 20 for Sept/October > 19 Nov > Dec 17 then drop to 16 or 15 for Jan/Feb <thinking>

Main reason I'm dropping to 16.5 for end of Month is that I'm going away for 2.5 weeks and want to slow down their feeding and activity to reduce maintenance and risk of injuries / issues when I'm not around.

[dbs]

Main reason I'm dropping to 16.5 for end of Month is that I'm going away for 2.5 weeks and want to slow down their feeding and activity to reduce maintenance and risk of injuries / issues when I'm not around.

Ahhh that makes sense mate, I'm hoping to sort a new cover out on mine for this year, but options are still far and few between, nothing is easy in this hobby

[dbs]

I'm currently at 24, thinking I'll hold that until end of October then slowly drop it down to around 16 through the winter months and start bringing it back up around end of March, don't think I'll let it go below about 16 as the pond has only been running since June so I want to keep my filters maturing so I can get past the dreaded nps rather than having the cold temps knocking them back having to go through it all over again in spring. Covers to be sorted over the next week or 2

24's a nice temperature, I was higher this time last year, but I have added more fish (11 additional in the last couple of weeks lol) and they are all feeding well at 20 so going to just let things tick over for this year - Covers again yeah, mine have seen better days but I may have to use them again!!

[ABN67]

24's a nice temperature, I was higher this time last year, but I have added more fish (11 additional in the last couple of weeks lol) and they are all feeding well at 20 so going to just let things tick over for this year - Covers again yeah, mine have seen better days but I may have to use them again!!

I'm shocked at how expensive the polycarbonate sheets are, but hopefully they'll last a few years. 11 additions sounds like fun, I've got my eye on a goromo but unfortunately it's going to have to wait, I think Mrs would probably kill me over the leccy bill if I continue holding the temperature but don't cover the pond over the colder months lol so covers next payday and thats me done till next year. Fingers crossed for a mild run up to Christmas, I'd like to hold on to the warmer temps as long as possible without breaking the bank, my small collection are loving life at the moment, nice and warm and plenty of food.

[dbs]

I'm shocked at how expensive the polycarbonate sheets are, but hopefully they'll last a few years. 11 additions sounds like fun, I've got my eye on a goromo but unfortunately it's going to have to wait, I think Mrs would probably kill me over the leccy bill if I continue holding the temperature but don't cover the pond over the colder months lol so covers next payday and thats me done till next year. Fingers crossed for a mild run up to Christmas, I'd like to hold on to the warmer temps as long as possible without breaking the bank, my small collection are loving life at the moment, nice and warm and plenty of food.

Yeah on the polycarbonate, never cheap, albeit they are relatively low at the moment I think, I have 7-wall on mine which does keep the heat in well, it's just the storage of them I dislike in the summer.

I get you with the cost of heating yeah, I deliberately overpay in the summer to build up a winter fund for the pond hahaha

The new fish I picked up off a great member on here closing down his pond, they have settled in amazingly from day one, everything is surprisingly calm <touch-wood>

Keeping THREAD on TOPIC - Currently holding 20 degrees, East of England Coast

[Smallfry88]

Unheated and the temp has already dropped to 13deg in the W Midlands!

[dbs]

Unheated and the temp has already dropped to 13deg in the W Midlands!

Damn, thats quite a drop , are you covering it yet?

[Smallfry88]

Considering it but the weather is forecast to warm up again this week. It’ll be the earliest I’ve had to cover if I do.

[samp09]

As always I have been covered at night and when it's cooler and then off on warm days like today. 18.1 at the moment in south east of England. 25 tomorrow apparently but as the sun is that bit lower it don't seem to penetrate the water as well and have the same effect now

[dbs]

Well, the weather looks a bit crap to be able to use excess solar today for a daytime boost, so I will let it slide a bit today and likely give it a boost tomorrow if needed (After tonight's EV rate charging session)


Currently holding 19.5 all day today

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[dbs]

Colder Temperatures - I think I also need to close off my lower pond returns, as keeping the pond at 18 degrees is now my current strategy whilst still maintaining minimal electricity costs is proving more difficult... I haven't boosted it during the day yet this week, and it has drifted down to 17.5, so popping the ASHP on for an hour and seeing if that is enough to do the trick

I still have my water blade on too which chills the water over night, I do not think that will be on many more weeks, though I also utilise it's water aerating, so I may have to liven up the bottom drain air again

East of England coast - drizzly and orrible

[Denise Doherty]

Colder Temperatures - I think I also need to close off my lower pond returns, as keeping the pond at 18 degrees is now my current strategy whilst still maintaining minimal electricity costs is proving more difficult... I haven't boosted it during the day yet this week, and it has drifted down to 17.5, so popping the ASHP on for an hour and seeing if that is enough to do the trick

I still have my water blade on too which chills the water over night, I do not think that will be on many more weeks, though I also utilise it's water aerating, so I may have to liven up the bottom drain air again

East of England coast - drizzly and orrible

North West England and our uncovered pond is approx. 11.5 degrees. The fish are still wanting food.
The cost of electricity is getting ridiculous. We did think about getting an ASHP after we finish enclosing the pond but it is definitely cheaper to run a heat exchanger from the gas boiler.

[dbs]

North West England and our uncovered pond is approx. 11.5 degrees. The fish are still wanting food.
The cost of electricity is getting ridiculous. We did think about getting an ASHP after we finish enclosing the pond but it is definitely cheaper to run a heat exchanger from the gas boiler.

That certainly sounds ideal Denise, looking forward to seeing that on your inclosing thread, in the interim, that's not great temps hey, but if they want food, splendid!!