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Thread: Heated sleeper build
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20-04-2020, 07:49 PM #1
Heated sleeper build
Anyone heated a sleeper pond with no insulation? Mine is 12k litres with 1 meter below ground and 80cm above. I have made a 35mm poly cover for the pond on winter.
I only plan on using the heater to keep the water around 14 all year round. I have looked at electro and ASHP options but cannot decide.
Space may be a factor so an electro is better there but don’t what to take the plunge into heating and be stung with massive bills.
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20-04-2020, 08:26 PM #2Freddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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20-04-2020, 08:41 PM #3
Yes liner and was thinking about sliding some thin foil backed boards but wasn’t sure how much of an effect this would have
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20-04-2020, 08:59 PM #4Freddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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20-04-2020, 09:07 PM #5
Wood, especially fast grown soft wood is a natural insulator because it has lots of air pockets trapped in it, which is the basis of insulation, but as already said if you can slip some insulation between the wood and the liner that will help, you will need to keep the sleepers dry otherwise it defeats the insulation properties of the wood, also the gaps between the sleepers need to be filled in to prevent water getting in and allowing air to get to the liner
To keep the wood dry, all you need to do is use a good preservative, to waterproof it, if you have a concrete base that is best as the concrete acts as a heat store and helps the pond temperature to keep stable
Keeping it covered will prevent most of the heat escaping
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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22-04-2020, 12:32 AM #6
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23-04-2020, 11:58 AM #7
Not the prettiest solution by any means but I wonder if sticking insulation to the outside of the sleepers during winter would help?
Just need somewhere to store it for the rest of the year when not in use.
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23-04-2020, 12:00 PM #8Freddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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27-04-2020, 04:27 PM #9
keep the wind and wet off the walls with anything including twin wall and it will help
the slow pond build thread
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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27-04-2020, 04:58 PM #10
I was just having a similar conversation with the wife at the weekend, I am planning to cover the pond somehow, but where to store it during the summer, especially as the pond is 5meters wide, they won’t be small pieces, I need to look at retractable swimming pool covers, but then it’s the cost, still not sure what to do for the best
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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27-04-2020, 06:00 PM #11
Hi
I have a fully raised sleeper pond approx 4 foot deep, I built covers for it out of corrugated plastic with wooden frames, my aim was to keep the wind chill off and stop any cold rain / snow getting in. These worked a treat this year as the pond never dropped below 7deg all winter. As said wood is a great insulator and concrete stores heat - a lot of ECO houses us concrete to store heat during the summer and release it in winter. My final plan was if the weather got really cold to wrap the pond in bubble wrap on the outside - cheap and could be stored easily - it never came to that as we had a mild winter - not like some years - my fish fed on brown bread or wheat germ food everyday last winter and came out of winter in good condition apart from the odd spot of carp pox which hopefully will go when the pond warms up - already at 16degs and moved them onto summer food already as the wheat germ didn't seem to fill them up. Packet says this food is good to go +10 deg - happy days
KevT
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27-04-2020, 08:05 PM #12
Another option I've been considering is a pop up poly tunnel type thing, but a quick Google was sitting prices around the £700 mark. Would probably consider paying half that but not much more without guarantees as to the effectiveness.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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27-04-2020, 08:26 PM #13
I've got a pergola over my pond so I was going to sheet it over with a clear tarp, not pretty but cheap and effective, basically making a big greenhouse
https://www.toolstation.com/leno-clear-tarpaulin/p512434600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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27-04-2020, 08:27 PM #14
But the wife said the house already looks like Steptoes yard
4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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27-04-2020, 09:10 PM #15
Same tarps I made this year's winter cover from.
Laid tarp flat on ground, layered it with 100m of bubble wrap glued down, then glued another tarp on top.
Unfortunately all the glue ( £70 worth) came unstuck and I had to buy clamps to hold it all together for the 2nd half of winter, but it did the job. Pond didn't drop much below 8C except maybe a week or 2 around the 4-5C mark.
If the glue had stayed stuck I wouldn't be exploring other ideas for next winter.
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freddyboy, RoyLittle0 Thanked / Liked this Post
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10-05-2020, 11:46 AM #16
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Running heater at low temp?
Covering the pond with polycarb should be enough to stop water temps dipping below 6C for the most...