Results 281 to 293 of 293
Thread: DIY solar pond heater.
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11-06-2020, 10:12 PM #281
acrylic and glass will stop UVC, but A and B will pass through, but that will assist with longevity, since its infrared you want and that passes through all except speciality glassing your all good
the slow pond build thread
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11-06-2020, 10:28 PM #282
Cheers Bowsaw - that's good to know. I did wonder whether the perspex would reflect or block some of the UV.
I bought the perspex more to create the greenhouse effect and stop leaves and crud building up on the pipes.
Perspex is bloody expensive for what it is though!
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window
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13-06-2020, 10:03 PM #283
So. I got the solar heater running today - good weather for it.
I used a slightly lower spec pump than before - a 2.5k lph 35watt pump and had a running output temperature of 40 Celsius!
Not bad considering the water giung into the heater was only 15.5 Celsius. It was like putting your hand under the hot water tap. I was well impressed.
However, the flow was only 0.6 lpm, which explains why the heat was so good. But I'm wondering if the flow is so small that it won't really have a meaningful effect of a circa 12.5k litre pond.
I might try the 3k pump, which operates at a flow of 1.6lpm in my heater and see what the output temp is like on that now i have the perspex lid on. If it's still a decent temp, I'll probably stick with that.
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window
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14-06-2020, 07:57 AM #284John
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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14-06-2020, 08:13 AM #285
Done a great tidy job there MrT looks spot on.
You said before you used pond pipe what sort and size is is that?
Must have been expensive.
Looking at the Ldpe irrigation pipe but undecided yet.
My heater has been off since my pond problem as I suspected the hose but I dont really think it was that,but hopefully the pond is fine now.
These heaters work great mine was so hot I couldn't put my hand under it and it was steaming.
When you first put the heater on do you get a milky coloured water for a bit?
Mine was think it is the heat.John
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14-06-2020, 08:35 AM #286
Cheers John.
The pipe I used was just standard pond hose that has a spiral running around it. It has an id of 19mm and od of 22mm. I bought it off eBay and cost £60 for 60 meters.
I don't mind forking out that much, as long as it lasts a good few years - which being in the sun all day it probably won't lol.
Milky? No mine come out clear. No wonder you are concerned it may be affecting the fish.
The milky colour could just be air bubbles in suspension, like what you get out of hot taps sometimes.
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window
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11-08-2020, 03:52 PM #287
I bet everyone's solar heater is working overtime at the mo.
My pond temp is now up to 23C and the water coming out the heater is so hot it is almost scolding - running at about 2lpm.
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window
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08-03-2022, 03:48 PM #288
Decided to do another solar heater but this time without useing another pump.Attachment 39225
So came up with this.
Put a T on the shower 2ins pipe then down to 15mm to a small valve to flow round the solar and that being the same height as the shower.
After the shower T I have a 2ins valve to slow down the shower flow to prime the solar which it did then I opened up the 2ins valve for the shower.
After the solar was primed I can control the flow round it and found I had to close the valve by 1/2 for a nice slow flow.
So this is all controlled by one shower pump so saving the pennies.
I also found the exit to the pond was best primed under water.
Today was sunny but cold wind and got the water return to 15deg which was pretty good I think so will be a lot better when it gets warmer.
My pond gets very little sun so I wanted to get something like this up and running and it is so easy to control with the one small valve.John
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08-03-2022, 05:07 PM #289
Sounds good mate
Sent from my SM-G973F using TapatalkFreddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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10-03-2022, 09:41 AM #290
Hi John,
what system are you running the same as we did before with black hose pipe in a glass box?2200 gallons,infinity window,
Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
Shower, ASHP
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john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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10-03-2022, 06:35 PM #291
Hi Steve,
No I did a complete new one with polycarbonate base 70mtrs of underfloor heating pipe which I got cheap from Ebay but is 16mm.
Then 2 x 1 ins sides and corrugated plastic over top.
First time I did feed to inner then changed to feed water to outer which was better.
Had it sited all over the place then settled level with the top inlet to the shower and it works perfect.
Really pleased as I use the same shower pump so no extra power and I could return the hot water to the shower if I wanted but I dont think it makes much difference.
And it is so easy to control the solar water flow as I can see the return as I adjust the valve,need some sun now Steve.John
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11-03-2022, 09:36 PM #292
Hi John,
sounds great mate, i saw your photo of the valve, thats a good idea if you intergrate a valve within your pipework lilke that, be good to view some pics of your heater, so water flow is from the middle and spirals outwards ? yes some sunshine would be good, tomorrow might be a possibility of some sun...2200 gallons,infinity window,
Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
Shower, ASHP
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john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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11-03-2022, 09:52 PM #293
Hi Steve,
No, the water flows from the outside inwards towards the centre did have it the other way but changed it.
Hard to get a picture up there but it's basically the same as last one but used underfloor heating pipe which is 16 mm.
Sprayed it Matt black very basic but really pleased it works.
At present have it on a fast drip to keep the flow going,so if I want to up it a bit when we get sun then all I have to do is open the small valve a bit so easy.John
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Ajm Thanked / Liked this Post
The Daily pond temp thread
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