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Thread: Bubble pool cover
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24-10-2020, 08:05 AM #1
Bubble pool cover
Hey guys, I've just taken delivery of my bubble pool cover to use on the pond.
My issue is that I could only buy it in black in the a big enough size to fit my pond. I didn't think this would be an issue as I assumed it would be really thin bubble wrap and therefore translucent, but this stuff is thick and doesn't let light through.
Will this be an issue for the fish? I have two glass sides of my pond, each window is 200x60cm, and will also be leaving a 50cm diameter hole for the feeding ring, as well as a letterbox opening 60cm wide for my waterfall.
Cheers guys,
Jay
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-10-2020, 09:08 AM #2
I have the same in blue.
If theres no light getting through it that's not healthy
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24-10-2020, 09:33 AM #3
Morning Simon. I haven't put it on yet, I just held it up and realised it's much thicker than bubble wrap and couldn't see light coming through. Does your blue one let light through?
I will have about 3m2 of light getting through to them, but have no idea if this is enough. Currently there will be 17m2 of light.
But how much light do fish need?
Jay
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24-10-2020, 12:25 PM #4
In the winter your fish need as much light as possible. It is damaging to their colours and diurnal rhythms otherwise.
If I were you I would send it back.2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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24-10-2020, 02:30 PM #5
Been trawling the net, and can't find anything that says Koi NEED lots of light, other than to create their colour pigments, which will come back once strong light is resumed. They don't synthesise but D from the sun like we do.
https://nichepets.com/aquatic/koi/ko...need-sunlight/
https://www.koi-fish.com/koi-care/sunlight.html
Jay
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24-10-2020, 02:38 PM #62016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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24-10-2020, 03:28 PM #7
The blue does seem to let a decent amount of light through it.
Suppose the thickness will have effect.
Mine is just a single thickness.
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24-10-2020, 03:30 PM #8
Hi Jason,
I personally use the clear poly carbs on my pond as the fish are covered 50% of the time thanks to our wonderful UK weather That's a long time to be without natural daylight, even if it is getting through in some small areas or via windows. I have two big windows in my pond (two sides are mostly window), and even with the clear poly, it still makes the pond quite a bit dimmer during the day if the sun isn't out. Fish do benefit from a diurnal rhythm - it's another reason why pond lights should not be left on all night - they need their night and day. There are many folk who have used either bronze poly that blocks out the light, or dark covers like yours and have not reported colour loss or other adverse effects, so I think it comes down to personal belief and decision. I just know that I'd hate to be in a room without natural light for half the year so choose to believe my fish would feel the same
I'm wondering how your bubble wrap cover will hold up with rain and snow? What are you plans to handle that?11,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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24-10-2020, 03:42 PM #9
How much light would fish get at the bottom of a muddy lake/river anyway? As long as you are not heating and keeping them active i doubt they will be bothered much.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-10-2020, 04:07 PM #10
Alan, why do you say "as long as you're not heating"?
Feline, the writers of the many articles convinced me.
Koiz, I'm not intending to cover for very long, but don't know how long I am going to, was thinking of when the water temp drops to 12'c.
As for rain and snow, I have no idea, it's all new to me, that's a question for Simon. I also wondered if the cover will stick to the water's surface, or if wind will take it.
Alan, mine spend the vast majority of their time at the bottom of my pond anyway, which is 2.4m in the centre and edges and 2.6m at the bottom drains.
This might all go Pete Tong, but then what doesn't in koi keeping.
Jay
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24-10-2020, 04:33 PM #1111,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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24-10-2020, 04:40 PM #12
I have clear corrugated plastic sheets on a timber frame over the pond during the winter days
at night I have a pool cover that I roll out over the top to maintain heat. it is a blue top side, silver below and as its night doesnt matter about the lack of light
it is held down by elasticated bungees and weighted by a couple of timbers at night in inclement weather ie heavy winds
hence covered but lighted during day and during night hours dark and heat protection
hope this helpsLast edited by Wain; 24-10-2020 at 06:06 PM.
1000 gal
2 x Hozelock 6000ltr 9W UV
Allpond Spin Filter 8000 11W UV
Blagdon pond oxy 640 ltr/hr
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-10-2020, 06:07 PM #13
Couple of photos of covers
1000 gal
2 x Hozelock 6000ltr 9W UV
Allpond Spin Filter 8000 11W UV
Blagdon pond oxy 640 ltr/hr
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-10-2020, 06:09 PM #141000 gal
2 x Hozelock 6000ltr 9W UV
Allpond Spin Filter 8000 11W UV
Blagdon pond oxy 640 ltr/hr
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24-10-2020, 06:26 PM #15
If you are not heating then they are just sitting around on the bottom mostly so lack of daylight would be less of an issue. I use a clear bubble wrap cover in spring and autumn which I roll onto pond surface overnight and roll back up again in the morning. No problem with rain or snow as it just floats on the surface. The wind wont bother it either. If I was you I would try to fold it back occasionally on nice days but I dont think you will have a problem as far as the light goes.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-10-2020, 09:02 PM #16
Hi Jason,
Before you execute your current plan, I would suggest you call a number of dealers and ask their opinion on what you are proposing. If I was asked I would not recommend and have personally gone so far as installing a skylight at my premises to increase natural sunlight for the koi. When discussing my plans with Gary at Gatwick Koi the first thing he said was make sure they get plenty of natural light... Many others who keep koi indoors (I know you are talking about outdoors) also install ‘white’ lights to replicate the sun (how effective that is, is another debate)
Many things ‘divide the crowd’ in koi keeping and the Internet (and forums at times) can offer conflicting advice on many subjects. Not always are these ‘right or wrong’ as it is hard to argue with someone’s personal experience - be that good or bad, however ‘playing percentages’ often puts odds in your favour.
Im happy to be ‘shot down in flames’ by anyone, however I think it would be a mistake mate - and its not impossible to change etc...
Koiz, Feline, RS2OOO, Freddyboy, Algarth, Doitsu Sanke and Manky Sankey on here are extremely experienced members IMHO (apologies I know there are many more, however it is impossible to name all.. so please don’t anyone be offended), so again gaining their opinions may prove useful.
I hope it helps and wish you well in keeping koi pal.
Cheers
GazHobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.
Always happy to help!!
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25-10-2020, 11:17 PM #17
Koiz, I was going to answer, "just roll it onto the water's surface" but Alan beat me too it. Lol.
Alan, it's good to know that the wind etc doesn't bother it.
Gaz, cheers for the advice, I agree entirely, hence the thread on here and the hours spent trawling Google, instead of just putting it straight on the pond.
So far no one has been able to give me any scientific reason for not doing this, and those against it seem to be ignoring my 4 meters of windows that I have in the pond and the large feeding ring hole I will have.
I will have to spend some more time on Google to find out how much light those windows will let in Vs how much will be shut out.
I still haven't put the cover over yet, I may find it lets light through, as I only checked a corner while it was still folded, I may find it cuts out light but the windows keep it light in there, or I may instantly think it's too dark and bin the idea. Who knows.
Jay
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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25-10-2020, 11:39 PM #18
Your feeding ring hole will be a risk to your fish- they can jump and get stranded on top of your cover.
The links you’ve given above are the usual rhetoric seen on ‘pet info’ websites- not written by known and respected authors with experience, not peer reviewed, not scientific.
The folk at the forefront of the hobby in the UK are increasingly of the opinion that light length, brightness and spectrum do actually matter to koi more than it was once thought. So much so that many guys are now investing in lighting within winter enclosures, not for the purposes of enjoying looking at the fish but actually for the benefit of them.
You won’t find anything of interest by Googling this topic IMO. All the discussions I’ve seen this year on the subject have been on Chip and Mike Snaden’s YouTube channels. Mike is currently experimenting with light meters in his new Yume Koi Japan setup I believe. I can’t remember which one the light meter stuff was in now, but would highly recommend watching all Chips Rasta Koi presentations as well as the stuff Mike has uploaded this month anyway. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxP...uojiHOlHpw6ldg and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTZ...66GSr2TCd-5D0w2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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26-10-2020, 07:04 AM #19
Jay - which ever route you go, ensure enough gap is left for gas exchange otherwise the koi will suffocate - although I suspect the feeding ring may be open permanently rather than a ‘hatch’.
If you are able to swap the cover for a translucent one then I would see that as a better option personally. Not everything is backed up by science or certainly easy to find in the public domain.
Cheers
GazHobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.
Always happy to help!!
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30-10-2020, 09:49 PM #20
I went on holiday for 17 days once and left my indoor fish in darkness, the only light being what made it around the edge of the curtains.
When I got home 2 or 3 of the fish had lost all their colour and turned white. The colour never came back.
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The Daily pond temp thread
Pond still covered, currently 11.6C Been really mild this year as far as pond temps go. ...