Thread: Heated pond top up system

Just thinking if it's possible to make a winter proof pond top up system?

What I'm thinking is if I sit a 210 litre blue barrel in the garage with an immersion heater jacket on it with a 500 or 600 watt aquarium heater in it then run a pipe from it, round the outside of the hose to the pond, if it was heated to say 20° C would that be warm enough to stop the water from freezing up between the barrel and the pond even if the pipe wasn't insulated if we get any sub zero temperatures? It's quite a long run at maybe 15 to 20m or possibly a bit more.

The other option would be sit the barrel in the shed so it's a shorter run to the pond but the water feeding it wouldn't be heated.

I did see someone on here run a water pipe with the internal style grey insulation on it through a length of something like 1.5" or 2" ? waste or pressure pipe so maybe do something similar for the feed out to the barrel and then out to the pond?

Was going to put a float valve to control the water coming into the barrel and then another on the pond to keep the water levels at the right heights.

I'm guessing the better or the more the pipework is insulated the lower temperature I'd need to heat to to stop anything from freezing. I'm not trying to heat the pond just the water used to top it up when required.

Any suggestions on this?

Knew you'd have some good advice on this Dave

Just thought with using something like a 500 or 600 watt heater in a 210 litre water butt would heat it quickly but not need to be running 24/7 if it was well insulated because it would be thermostatically controlled?

Originally Posted by Frimley Koi keeper

Knew you'd have some good advice on this Dave

Just thought with using something like a 500 or 600 watt heater in a 210 litre water butt would heat it quickly but not need to be running 24/7 if it was well insulated because it would be thermostatically controlled?

it would want to be extremely well insulated, and would still freeze if turned off...

or another method that would work 100% is trace heating.
you run a low wattage trace heating cable inside the insulation and it keeps the water from freezing.
sure as a sparky you've fitted them before?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Danfoss-Tra...3&sr=8-17&th=1




https://www.amazon.co.uk/Danfoss-Tra...3&sr=8-17&th=1

I've seen trace heating but not fitted it for over 20 years.

Worth a look though as there's a twin outside socket on the back of the house now so could leave it plugged into that or a spare socket on the pond electrics

To keep my ibc tank from freezing I put a thermostat plug socket in a weather proof box and set that to 4.5 degrees with a 300w aquarium heater. Worked a treat. Page 7 on my build has full details.
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-constru...ow-pond-7.html





"MH2000 Microcomputer Temperature Controller". Was £5 on eBay IIRC

Nice one. I've got some of those boxes but in grey. Amazon has them on a deal every now and again but with a 4 way lead with a 10m lead on them.