Habitat - Outdoor :: Keeping the pond warm

[reptilegrrl]

How do you people with ponds and/or stock tanks keep them warm? The stock tank/pond heaters I've seen only keep the temp above freezing. What if you want to keep it at RES temp?

[ellman605]

not sure, the only thing i can think of is a pool heater, it might work well :/

[new turtle-lover]

Maybe combine a bunch of the heaters with the most wattage at the highest setting?

Just my guess.

[steve]

How big of a tank are we talking about? There was a topic a month or two ago about using standard aquarium heaters in an outdoor setting.

[reptilegrrl]

At least 110 gallons, probably more in the long run

[steve]

I particularly like the Visitherm Stealth brand (made of thermal plastic and auto shut off) and many people here like the Ebo-jager and Tronic brands. I think wiring was the greatest concern and if it's properly insulated and plugged into a GFCI, then they should be fine.

Visitherm Stealth

You may need 2, possibly 3 depending on your temperatures.

[reptilegrrl]

Thank you for the recs! I wonder if I should put one near the intake on the mechanical filter, and one near the waterfall outlet from the biofilter. That wold make sure water was moving past heaters at all times. What do you think?

[steve]

In general, I think it's a good idea. I have one of mine near the outlet, which is also near the inlet and I suspect that it cools the heater abit. You would want at least a minimal amount of circulating water near the heater.

[fric]

reptilegrrl ... like new turtle-lover suggested, I have a pair of 55 gal heaters in my 145 gal pond that I have suctioned onto a piece of acryllic board about 12"x24". By propping the board up against the side of the pond and a cement block in there for basking, I've been able to keep the heaters from touching anything and the boys have the perfect spot to hide and stay warm in ... fric

[reptilegrrl]

Hi Fric! Thanks for replying. I know I owe you an email- I'm not ignoring you, I've just been super-busy. I am loaded down with coursework this semester. So, I will get back to you. I don't want you to think I am blowing you off.

[fric]

Not a problem ... I've been really busy too. I'm still in the experimental stages of the these heaters in the pond this year and one has already pooped out. I think it was the boys though because they love to tear everything up and the heater was loose in the bottom.
The good news is our local petsmart now has the bigger ones and this new one is doing the job. The next step is to figure out a different means of anchoring them down and making them turtle proof!
I've also noticed the algae is early this year and I'm assuming it's due to the high temperatures this winter ... it was 75 the last couple days here in East TX and there was no need for the pond heaters ... fric

[mike909]

Reptilerrl,
Did you ever purchase heaters for your pond? I am thinking of doing the same thing, and just wondering how you turned out. Thanks.

[reptilegrrl]

Mike- we have not yet experienced winter, but as of now I have decided not to purchase heaters.

The filter I used to use was the Hydor Ekip thermofilter. It is a heater and filter in one, but the filter can be removed from the heater. I bought a new thermofilter last winter, and I was planning to eBay it once the pond was up and running.

However, when I started shopping for the heaters mentioned upthread, I found that a single heater has a higher wattage than does the Ekip. The Ekip heats and circulates water, at a lower wattage than just one of the heaters- and I would need two heaters for my large pond. So, I have decided to keep the Ekip and use it to warm the pond this winter. It makes more sense economically.

Good luck working out your solution!

-Priscilla