Pond covers

Bill Stock · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 217

I left the fish in their indoor pond after the outdoor pond renovations, as
it was too cool to move them back outdoors. But since the pond is in a cool
part of the basement (entryway), the water is down to 52° now. Making the
room warmer is not really an option, at least not in the short term. So I
plan to use their outdoor heater (newly replaced) to keep them at 68° or so.
But I was thinking that a hot tub blanket might make this more feasible and
reduce my heating costs.

I was looking at this one:
http://www.spadepot.com/shop/Floating-Blankets-C637.aspx

But this presents a minor problem for filter return and feeding. If I leave
a large hole for the filter return to drain into will this be sufficient
aeration? Any chance these blankets are treated with bactericide?

Archived from group: rec>ponds>moderated

~ jan · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 276

On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 22:01:24 CST, "Bill Stock" wrote:

>I left the fish in their indoor pond after the outdoor pond renovations, as
>it was too cool to move them back outdoors. But since the pond is in a cool
>part of the basement (entryway), the water is down to 52° now. Making the
>room warmer is not really an option, at least not in the short term. So I
>plan to use their outdoor heater (newly replaced) to keep them at 68° or so.
>But I was thinking that a hot tub blanket might make this more feasible and
>reduce my heating costs.
>
>I was looking at this one:
>http://www.spadepot.com/shop/Floating-Blankets-C637.aspx
>
>But this presents a minor problem for filter return and feeding. If I leave
>a large hole for the filter return to drain into will this be sufficient
>aeration? Any chance these blankets are treated with bactericide?

I would fully expect it is treated. Any reason not to let them go thru a
dormant period? ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 385

"Bill Stock" wrote in message @mid.individual.net...
>I left the fish in their indoor pond after the outdoor pond renovations, as
>it was too cool to move them back outdoors. But since the pond is in a cool
>part of the basement (entryway), the water is down to 52° now.
>.............
===========================
That is not too cold for pond fish. I wouldn't bother to try and keep them
warmer. They go through winter here just fine outdoors. The water gets a lot
colder than 52.
--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 194

the cooler you keep the fish, the less upkeep you will need to perform. the cooler,
the less feeding, the less waste.
that "blanket" should not be on top of the water, it can be above the pond and will
definitely keep the heat in. yes, it will stop aeration and maybe it is
bactericidal, you need to ask. I am sending DH for cheap bubble wrap from Uhaul
today for a second layer over the first layer of plastic. Ingrid

On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 22:01:24 CST, "Bill Stock" wrote:

>I left the fish in their indoor pond after the outdoor pond renovations, as
>it was too cool to move them back outdoors. But since the pond is in a cool
>part of the basement (entryway), the water is down to 52° now. Making the
>room warmer is not really an option, at least not in the short term. So I
>plan to use their outdoor heater (newly replaced) to keep them at 68° or so.
>But I was thinking that a hot tub blanket might make this more feasible and
>reduce my heating costs.
>
>I was looking at this one:
>http://www.spadepot.com/shop/Floating-Blankets-C637.aspx
>
>But this presents a minor problem for filter return and feeding. If I leave
>a large hole for the filter return to drain into will this be sufficient
>aeration? Any chance these blankets are treated with bactericide?

Bill Stock · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 217

wrote in message $0$1349$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere.com...
> On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 22:01:24 CST, "Bill Stock" wrote:
>
>>I left the fish in their indoor pond after the outdoor pond renovations,
>>as
>>it was too cool to move them back outdoors. But since the pond is in a
>>cool
>>part of the basement (entryway), the water is down to 52° now. Making the
>>room warmer is not really an option, at least not in the short term. So I
>>plan to use their outdoor heater (newly replaced) to keep them at 68° or
>>so.
>>But I was thinking that a hot tub blanket might make this more feasible
>>and
>>reduce my heating costs.
>>
>>I was looking at this one:
>>http://www.spadepot.com/shop/Floating-Blankets-C637.aspx
>>
>>But this presents a minor problem for filter return and feeding. If I
>>leave
>>a large hole for the filter return to drain into will this be sufficient
>>aeration? Any chance these blankets are treated with bactericide?

> the cooler you keep the fish, the less upkeep you will need to perform.
> the cooler,
> the less feeding, the less waste.
> that "blanket" should not be on top of the water, it can be above the pond
> and will
> definitely keep the heat in. yes, it will stop aeration and maybe it is
> bactericidal, you need to ask. I am sending DH for cheap bubble wrap from
> Uhaul
> today for a second layer over the first layer of plastic. Ingrid
>

Yes, it too cold for them to eat now, that's why I'd like to warm them up. I
was considering some kind of tarp with bungee cords on top of the stock
tank, which would solve my aeration problem, but may not hlp much with
insulation. The heater is fighting a losing battle at the moment, so I'll be
turning it off until I find a better solution.

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 194

ahh.. what kind of stock tank, plastic or metal? where is it located?
If it is metal you will need to get an insulating blanket all around it, even under
it to keep the heat in. pink foam insulation for under will stand up to weight I
think. any kind of foam from upholstery store or fabric store should work with
plastic around that.
if it is plastic rubbermaid type stock tank, it is insulated already and only need
insulation over the top. clear plastic to let light in. bubble wrap better.
even with the heater on the outside temp will dip. but it is better for the immunity
of the fish to stay closer to 50o even if they arent eating.
Ingrid

On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 11:52:30 CST, "Bill Stock" wrote:
>Yes, it too cold for them to eat now, that's why I'd like to warm them up. I
>was considering some kind of tarp with bungee cords on top of the stock
>tank, which would solve my aeration problem, but may not hlp much with
>insulation. The heater is fighting a losing battle at the moment, so I'll be
>turning it off until I find a better solution.

Bill Stock · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 217

wrote in message $0$1340$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere.com...
> ahh.. what kind of stock tank, plastic or metal? where is it located?
> If it is metal you will need to get an insulating blanket all around it,
> even under
> it to keep the heat in. pink foam insulation for under will stand up to
> weight I
> think. any kind of foam from upholstery store or fabric store should work
> with
> plastic around that.
> if it is plastic rubbermaid type stock tank, it is insulated already and
> only need
> insulation over the top. clear plastic to let light in. bubble wrap
> better.
> even with the heater on the outside temp will dip. but it is better for
> the immunity
> of the fish to stay closer to 50o even if they arent eating.
> Ingrid

Yes, it's a plastic RubberMaid sitting on some indoor-outdoor carpet in the
basement entryway. I was considering wrapping the outside in some kind of
insulation, but I guess it's not necessary. I doubt that the temp would drop
below 50 even if it does get colder outside. They don't normally get any
light, so it doesn't matter if it's a translucent cover or not.

I found out why the heat wasn't holding though, my new heater stopped
working after a few hours. After some invetigation I discovered that a wire
had come loose inside the heater control. It's working again now and holding
them at 66 with no problem.

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 194

once the temp is above 55 or so then they need food occasionally. how's the water
parameters?

On Sun, 9 Dec 2007 18:45:25 CST, "Bill Stock" wrote:
It's working again now and holding >them at 66 with no problem.

Bill Stock · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 217

wrote in message $0$1348$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere.com...
> once the temp is above 55 or so then they need food occasionally. how's
> the water
> parameters?
>
> On Sun, 9 Dec 2007 18:45:25 CST, "Bill Stock" wrote:
> It's working again now and holding >them at 66 with no problem.

Ammonia & Nitrites OK. Haven't checked Nitrates recently, but they have not
een fed sinc ethe temp dropped.