How Much Heat To Keep Pond From Freezing?

[Don Trinko]

I'm just starting a small (100g) pond. I live in Ohio. A typical winter day may have a low of 15 or 20 but some times the low is -5 to -15 f.
I,m debaitting abought keeping the fish in all winter. I will have air going. The pond is above ground and not insulated. I understand that the air may keep part of the pond from freezing but I want to make sure it doesn't freeze. Would one of the 120 watt or 200 watt floating heaters insure that it doesn't freeze? Thanks; Don T.

 

[guppy_man]

Hmm.... im not sure if a heater would stop it freezing, i know it sounds stupid.
But imagine 2 seperate ice cube trays, one filled with hot water and the other normal temperature water. The hot water would freeze first, don't ask me why its just does.

So im thinking that having the water heated will only speed up the freezing process.


Don't count on this though as it's a larger area.

 

[5teady_2012]

I'm just starting a small (100g) pond. I live in Ohio. A typical winter day may have a low of 15 or 20 but some times the low is -5 to -15 f.
I,m debaitting abought keeping the fish in all winter. I will have air going. The pond is above ground and not insulated. I understand that the air may keep part of the pond from freezing but I want to make sure it doesn't freeze. Would one of the 120 watt or 200 watt floating heaters insure that it doesn't freeze? Thanks; Don T.

i cant see a heater that size doing out, i had a 300W in my garage tank that was 4ft and that alone could not cope to keep my tank at a stable 25deg, and our winters aint that bad in the uk so im guessing an outdoor pond would need a bigger heater.

I think you would need something more like this... click here m8

 

[Tolak]

Insulate the pond. I have a 150 gallon stock tank that has been running since early April, a few weeks earlier than I had wanted. A buddy with no tank space got a bunch (50+) of African cichlids free, I told him if he helped me set it up he could keep them in there until the next auction.

It's up on boards, it had about 8 layers of moving blankets duct taped around it, and a skid top with an old comforter over the top for insulation. Since it was set up in a pinch I had yet to order a heat controller for the heater. Wide open, in an insulated tub, a 1,000w heater will bring 150 gallons up to 90F when it is 30F outside. 90F water steams real nice when it is 30F outside, pretty cool, except that I was plugging & unplugging the heater every few hours for several days.

That is a 6F increase for every 100w in 150 gallons, heater wide open. If all things were the same with your setup (don't count on it) you should see a 9F increase for every 100W, seeing as you have 100 gallons. This is something you will have to experiment with, mine has been a real adventure.

 

[Don Trinko]

I will probable add some insulation. Since mine will have gols fish the temp isn't critical as long as it doesn't completly freeze. thanks; Don T.