Natural Gas Pond Heater

[Ponderer]

Does anyone have an opinion pro or con on this type of heater.
One concern is keeping the fish away from the much warmer discharge.

http://www.koifishponds.com/pond_heaters.htm

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z398/JulianBrinkley/Gas_Heater_small.jpg

[malatu]

What would the purpose of it be. If you were using it to keep water open (hole in ice) in the winter, I believe, based on what I've read here, there are much much less expensive methods.

[Ponderer]

The purpose is not to de-ice I have a $20.00 250 watt pond de-icer if needed for that. The purpose would be in controlling fluctuating water temperatures and holding the water temperature to a set point. It's going a step further than building a shelter over your pond. I have young koi that may not fair as well as some of the bigger ones and I have not made arrangements to bring them indoors. I would appreciate further comment since I like to justify purchases like this and of course that's why I'm asking.

[Birdman]

Just make sure it has a SS or Titanium heat exchanger. Most pool heaters are copper which will harm your fish.

[Birdman]

The discharge will not be so warm as to harm the fish.

[Ponderer]

Birdman,

Thanks for the valuable tips. I see that High Desert Koi sells an electric pond heater do you have gas pond heaters? PM me if you prefer.

[malatu]

I'd like to offer some additional thoughts but I'm a newbie. Sorry.

[Birdman]

Those old Rayvac heaters are not very efficient. I am working on bringing in a new line of Heat Pumps. Just like the heat pump you would have for your house, only this one heats the water. Give me a bit and I'll get back to you on this.

[Ponderer]

I'd like to offer some additional thoughts but I'm a newbie. Sorry.

Welcome to the club, so am I malatu. Thanks for your question.

[Ponderer]

Birdman I'm looking forward to future posts on this. BTW My home is a duel fuel heat pump below 40 degrees it switches to natural gas. Heat pumps are more cost efficient above 40 gas more cost efficient below 40, of course if the natural gas prices continue to go up that won't be the case.

[malatu]

Here is a link to a used heater, though, it's probably too large for a 2500 gal. Time to go bigger!

http://www.sacramentokoi.com/Used-Equipment-Pond-Equipment-sc-356.html

[Ponderer]

Here is a link to a used heater, though, it's probably too large for a 2500 gal. Time to go bigger!

http://www.sacramentokoi.com/Used-Equipment-Pond-Equipment-sc-356.html

Interesting malatu, I didn't dig deep enough I'm waiting for the reason/oportunity to redo my depth mistake.

[chris]

how cold can it get in Tennessee in the winter? i live in ny all i have is a deicer
and airstones with an air pump i have had kois lived up to 15 years all year around
and the water goes in to the 20's

[Ponderer]

how cold can it get in Tennessee in the winter? i live in ny all i have is a deicer
and airstones with an air pump i have had kois lived up to 15 years all year around
and the water goes in to the 20's

Thanks chris, blame my temporary insanity on newbe first winter jitters. You just saved me some money, I owe you one.

[Birdman]

I had a lengthly chat with the Hot Water heat Exchanger Man.yesterday. They really look sweet, super efficient, but only work down to 42 degrees air temp. So for me, and many others, that isn't going to do any good as most of the winter here it gets into the 30s at night.

[addy1]

My pond is reading 46 this am, we dropped to 25, with heavy frost. Any plants hanging on are now done.

Using a wireless thermometer! works great

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370416771309&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123

Not the cheapest one, but it does transmit well from our distant pond into the house.

[koikeepr]

Thanks for the link Addy--I just got one. I got the cheaper $15 one rather than the $39 one (I'm such a cheapskate!). Sure is better than constantly poking my head under the darn pond net to find my standard floating one. Hope it works!

[Peppy]

Keep them coming, Addy. You're a font of Internet information! Geez!

[Ponderer]

I had a lengthly chat with the Hot Water heat Exchanger Man.yesterday. They really look sweet, super efficient, but only work down to 42 degrees air temp. So for me, and many others, that isn't going to do any good as most of the winter here it gets into the 30s at night.

Why would a heat exchanger not work lower than 42 degrees air temperature ? The only way I see this happening is if your gas or electric fails. Am I missing something here? All Heat pumps, furnaces, etc work using heat exchangers except air is going through them instead of liquid. If your talking about heat pumps their efficiency drops off at about 42 degrees, but the heat exchanger doesn't loose efficiency it can't it's just a heat exchanger.

[koikeepr]

Birdman is 100% correct. I have a heat pump on my home as I live in the south. However, every year there are a few weeks where the temps slip to 40 or below and my heat pump has to switch to an alternate heating mode. My house is chilly to the point that we have to put sweaters on because heat pumps are not designed to work well below certain temps--that's why they are made specifically to be used in warmer climates. They are great for saving energy when the temps are right, but they totally suck when you've got unseasonable temps, which seems to happen every year for a bit of time even here where I am. We simply use our wood fireplace on those few days and throw an extra blanket on the bed.

[Ponderer]

I had a lengthly chat with the Hot Water heat Exchanger Man.yesterday. They really look sweet, super efficient, but only work down to 42 degrees air temp. So for me, and many others, that isn't going to do any good as most of the winter here it gets into the 30s at night.

KoiKeepr, I didn't see the term Heat Pump in his post. After further thought it was dumb on my part not to realize that was what he meant since he mentioned heat pumps in an earlier post. Incidentally I have a heat pump on my home in Tennessee, when the temperature hits 40 degrees it switches to natural gas auxiliary. Its called a Duel Fuel heat pump and I highly recommend them if anyone is shopping for a new heat pump and has a natural gas line running to their home.

[koikeepr]

No harm, no foul Ponderer!

I have a heat pump, but don't have gas where I'm living (only electricity), so there is nothing to convert to when it goes into auxiliary mode. It's just cold. LOL!

[koikeepr]

I got my wireless temp gauge in the mail today. Set it and tossed it in the pond and the water is at 51 degrees. I wonder what the error rate is on these things...I guess I can assume 1 to 2 degrees at most. But, of course, that means no more feedings. My regular floaty Laguna floating thermometer said water temps are round 55-56. I would guess that thing would be wrong versus the new electronic one. The air temps actually went up to around 72 degrees here today, and are supposed to be mild for the rest of the week. The air temp right now says 64 according to the wireless gauge. This thing is interesting.....

I turned the waterfall and spitters off yesterday after I did a water change and cleaned out the filter. Lots of leaves on the the net, so I'm glad that I tossed that thing on 3 weeks ago. There's still plenty of leaves on the trees, so I'm figuring on at least another 3 to 4 weeks of them all coming down. After that I'll throw on the solar pool cover...I've decided to leave the equipment flowing this winter and see how it all goes.

[Peppy]

I got my wireless thermometer yesterday too, LOL! I didn't rush out there to put it in though. Still in the box.

[koikeepr]

It's actually pretty cool to have and be able to see the info from indoors. I keep the base in my three-season sun room and it's saying it's 78 degrees in there. But the water temps are 50.8. It's interesting to see the differences between water and air temps. Also interesting to see how water temps are far more stable and slow moving than air temps. Ah, just another gizmo!

[addy1]

Thanks for the link Addy--I just got one. I got the cheaper $15 one rather than the $39 one (I'm such a cheapskate!). Sure is better than constantly poking my head under the darn pond net to find my standard floating one. Hope it works!

The cheaper one wouldn't work for me, my pond is a little too far away and down the hill. This one never loses its signal, and when tested with my weather station it read the same air temperature.

[koikeepr]

I've had mine up and running now for a bit over a week. It works great! Mine is in the sunroom right about the porch, so it's close to the thermometer in the pond. Just about 10 feet away. It is great to see these numbers every day.

[addy1]

I've had mine up and running now for a bit over a week. It works great! Mine is in the sunroom right about the porch, so it's close to the thermometer in the pond. Just about 10 feet away. It is great to see these numbers every day.

Great glad to hear that! My signal needs to travel a long way lol