I'm pamann and for reference "my koi ate a four o'clock seed"

[pamann]

I live in Alabama and have a 300 gallon outdoor pond. I have 4 butterfly koi that are 5 to seven inches , one 4 inch regular koi (Pinecone) and two small 3inch fantail goldfish. They have lived here for three years now. I haven't had to use a heater. I bought one last week just in case I need to raise to water temp level. At what temp should I use it. i'm just a novice so I need all the help you can give me and my koi. Thank you.

 

[addy1]

If your pond starts to ice over is when you would need to use it, to keep a hole in the ice. Otherwise, since your fish have done fine over winter, I would leave them be.

 

[Becky]

Hi pamann, welcome to Garden Pond Forums!

 

[j.w]

pamann

 

[DrCase]

Welcome to the Forum
I dont use a heater in Arkansas

 

[pamann]

Hello all! thanks for your responses. I noticed many of you live in colder climates than Alabama, except for my close neighbor in Arkansas, but last year we had 16 days straight in the teens! The fish spent all winter out of sight and I was sure they were frozen. However, in the spring they were all still frisky and ready to start eating again. I did have ice but kept a hole open. Arkansas, did your pond ice over completely or just a bit? For you guys in colder climates do you use a de-icer or heater at all?Thanks all of you for your kind welcome.

 

[taherrmann4]

Welcome to the forum....

 

[j.w]

We have gotten down to -6F here but for not very many days in a row. The ice has formed during those cold temps over the pond but not real thick cuz like I said it doesn't last long. I just use an air stone from an old aquarium w/ the pump part kept out of the elements in a small tupperware container w/ holes cut so the tubing and cord can slip through. I stick it on my covered front porch also and just run the tubing to the pond in front near the porch. I also use a couple small water pumps w/ hose attached that bubbles water up to keep holes open. That's been working for me for years that way. I've never used a heater of any kind. Our normal temps in the winter vary from in the 30's to 40's and now and then in the teens and 20's. Hardly ever in the minus single digits.

 

[addy1]

Hello all! thanks for your responses. I noticed many of you live in colder climates than Alabama, except for my close neighbor in Arkansas, but last year we had 16 days straight in the teens! The fish spent all winter out of sight and I was sure they were frozen. However, in the spring they were all still frisky and ready to start eating again. I did have ice but kept a hole open. Arkansas, did your pond ice over completely or just a bit? For you guys in colder climates do you use a de-icer or heater at all?Thanks all of you for your kind welcome.

My pond froze over last year, but only had 4 fish in it, this year I have a aerator going just to keep a hole in the ice, if it ever gets cold enough to form ice. Been a warm winter so far.

I don't heat the pond at all.

 

[Catfishnut]

Pamann,

I personally believe that you would not require a heater. I doubt your pond would freeze over long enough to cause trouble for you. Unless a very extremely unusual and long lived weather pattern moved in. The main problem with icing over from what I have read is that "bad" gases can build up in the water if they cannot escape through the pond surface to the air. Your pond would have to remain thickly iced over for a long period for such gases to build up to any damaging levels. All you require is a small area of open water.

An aerator might be a better fix, IMO. However, a stock tank heater (or a pond heater) with a built-in thermostat is a convenient method to keep an open hole. It turns on automatically, as needed, when the temperature drops too low. Since you have already purchased one (and if it has a thermostat) I would go ahead and install it so that you don't have to worry if it should get any colder. Then, just plug it in and let it do its thing. It should take care of itself and the pond.

If it doesn't have a thermostat, I personally wouldn't use it. It may get too hot, for the fish and for the liner if it is too close to it. But, I doubt that that is the case.

Gordy