My pond runs all winter, zone 2/3

[callingcolleen1]

Got the top two ponds covered with cattle panel domes. Should add more winter protection. Will do final touches tomorrow. Have to run to work now...

 

[j.w]

Very nice! Now will you have to brush the snow off it there gets to be too much? This is going to be fun and exciting to see what happens and how much warmer it stays in there.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I noticed a big difference last year when I covered part of just one pond, so hoping it will save energy. I noticed how much warmer the air was inside today The cold frame, when I stuck my head in for a look.

Will to a video next week when it's real cold so you can get a better look.

 

[sissy]

It is easy I have one at the other house Colleen and it was built 2 years ago .

 

[Lisak1]

@callingcolleen1 - you are always up to something! Your fish are gonna throw you a thank you party after this little project! They look great - I've seen people use those cattle panels for garden trellises, but this is a brilliant!

 

[sissy]

They have video's of them on you tube and that is where I got my info from .

 

[cas]

Awesome @callingcolleen1 ! Can't wait to see how it works out.

 

[addy1]

Great job! your fish are happy fish! Warm water for the winter, well warmer than normal

 

[callingcolleen1]

I just went out to check the ponds again. Early this morning I put the 1500 watt red heater into the frozen pond. The two upper ponds that are covered have almost to no ice, just a thin but of ice by the opening... Just having a cold frame really sure helps cause last year the upper ponds had a lot more ice similar to the two uncovered bottom ponds

Under the upper pond cold frame you can see no ice. Sorry about the reflections

 

[callingcolleen1]

The guppy pond is all shut down now as it is too risky to keep them outside in this extreme cold. Everybody in house now so not to worry...

Tomorrow I am off so I will make a video so you can get a better view and I will try to explain how simple the cattle panel frame is to put over ponds.

So I am happy with the extra effort of creating a cold frame over the upper two ponds as I feel it will save on energy. Last winter was not that cold and so with the one red heater it was ok but had more ice on upper ponds than I like. This winter I fear will be longer and colder so this was worth the extra cost of 13 dollars per panel. I used 6 panels to create the upper two frames over the ponds...

 

[sissy]

I bet you a regular bulb would keep it warmer

 

[Tula]

I read one of the best reasons to cover a pond, is to cut down on evaporation, due to wind will. With evaporation, some heat loss, but like when we get out of a hot shower and feel chilled, or watch steam rolling off a hot cup of coffee. I'm using a pool solar cover we are finished with.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I bet you a regular bulb would keep it warmer

Yes that would also help as well. But I am running one 1500 watt heater that sucks lots of energy already and then I think it will be

I read one of the best reasons to cover a pond, is to cut down on evaporation, due to wind will. With evaporation, some heat loss, but like when we get out of a hot shower and feel chilled, or watch steam rolling off a hot cup of coffee. I'm using a pool solar cover we are finished with.

Very True... During extreme cold winters you do get lots of water evaporation for sure. Its like a lot of water on the stove effect... As water is heated to keep ponds from freezing into solid block of ice, the extreme cold air of minus 20 and below zero, you can just see the steam rolling off pond in winter.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Minus 21 Celsius (-6 F) last night. Still cold and feels like -33 with the wind chill.

 

[Tula]

Colleen, Have you considered covering the two smaller ponds, as all your ponds share water? If I was rebuilding my pond, I'd have a rectangle, with some below grade and some above with a ledge to sit on. It would be so much easier to net and cover it....but it's highly unlikely I'll ever rebuild.