Having a Koi pond heater used to be something you only found on very elaborate and large Koi ponds. Because of the expense, very few Koi owners could handle the cost. Also Koi ponds were mainly found only in the warmer climates where heating wasn't thought about. Today Koi are being exported all over the world where heating can be much more a requirement. Most importantly the cost of heating a Koi pond is much less than it was just a few years ago.
My advice to most Koi owners is unless you live in the warmest of climates, consider heating your pond. By heating we're not just talking about keeping it ice free in the winter. You want to maintain a minimum temperature of 54 - 57F. This will reduce dangerous fluctuations in temperature and allow your Koi to feed all year long.
Since the Koi being imported today into colder climates are not use to the colder water temperatures, heating your pond will help protect your investment by providing a better water environment for your Koi.
There are two popular ways to heat a Koi pond. The electric heater is the simplest way to go. An in-line electric heater is inserted into the return water pipe after the pump in a gravity-fed system. It will take about 1 kilowatt of electrical power per 1,000 gal. of water depending on the ambient temperature of the water. Always get a larger heater than is required so it won't have to run all the time in the cold months.
The other option that you have is a heat exchanger system. Although they are more expensive to buy and install they are cheaper in operating expense. The heat exchanger is basically a radiator that pond water is pumped through to warm. The water in the radiator is heated by a small boiler that is fired by natural gas, electricity or oil.
Whether or not you heat your Koi pond, it is always a good idea to cover it in the cold months. Just don't make it to air tight. The best covers have zipped openings to allow gases that build up to escape and to allow access to the fish if needed. The Koi pond heater is fast becoming a very popular option for ponds. In fact, some would argue that it is no longer just an option but rather a necessity especially in the colder climates.
More Information:
John Stoner is an author and Koi Fish Enthusiast. Learn more about
Koi pond care and get many other tips in his latest book on
Koi care.
Categories
