New to Ponds - Heater Question - Aquarium Advice

Reefmonkey · 08-18-2006, 01:47 PM

I live in subtropical Houston, so winter temps are pretty high. Average highs in January are in the 60s, average lows are in mid-high 40s. I have a 100 gallon pond, in a sheltered location close to the house. It has South American cichlids in it. I have several questions about heaters.

1. What kind and wattage of heater would you recommend for my setup?

2. I really know nothing about how pond heaters would differ from aquarium heaters, so I wonder how do you keep the pond heater from coming in contact with and melting a preformed liner?

snwsk8r8 · 08-18-2006, 02:20 PM

im sure a reg pond heater that floats should be ok

Reefmonkey · 08-18-2006, 03:22 PM

Ah, they float, cool, thanks. I'll have to stop by Nelson Water Gardens and pick one up sometime before October (will be in Japan the month of October)

RogerMcAllen · 08-18-2006, 07:57 PM

I thought most floating heaters were just used to keep ice from forming, but I might be wrong.

Is the pond inground or above ground?

100 gallons of aquarium water, assuming a tank temp of ~10 degrees F from room temp usually takes 300 watts or so. With a 30 degree difference it might be closer to 900 watts.

finny al · 08-18-2006, 11:19 PM

I have a 90 gallon preformed and successfully used a regular aquarium heater last winter. The suction cups held it off the side of the pond and it heated the pond just fine (I have fancy goldfish in it). I know that they aren't techically rated for outdoor use, but it seemed to work out just fine. So far as I know, the ones that float are primarily just to keep the surface of the pond from completely freezing over.

Reefmonkey · 08-21-2006, 11:52 AM

It's inground.

piranha · 08-21-2006, 08:56 PM

Pond heaters are actually de-icers. They will cycle on at 35 degrees F and off at 46 degrees F. A suggestion for a small pre-formed pond would be an aquarium external inline heater by Hydor. There would be nothing in the pond to damage it. You would have to keep the heater from the elements and of course on a GFCI receptacle. As the aquarium general rule goes 5 watts per gallon. These heaters come in two sizes 200 and 300 watt. If you used both it would work for a 100 gallon pond. You need small submersible pumps to connect them to or have one on the return side of an external cannister.

08-18-2006, 01:47 PM	#1
Reefmonkey Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston TX Posts: 133	New to Ponds - Heater Question I live in subtropical Houston, so winter temps are pretty high. Average highs in January are in the 60s, average lows are in mid-high 40s. I have a 100 gallon pond, in a sheltered location close to the house. It has South American cichlids in it. I have several questions about heaters. 1. What kind and wattage of heater would you recommend for my setup? 2. I really know nothing about how pond heaters would differ from aquarium heaters, so I wonder how do you keep the pond heater from coming in contact with and melting a preformed liner?

08-18-2006, 07:57 PM	#4
RogerMcAllen Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 2,330 Images: 16	I thought most floating heaters were just used to keep ice from forming, but I might be wrong. Is the pond inground or above ground? 100 gallons of aquarium water, assuming a tank temp of ~10 degrees F from room temp usually takes 300 watts or so. With a 30 degree difference it might be closer to 900 watts. __________________ Have your reviewed your aquarium products yet?

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08-18-2006, 02:20 PM	#2
snwsk8r8 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 26	im sure a reg pond heater that floats should be ok

08-18-2006, 03:22 PM	#3
Reefmonkey Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston TX Posts: 133	Ah, they float, cool, thanks. I'll have to stop by Nelson Water Gardens and pick one up sometime before October (will be in Japan the month of October)

08-18-2006, 11:19 PM	#5
finny al Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tuscaloosa AL Posts: 49	I have a 90 gallon preformed and successfully used a regular aquarium heater last winter. The suction cups held it off the side of the pond and it heated the pond just fine (I have fancy goldfish in it). I know that they aren't techically rated for outdoor use, but it seemed to work out just fine. So far as I know, the ones that float are primarily just to keep the surface of the pond from completely freezing over.

08-21-2006, 11:52 AM	#6
Reefmonkey Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston TX Posts: 133	It's inground.

08-21-2006, 08:56 PM	#7
piranha Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Port Jefferson Station, New York Posts: 283	Pond heaters are actually de-icers. They will cycle on at 35 degrees F and off at 46 degrees F. A suggestion for a small pre-formed pond would be an aquarium external inline heater by Hydor. There would be nothing in the pond to damage it. You would have to keep the heater from the elements and of course on a GFCI receptacle. As the aquarium general rule goes 5 watts per gallon. These heaters come in two sizes 200 and 300 watt. If you used both it would work for a 100 gallon pond. You need small submersible pumps to connect them to or have one on the return side of an external cannister.