About the third year that I had the ponds, due to all kinds of water
quality, crowding, and other issues, we lost fish to dropsy, ulcers, and
started the real serious learning curve. Ignorance was bliss, until it bit
us in the ***. That year, I think that every fish had three or four series
of injectible antibiotics, and we just couldn't keep them healthy. The
larger pond was built, we got Doc Johnson's book, filtration was increase,
population was decreased and things started looking up. We joined the koi
club, and several of the stronger members heated their ponds to keep the
immune system of the koi functioning. DW says we should try that. The next
year KoiZyme hit the market, and we haven't had to treat many fish since.
Occasional scrapes during spawning have been the most trouble we have had.
We try to maintain 70 degrees, but if we get a layer of ice or snow over the
cover that reduces the solar gain, the temperature may drop and has a hard
time recovering. I have been able to keep it above 60 for the last 5
winters. The heaters don't get serious until mid or late January, due to
solar gain, and warmer temperatures through most of December, and by mid
March or the first of April, the solar gain and warmer temperatures allow
the heaters to only run part time. If my pond were oriented toward the
south, rather than east and west, I would be able to get even more help from
the solar.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Iain Miller" wrote in message
...

"RichToyBox" wrote in message
news:z0b4b.234787$Oz4.63899@rwcrnsc54...
IMO you will need a whole lot more heat than that. I heat my small pond
(about 2000 gallons) in the Richmond Virginia area with a 15 amp
immersion
heater unit, and cover the pond with a lean-to greenhouse made with
several
layers of polyethylene sheeting to keep the cold air and wind away form
the
pond. The 4000 gallon pond uses 2 of these heaters.
--

I'm glad I don't have your electricity bill! As a matter of interest, what
temperature do you keep it at & why exactly do you do this? Most people
just
seem to allow their ponds to Winter naturally & just keep the ice under
control.

rgds

I.