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    Thread: Snug as a bug. Winter cover setup 2016.

    1. #1
      KoiRun's Avatar
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      Snug as a bug. Winter cover setup 2016.

      Dears,

      I just wanted to share my winter set up for this year and get opinions and constructive comments. This will be the second winter this pond is going to be covered. Many more pictures to come. . Thanks.


      Name:  IMG_4044.jpg
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      This picture show my winter cover view from the bedroom window. Its a wood frame 14x10 and stands about 2 feet above the water line. Currently covered with 2 inch thick styrofoam insulation. Later when it gets colder the will be another layer. That would be R20 total insulation. The sides are insulated using R20 wall insulation.
      Near the centre edge there is an access panel the I can open where I can step in, slide over a couple of panels to clean my skimmer, feed the fish etc. They are always happy to see me.
      Unlike many, I'm one of those that look forward to winters.

      Name:  IMG_4012.jpg
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      This picture shows the simple framework and the plastic cover underneath that has small slots to let water through.
      Can somebody PM me on how to make images smaller (iphone camera/mac).
      Last edited by KoiRun; 10-05-2016 at 11:00 AM.
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    2. #2
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      Video:


      The video shows a couple of pressure filters that were on the side of the pond and is now sitting on the 'plant ledge.' This is a new idea this year. Last year I dismantled them and 'sunk' the foam and media in the water. I like this idea because then I don't have to figure out what time of the year I have to dismantle it and set it up again.

      Do you think this is too much current or aeration for the winter? It kinda looks like they are being pushed around by the current.

      If the video doesn't show up. Here's a link:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrfT5UfP3GQ
      Last edited by KoiRun; 10-05-2016 at 11:08 AM.
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    3. #3
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      Looks like you have a great plan. Wish I could do something like this for my pond, but not in the near future I'm afraid.

      Congrats again on a nice plan and set-up.

      Doug - out
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    4. #4
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      What is your current water temperature?
      M.Nguyen


    5. #5
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      Quote Originally Posted by OCkoiFan View Post
      What is your current water temperature?
      72 F. So still growing season?
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    6. #6
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      I have 2 concerns about the set up which can be easily tweaked. Are you using 2x4s on the whole span or are they larger? My concern is that if you got a heavy snow could the center collapse? You could elevate one side so that the snow would slide off and not sit. Lastly, i dont know if you get gusty winds or not but you could add bails of hay around the edges so that the winds cant get under it and lift it on you.

    7. #7
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      Quote Originally Posted by KoiRun View Post
      72 F. So still growing season?
      Oh yeah, same here around 72f, heat spell to come this weekend, summer is not over
      Once the temp start drop slowly, that is the best growth time.
      M.Nguyen


    8. #8
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      Name:  IMG_3962.jpg
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      This pictures shows the "life line" of the covered pond. The vent coming from our basement furnace will provide heat. The blue hose provides fresh tap water with the option of mixing hot water. It also comes from the basement and runs along inside the vent so that it does not freeze. Also airlines run inside this vent so that in does not condensate and freeze. In the future I plan on coiling both the water hose and the airlines inside one of the bigger ducts so that they pick up heat before going into the pond. I have a 70 L aerator in the basement hooked up on a separate outlet so that if the GCFi trips (which happened recently with the recent rainstorm) the air would still be functioning. Later on I plan on running a small line through this vent where I can inject dechlor The vent is plugged at the time the picture was taken to prevent cold air coming out of it as we were still running our air conditioning.
      See the water was still green here but now with the pond all covered up is now crystal clear. A bunch on bugs are living inside now,
      mostly potato bugs, spiders, and flying critters that fall in that I'm sure becomes koi food. Now I just have to set up some mouse traps

      Jojoarty - next year I plan on raising one side maybe 4 inches taller so that during rain will wash off. I don't think I'd want it or be able to raise it high enough so that snow don't accumulate. With a few 2x3' holding the styrofoam in place I think it's heavy enough not to get blown. The low profile also helps it from not not getting blown away. The smaller cavity within the cover means better heat efficiency or rather easier to heat. The disadvantage of the low profile is that I will have to shovel snow off of it during heavy accumulation fearing collapse. I'll have to prepare for this by having extra trusses and extra styrofoam boards. A blanket of snow around all of it would provide added insulation. In regard to wind lifting it, my backyard is so small with the fence near that pond is enough to break away most of the heavy winds that we get.

      OCkoiFan - I'm not sure yet how to feed koi when temperatures are on the downturn. I've heard it's a good time to fatten them up for the winter.
      Last edited by KoiRun; 10-06-2016 at 12:47 AM.
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      Filter house? No need. I use my basement This picture shows two more pressure filters. Basically I have a filter for each of my fish. 4 in/around the pond and 2 in the basement shown here. So far so good in terms of filter capacity. I can flush the these filters, drain and change water in comfort (shorts and t-shirt). If a catastrophic leak were to happen I would not need to worry as my basement in not finished (yet) and there is a 4" drain right there. My pond would also not empty out completely as all my pumps are sitting on the plant ledge.
      Attached Images Attached Images  
      Last edited by KoiRun; 10-20-2017 at 10:28 PM. Reason: tried to turn the photo :(
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      Name:  IMG_4020.jpg
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      This picture shows how I watch my koi when the pond is covered. On the big screen TV! It's my favourite channel.

      In the middle of the screen there shows my pond thermomter that is readable on the TV.
      Last edited by KoiRun; 10-08-2016 at 11:49 AM.

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      Nice. Your koi will love you even more without the bitter cold winter.
      M.Nguyen


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      Bump
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    14. #14
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      I wonder if you need to leave a "sunlight window" anywhere...? Months with only incandescent bulbs concerns me. I don't have any data to back my concerns, just posing the question for thought/discussion/knowledge.
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      Hi, If a fish happened to jump near an exposed incandescent globe and splashed water on the globe would it not burst?

      Garfield
      Last edited by coolwon; 10-08-2016 at 10:09 AM.
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      Quote Originally Posted by ademink View Post
      I wonder if you need to leave a "sunlight window" anywhere...? Months with only incandescent bulbs concerns me. I don't have any data to back my concerns, just posing the question for thought/discussion/knowledge.
      Andrea that’ also concerned me initially during my planning. I do have two sets of lights that are on timers in there. One set dim and one set bright. The dim goes on first in the morning to give them a chance to prepare for the ‘sunrise’ (bright lights). At night the bright light turn off then later the dim lights - night night. I’ve been racking my brains out whether to follow the natural sunrise and sunset during the winter months in terms of setting the timers.

      When its warmish and sunny out (and I’m home) I tend to open a couple of panels to let sun through then close them again at night. Last spring I gradually took the panels off to mimic the longer days and to prevent any sort of ‘shock.’

      I’ve been racking my brains out and do a little research whether control of lights could possibly prevent egg development.

      I know of one ponder in Montreal that uses 100watt light bulbs without any other source of heat and this prevented his pond from being frozen. He also covers his pond under styrofoam.
      Last edited by KoiRun; 10-08-2016 at 10:57 AM.
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    17. #17
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      Quote Originally Posted by coolwon View Post
      Hi, If a fish happened to jump near an exposed incandescent globe and splashed water on the globe would it not burst?

      Garfield
      The overhanging light in the picture are outdoor string lights from Home Depo. They've been through heavy rain storms without any problems when the styrofoam covers are offf. i've replaced some with LEDs. The incandescent ones do tend to contribute to heating but would be inneficient.
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      Name:  image.jpg
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      This picture shows the material that insulates the sides of the pond. It's cellulose wall insulation wrapped in saran wrap and reinforced by tuck tape. Good for conforming around rocks. For smaller areas I use smaller pieces and stuff them in ziploc bags. With the meticulous job this year I'm hoping for 55F+ water temp with the house temperature set at 66F.
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      One thing that would concern me is that vent pipe sending heat from the home heating to the pond. As natural gas burns, it adds carbon dioxide to the air. So, with as tight as you've sealed this pond, how do you provide for gas exchange/exhaust?

      I agree, those lights would scare the heck out of me as well, being that close to the water surface! Just sayin'!!!
      Mike

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      I learned from koiphen that one can never really seal a cover 100% which makes sense; there will always be holes somewhere. Besides I have a flow through/ overflow pipe that is always open. I also learned that CO2 is much more difficult infusing into the water than out and I have a strong aerator for that. Besides whatever heat or air that comes out of the vent is the same air that we breath in the house. I've pondered though whether the CO2 coming from fish and algae is signifinant enough for me to worry leaking Into the house. But I really don't think so. Free home humidyfier?
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