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    Thread: Need help finding a heater for my pond

    1. #1
      NaturalK is offline Senior Member
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      Need help finding a heater for my pond

      Hi,
      (Sorry that this is a double post from another section, I just wanted to get more attention on it)
      I'm new to the pond hobby and kind of limited on space so I can't build an in ground pond. So I went with a cheap option to use an above ground pool as my pond. I've insulated the pool with 1" styrofoam at the bottom, and R-19 fiberglass insulation on the side and then covering them up with 2 layers of HDPE liners. Now I am having trouble finding a suitable heater for the tank. I live in Texas so freezing over isn't a problem, but I'd like to keep my fish feeding, and maybe keep some tropical fish in there like Pacu or Giant Gourami. What kind of heaters are available for my options? I keep searching for pond heater, but then get pond de-icer. My pond is around ~750 Gallons, and I wanna keep it at around 65 degrees F the lowest.
      After some research, I was thinking of putting in 2 1000watt at the bottom of one of my filter barrel. I'm wondering what would be the most efficient route?
      Thank you

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    2. #2
      pondfishguy is offline Senior Member
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      I use one 900W (actual) immersion heater with a controller in my 900 gallon pond. It will maintain a 20 degree F rise above ambient air in an insulated tank.

    3. #3
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      It's pretty easy to rig up a temperature controller with a cheap STC-1000 from Ebay. You have to wire it to a relay that is rated for the heater element you buy. I used a 1500 watt bucket heater on my temporary tank while building my pond. It was only 100 gallons, but it was easy to keep the water at 68 deg. in our unheated garage. I built a little box to hold the STC-1000, relay and socket where the heater plugs in.

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    4. #4
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      Quote Originally Posted by pickerel View Post
      It's pretty easy to rig up a temperature controller with a cheap STC-1000 from Ebay. You have to wire it to a relay that is rated for the heater element you buy. I used a 1500 watt bucket heater on my temporary tank while building my pond. It was only 100 gallons, but it was easy to keep the water at 68 deg. in our unheated garage. I built a little box to hold the STC-1000, relay and socket where the heater plugs in.

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      Looks good pickerel

    5. #5
      coolwon is offline Senior Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by pickerel View Post
      It's pretty easy to rig up a temperature controller with a cheap STC-1000 from Ebay. You have to wire it to a relay that is rated for the heater element you buy. I used a 1500 watt bucket heater on my temporary tank while building my pond. It was only 100 gallons, but it was easy to keep the water at 68 deg. in our unheated garage. I built a little box to hold the STC-1000, relay and socket where the heater plugs in.

      Name:  STC-1000.jpg
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      Do you fit the temperature sensor probe into a dry probe well?

      I use them to control the temperature on water chillers, I build from time to time.

      Garfield.
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      NaturalK is offline Senior Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by pickerel View Post
      It's pretty easy to rig up a temperature controller with a cheap STC-1000 from Ebay. You have to wire it to a relay that is rated for the heater element you buy. I used a 1500 watt bucket heater on my temporary tank while building my pond. It was only 100 gallons, but it was easy to keep the water at 68 deg. in our unheated garage. I built a little box to hold the STC-1000, relay and socket where the heater plugs in.

      Name:  STC-1000.jpg
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      Huh, near setup! Do you know how efficient this is? My pond is in the backyard so I might be hard to have everything open and hanging like this.
      Thanks

    7. #7
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      Quote Originally Posted by coolwon View Post
      Do you fit the temperature sensor probe into a dry probe well?

      I use them to control the temperature on water chillers, I build from time to time.

      Garfield.
      No I just let the temperature probe dangle in the water.

    8. #8
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      I have no idea. My tank was not covered or insulated but it was protected from the wind. Outside could be a challenge. I guess you'll never know if you don't try. You could have a lot of your electronics in a cooler or some other waterproof box.

    9. #9
      coolwon is offline Senior Member
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      The reason I asked about keeping the probe out of the water was ,they are supposedly prone to damp getting in, and the probe failing.

      To date I have found them cheap,reliable,very neat, and simple to set up.

      No rocket science needed to set up.

      Garfield,
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    10. #10
      pondfishguy is offline Senior Member
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      I just buy the temperature controllers on Amazon. They run $17-$35. Plug and play. Seems like a lot of work to build your own when they cost so little.

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    11. #11
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      3-300watts aquarium heaters will get the job done and under $60.
      https://www.amazon.com/Submersible-A.../dp/B07PHCC9PR

    12. #12
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      Quote Originally Posted by Nguyen365 View Post
      3-300watts aquarium heaters will get the job done and under $60.
      https://www.amazon.com/Submersible-A.../dp/B07PHCC9PR
      Sorry Tony, no way 3 of those little aquarium heaters will heat 750 gallons outside. I would think it might take several 1500w bucket heaters.

    13. #13
      pondfishguy is offline Senior Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by Nguyen365 View Post
      3-300watts aquarium heaters will get the job done and under $60.
      https://www.amazon.com/Submersible-A.../dp/B07PHCC9PR
      Don't waste your time with aquarium heaters. Many years ago I tried three 300 watt aquarium heaters in an outdoor 150 gallon stock tank and it was a complete failure. They are designed for indoor tanks at room temperature only.

    14. #14
      pondfishguy is offline Senior Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by pickerel View Post
      It's pretty easy to rig up a temperature controller with a cheap STC-1000 from Ebay. You have to wire it to a relay that is rated for the heater element you buy. I used a 1500 watt bucket heater on my temporary tank while building my pond. It was only 100 gallons, but it was easy to keep the water at 68 deg. in our unheated garage. I built a little box to hold the STC-1000, relay and socket where the heater plugs in.

      Name:  STC-1000.jpg
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      Nice looking box!. Interestingly I have the same 1/4" mesh on the ends of mine.

    15. #15
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      Quote Originally Posted by pondfishguy View Post
      Don't waste your time with aquarium heaters. Many years ago I tried three 300 watt aquarium heaters in an outdoor 150 gallon stock tank and it was a complete failure. They are designed for indoor tanks at room temperature only.
      I haven't tried it myself but I have 2 friends, they have 300-400gallons intex grow out ponds and it was able to keep at constant 77degrees under heavy duty clear plastic covers for many years now. This is in California btw I wouldn't imagine it working where it gets too cold or freezing
      Last edited by Nguyen365; 06-30-2020 at 09:47 AM.

    16. #16
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      Quote Originally Posted by pickerel View Post
      Sorry Tony, no way 3 of those little aquarium heaters will heat 750 gallons outside. I would think it might take several 1500w bucket heaters.
      Going to be too expensive to keep the pond warm multiple 1500w

    17. #17
      pondfishguy is offline Senior Member
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      Depends entirely on whether the tank/pond is insulated or not. The heaters are on a controller so electricity cost depends entirely on outdoor temperature and setpoint.
      The only type of aquarium heater that might work is the solid titanium rod type (expensive) with independent controller. Get the brand your friend is using and post it here.

    18. #18
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      Quote Originally Posted by pondfishguy View Post
      Depends entirely on whether the tank/pond is insulated or not. The heaters are on a controller so electricity cost depends entirely on outdoor temperature and setpoint.
      The only type of aquarium heater that might work is the solid titanium rod type (expensive) with independent controller. Get the brand your friend is using and post it here.
      They just use the generic glass heater. All this talk is making want a small indoor garage grow out tank in my garage under my DIY garage shelves also. Maybe 1 project at a time.
      Last edited by Nguyen365; 06-30-2020 at 11:43 AM.

    19. #19
      coolwon is offline Senior Member
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      Solar panels?

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    20. #20
      coolwon is offline Senior Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by pondfishguy View Post
      I just buy the temperature controllers on Amazon. They run $17-$35. Plug and play. Seems like a lot of work to build your own when they cost so little.
      We were discussing the sensor probes on the cheap Chinese ready made up electronic thermostats, Model STC-1000

      BANGGOOD price, about $ 6.00 plus postage


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