Most people never consider heating their ponds or fish aquariums; however, it is probably as common as having a water heating source for your home when you live in extreme winter temperatures. In addition, when you do opt for a pond heater, solar panels should be on top of your list.
Solar panel pond heaters use renewable energy and are very economical. Pond heaters are ideal and essential when winter temperatures drop and ice forms on your pond. However, pond heaters should only prevent freezing and not heat the water to such an extent that it is unsuitable for the fish.
The Key Takeaways:
- It is mostly only needed in harsh winter conditions
- There are different ways to heat the water in a pond
- Solar panel water heaters are the most economical
- Certain types of solar panels can also be used to run your pond pump or electrical heater
- There are disadvantages to thermal solar panels
Pond and aquarium heaters have many purposes and must be regulated and controlled to fit the specific need; they can do more harm than good. Let us discuss some of the exciting points around pond heaters.
How Do Pond Heaters Work?
They do not and should not warm the entire pond; instead, they keep the pond from freezing, allowing normal water, pond gases, and air circulation to continue. So, firstly, I think it is good to look at the purpose of pond heaters and how it works.
A partial thin Ice layer on the pond can be a protective cover, but the air is still required to maintain a stable ecosystem. Therefore, the pond heater’s primary function is only to prevent total pond surface freezing and maintain an optimal water temperature throughout those cold winter periods.
We can consider solar-powered pond heating if we combine solar and heating with your pond. Anyone would build a solar panel pond heater for two reasons: first, heat the water in the pond and save money on monthly utility bills. The second goal is to keep the pond from freezing.
Solar Panels and Heat Pumps
Solar panels are typically used to heat swimming pools, but they may also be utilized on a smaller scale to heat your pond during winter. All that is required is a slight temperature increase, which may be achieved when water runs through space heating pipes.
The electricity generated by solar panels can also power heat pumps. Because you are unlikely to use your solar pond heating system in the summer, we recommend disconnecting the solar system or the pond heater at this time, as your pond may quickly overheat and severely damage pond life.
See also: Solar Panel for Pool (Complete Guide)
How Do Solar Heaters Work?
Solar water heaters are available in several configurations, including a collector and storage tank and heat water using the sun’s thermal energy. The sun’s heat is collected with the solar collector and transferred to the water in layman’s terms.
The water flows from your pond pump through a solar heat-exchanger system and back into the pond. Install the panels on a rooftop or against a garden wall as long as it receives optimal sunlight. The solar heater will increase the water temperature as long as it has the sun’s rays shining on it.
In addition, solar panels can also similarly collect energy, which is transferred and stored in a battery or battery pack. After that, inverters can convert the stored power into electrical current to power your pool pump to circulate the warm water or power a submersible water heater.
Solar Heating For Koi Ponds
Firstly, there is no need to heat Koi ponds as Koi fish and Goldfish species are cold-blooded and can endure cold water temperatures. However, they prefer water that’s between 66 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, freezing temperatures and icy water may require heating.
Additionally, Koi fish starts hibernating, and they will stop feeding when temperatures fall below 66 degrees as the environment controls their metabolism. That is why Koi and Goldfish are also kept in heated aquariums and fishtanks where the temperatures can be regulated.
Solar panels produce around 20 – 700 watts per panel; therefore, you can calculate how many solar panels you need to run a pond pump or heat pump. Additionally, one solar panel would be enough to power a small storage water heater.
Typically, you only need to increase the pond water temperature by a few degrees to prevent surface freezing. However, I found this fascinating article below for a DIY project to make a solar water heater from a pond liner. In addition, this video discusses homemade versus purchased solar heaters.
Using Heat Pumps To Heat Your Pond
If you need cheaper koi pond heating than gas or electrical heating, then a heat pump is one of the most affordable, but it is only sufficient for larger ponds. The best advantage of heat pumps is that you can regulate the pond’s temperature all year, thus keeping a preferred water climate.
Heat Pumps use energy from the outside air and transfer it to the pond water, whereby the existing pond pump circulates the water through the heater that warms the pond. Air source heat pumps are preferred and found to be the most cost-effective.
Using De-Icers To Heat Your Pond
De-icers are not heaters but are very useful to keep a specific pond surface area free from freezing, creating a space that allows pond gases to escape and oxygen to enter. Refrain from using de-icers in ponds smaller than 300 gallons as the heat around the de-icer could harm the fish.
Is Solar Water Heating Worth The Effort?
Yes, Solar thermal pond heating is easy to install and an excellent choice as there are no electrical connections and monthly electrical bills to worry about. Furthermore, they are environmentally friendly and cheap to install. I found this video interesting on cheap ways to heat your pond.
Solar water heating for the entire household should drop your electricity bill by at least half and a further saving when electricity increases happen. The sun is free, and you can only record winnings if you can manage the cloudy and rainy day solar heating limitations.
Types Of Solar Water Heaters
There are three main types of solar heaters, Batch, Flat Plate, and Evacuated tube collectors. In addition, they vary in function. Closed-loop, or indirect, systems transmit heat from the sun to water in a storage tank using a non-freezing liquid.
The sun’s thermal energy heats the fluid in the solar collectors. The heat is then transferred to the water via a heat exchanger in the storage tank.
- Batch solar heater: Integrated Collector-Storage (ICS) devices heat water and store it in dark tanks or tubes within an insulated box. A tempering valve protects you from scorching water at the output, a tempering valve mixes in cold water to lower the temperature.
- Flat plate solar heater: Copper tubes are commonly attached to flat absorber plates in flat-plate collectors. The most typical arrangement is a set of parallel tubes joined at each end by two pipes, the input and outlet manifolds. The flat plate assembly gets housed in an insulated box with tempered glass.
- Evacuated tube solar heater: The most effective collectors are evacuated tube collectors. In essence, each evacuated tube is similar to a thermos. A glass tube surrounds a glass or metal tube carrying the water or heat transfer fluid. Because the area between them is a vacuum, the fluid loses very little heat.
Pros And Cons Of Solar Water Heaters
When discussing solar heating, the first instinctive thought is that there could only be advantages. But unfortunately, there are a few disadvantages, but it all depends on your specific heating needs and requirements.
| Pros | Cons |
| Monthly cost saver | Need ample roof or wall space to install |
| Easy to install | It needs direct sunlight to be efficient |
| No electrical wiring | Less efficient when cloudy and rainy |
| Environment friendly | |
| Cheap purchase options | |
| Cheap to maintain |
Why Do You Need To Heat Your Pond In Winter?
Ponds normally contain fish, and you need to find a way to heat the water to maintain the temperature and ecosystem during the cold winter. You have a few options to heat your pond water when you live in an area with extra cold winters.
Temporary Ways To Keep Your Fish Pond Warm In Winter
Should you need a temporary solution without extravagant changes, there are a few options.
- If the whole pond surface does not freeze, your Koi fish should survive the winter.
- Optionally move the fish to a warmer indoor holding tank
- Cover the pond with a gazebo-type cover to protect it from harsh weather conditions
- Cover the pond surface with a solar blanket similar to those used for pools
- Use battery aquarium heaters
Permanent Ways To Keep Your Fish Pond Warm In Winter
Either you can heat the water in a smaller pond or create a hot surface section in a larger pond.
- Solar pond heaters are a cheap, cost-effective option
- Submerged heaters can heat small ponds or create a hot water surface area
- Floating pond heaters have low energy consumption and can thaw a pond’s surface area
- De-icers will prevent a surface area from freezing but can also warm small ponds
- Heat pumps are cheaper than oil or gas heating systems
Resources:
