Heating outdoor pond

T

twillis

AC Members
Sep 16, 2013
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Hi guys,

I just put in an outdoor pond for some red eared sliders I have that were quickly outgrowing their indoor tank. I am currently renting the home I am in so I had to keep the pond above ground and build a deck around it instead of actually putting it in the ground. I was trying to figure out the best way to keep the water heated throughout the winter. I live in Atlanta, GA so I don't have to deal with any extremely cold temps. I'm pretty sure the turtles would do fine though the winter as long as I keep it from freezing over, but I would like to keep it a little warmer than that.

I have been looking at pond de ices, but will that actually heat up the water much or just a small amount around it to keep the pond from freezing? Right now I have a 250w heat bulb on their basking spot I turn on when it gets chilly at night and they seem to enjoy it, but it does very little to effect the pond temp other than an inch or 2 of the water directly below. The pond was sold to me as a 250 gallon I believe it is a little larger than that.

Also on a side note I was thinking about putting comet or shubunkin goldfish in the pond with the turtles. I would love to have koi but I realize that pond is not large enough for them. Does anyone have any experience keeping those with sliders? As much as I would love to keep them with the turtles if it's to risky I would rather not. Thanks.

 
I have used Titanium Heaters in many ponds under 500 gallon with good success.

These are not breakable the way glass/quartz heaters can be, especially with Turtles

I would not recommend comets or shubinkin in a pond of your size unless they are quite large, and even then I have had Red Ear Turtles take a bite out them.
I generally have kept turtles together with Goldfish or Koi in very large ponds, usually over 1500 gallons


This article might be helpful too:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/ClearPond.html#winter_care
 
Now Spring season is here. Hope you are enjoying with your pond and aquatics.
But always keep check on algal bloom because spring & summer are the seasons when algae growth is too rapid.
 
btw how did not having to deal with extremely cold temperatures work out this year?

did your turtles survive?
 
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