Hey guys I have an issue and I need help fast. I have an 18 inch RTC in an outdoor pond. I live in san jose california and winter temperature ranges from 55 F in the morning-75 degrees highest( outside temp). sometimes the high is 65F. My Pond is very big and I dont know if the RTC can survive winter In the pond. If he cant I'm planning on building an acrylic rectangle tunnel with a 500W heater attached to the roof so he can swim in if its too cold. Do you guys think this will help? The side panels will be 10inch(height) x 25 inch( length) and the roof will be 18 inch ( width) x 25 inch ( length). my pond is big about 4000 gallon pond. I need help!
EMERGENCY! heated cave in outdoor pond for rtc
- Thread starter briantran711
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i thought i was tripping cause i know i just commented on this
then realized theres 2 threads in different sections of the forum
lol... well u have my comment on the other thread, good luck!
then realized theres 2 threads in different sections of the forum
lol... well u have my comment on the other thread, good luck!
I had a similar situation here in SW Florida in a 20,000 gal pond. I had a garden hose pumping 75 F water into it 24/7, ~2000 gal a day, plus a 1000 Watt heater. In the winter time the water temp dropped down to 55F-65F. There was one RTC in the pond, ~1.5' and other tropical fish. The RTC would hang right in the warmer water patch.
Eventually I rehomed these inside but it looked like the RTC might have had a chance to survive. Still be a huge gamble. I'd not recommend it. A heated cave is a better idea though.
I had five 2'+ silver arowanas in the same pond. Three perished from the cold, I could save the remaining two. They weren't smart enough to hang around the warmer water patch. RTC and a jau catfish were.
Eventually I rehomed these inside but it looked like the RTC might have had a chance to survive. Still be a huge gamble. I'd not recommend it. A heated cave is a better idea though.
I had five 2'+ silver arowanas in the same pond. Three perished from the cold, I could save the remaining two. They weren't smart enough to hang around the warmer water patch. RTC and a jau catfish were.
Post a link please so we learn the best all together from each other. Now and in posterity.
If I were to make the cave, what should I set the temp as on the heater inside the cave. And do you have any reccomendations on heaters? So far I've only seen affordable 500w heaters. And considering the dimensions of the cave what size heater should I use 1000w? Or 500w? The cave will have 3 acrylic panels.( 2 side panels, and a roof panel)
IMHO you and your RTC would be better off if the cat went inside for the winter. One can get a cheap above ground pool from Walmart for $100 and throw rubber liner in it for another $100 or less.
Or you could build a plastic greenhouse / enclosure to protect your existing pond from the elements. Or at the very least build low walls e.g. of cinder blocks, lay down a few cross boards, etc. and cover the pond with plastic / tarp.
If you can't do either, I'd donate the cat to whoever can take care of it asap.
I didn't read your OP carefully enough the first time, sorry. I thought the heater will be inside the cave with a heater guard. If it is outside, it may not do what you want at all - the warm water will rise and the cold water will keep replacing it on the bottom and in the cave in a process called convection.
It'll be like installing a fireplace on the roof of your house - it won't do you much good.
Just laying the heater in a heater guard on the bottom without any caves has a better chance to work but even so this is a huge gamble. I again recommend to rehome the fish asap or risk losing it.
One can get cheap heaters 200-300 W from almost any LFS. They run $20 or some such.
Or you could build a plastic greenhouse / enclosure to protect your existing pond from the elements. Or at the very least build low walls e.g. of cinder blocks, lay down a few cross boards, etc. and cover the pond with plastic / tarp.
If you can't do either, I'd donate the cat to whoever can take care of it asap.
My 1000 W heater was on 24/7, set at the highest temp so it doesn't shut off.
I didn't read your OP carefully enough the first time, sorry. I thought the heater will be inside the cave with a heater guard. If it is outside, it may not do what you want at all - the warm water will rise and the cold water will keep replacing it on the bottom and in the cave in a process called convection.
It'll be like installing a fireplace on the roof of your house - it won't do you much good.
Just laying the heater in a heater guard on the bottom without any caves has a better chance to work but even so this is a huge gamble. I again recommend to rehome the fish asap or risk losing it.
One can get cheap heaters 200-300 W from almost any LFS. They run $20 or some such.
Check amazon they have pond deicers that you can get with air draw for flow and temp probe. Use the air for water flow and 1000 watt deicer to heat the cave. There is nothing saying he will use the cave but it's worth a try
