Winterize Pond

Hi All--
I have myself a 110 gallon patio pond and I want to jump on head on winter prepping so I'm not scrambling at the end of this season.

Attached is a picture of the pond. As you can see, it's a rubber tub that is sitting on a cement deck. That is in direct sunlight. This is perfect for the summer but I fear for it in the winter.

GOAL: I'm looking for some tips to help keep it from freezing over fully in the winter. I want to be energy efficient and avoid the cost of putting a heater in the tub if at all possible. I'm going to stock it with Medaka Ricefish-- these are fish that are said to be able to withstand EXTREME temperatures just like goldfish (as low as 37 F). If it's too much then I can remove them and bring them in the house as well.

The pond will have constant filtration from a solar powered air pump (I will have to make modifications to ensure this stays running through the winter-- especially if I cover the pond fully).

Some thoughts I've had are:
1. Lift the tub up on a pallet or some type of wood floor that I can lay insulation on (will this make the tub crack though?)
2. Spray foam insulation and or lining insulation
3. Covering the tub with a greenhouse-type cover to create and trap heat (example: "Raised Bed Greenhouse Topper" sold at Tractor Supply)

 

hard to see the water flow from the air pump. if its a fairly strong flow that causes a good amount of surface agitation, it can keep a small hole open. but a thin dome of ice will start forming over the hole, so you'll have to keep an eye on it, and break it every few days.

i use a SunSun 525gph canister filter w/ spray bar, this was the 2nd day during our snow storm in Houston. I didn't take a pic, but by the 4th day it had almost domed over the spray bar with ice.

 

I don't insulation will help without a heat source.

 

I think all three of your ideas combined would help. One more thing you might try is to get a small powerhead in there, and put a long-ish hose on the outflow, leaving the whole assembly on the bottom. Not only will the pump body produce a SMALL amount of heat, the friction from the water passing through the long hose will also produce a SMALL amount of heat. So all things combined, you might be able to keep things liquid in winter.
Last fall I checked on my paradise fish outside every day— I knew it was time for them to come indoors when they started to huddle on top of the powerhead! They know where the warm spots are

 

hard to see the water flow from the air pump. if its a fairly strong flow that causes a good amount of surface agitation, it can keep a small hole open. but a thin dome of ice will start forming over the hole, so you'll have to keep an eye on it, and break it every few days.

i use a SunSun 525gph canister filter w/ spray bar, this was the 2nd day during our snow storm in Houston. I didn't take a pic, but by the 4th day it had almost domed over the spray bar with ice.

unfortunately it's just a solar powered air pump hooked up to a sponge filter so no crazy water flow. I was trying to go 0 electricity because I have enough tanks in the house that use a lot of electricity hahah

 

Can you recommend a solar power air pump? I may break into the yard this summer.

 

Can you recommend a solar power air pump? I may break into the yard this summer.

I don't think I can post a link here without it being removed but I got the 'Lewisia 2.5W Solar Air Pump Kit Battery Backup with Hoses and Bubble Stones 3 Working Modes Pond Aerator Bubble Oxygenator Hydroponics Aquaponics Fish Tank Koi Pond Aquarium Pool Aeration Fishing' from amazon for about $35.

It's very low power but it works great for my 110 gallon. Hooked up two sponge filters to it. Considering buying a second one but we'll see what happens once it's cycled (about to enter week 4 of the cycling process-- still haven't seen the added ammonia levels go down but I'm waiting patiently.)

I also bough a string of solar lights to hang around the patio and it's a VERY calming look and feel out there

 

I don't think I can post a link here without it being removed but I got the 'Lewisia 2.5W Solar Air Pump Kit Battery Backup with Hoses and Bubble Stones 3 Working Modes Pond Aerator Bubble Oxygenator Hydroponics Aquaponics Fish Tank Koi Pond Aquarium Pool Aeration Fishing' from amazon for about $35.

It's very low power but it works great for my 110 gallon. Hooked up two sponge filters to it. Considering buying a second one but we'll see what happens once it's cycled (about to enter week 4 of the cycling process-- still haven't seen the added ammonia levels go down but I'm waiting patiently.)

I also bough a string of solar lights to hang around the patio and it's a VERY calming look and feel out there

Thanks for the info.