Fountain Pond Heater Options?

[Noodlebrain]

I have a 78 gallon fountain pond. 5.5' in diameter and 30" deep. The pond is half (15") in the ground and half (15") above ground. We live in south MIssissippi and I intend to have some tropical fish there. I approaches 28 degrees in the winter and I want to keep the temp no colder than 55 degrees. Is there a heater with thermostat that I could drop in when needed?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[j.w]

@Noodlebrain
Might be but I dunno as I never use any here. I just did a quick look and it appears they do: https://www.amazon.com/pond-heater-thermostat/s?k=pond+heater+with+thermostat Your pond is small tho so don't know if any will work for your situation.

 

[GBBUDD]

I have a 78 gallon fountain pond. 5.5' in diameter and 30" deep. The pond is half (15") in the ground and half (15") above ground. We live in south MIssissippi and I intend to have some tropical fish there. I approaches 28 degrees in the winter and I want to keep the temp no colder than 55 degrees. Is there a heater with thermostat that I could drop in when needed?

Thanks in advance for your help.

There's no need to keep Temps above 55 more than likely any fish that can handle Temps below 65 can handle winter Temps

 

[Lisak1]

Tropical? At 55 degrees?

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

Do you have some pics of your fountain pond? Seventy-eight gallons isn’t very big, but at least a smaller body of water should be able to be heated better than a larger pond. From what I’ve been told, a heater that will actually HEAT the water can be very expensive to run, and I don’t have any advice on a brand or type. I’m sure there are safety features to consider, and probably a lot of math to get the right size heater. I live in Louisiana and my Hubby is from Southern MS. I personally would not keep tropical fish outside during the winter, even with our warmer climate. They need temps more like in the 70’s. When you do have those occasional freezing temps, that small amt of water is going to freeze — even if it’s just for a day or 2.

 

[GBBUDD]

My aquarium days say 65 is pushing it for tropicals and would be the max nost could tolerate.
Any fish that can go below 65 could probably deal with winter temps . Again that's more of an average. Sure there will be exceptions such as the minnows i added to the pond on an average winter here in CT, the babies died. But a handful of adults

 

[Phaewryn]

I have a 78 gallon fountain pond. 5.5' in diameter and 30" deep. The pond is half (15") in the ground and half (15") above ground. We live in south MIssissippi and I intend to have some tropical fish there. I approaches 28 degrees in the winter and I want to keep the temp no colder than 55 degrees. Is there a heater with thermostat that I could drop in when needed?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I've used this aquarium heater successfully in a small pond. In Mississippi, it might be enough, but you're going to need to surround the above ground edges with bales of straw and cover the pond to hold in the heat. Some tropicals are more hardy than others. Guppies are a good choice as they are fine down to 60°, and may even survive short bouts down to 55°. The fish will huddle around the heater on colder days, having the heater in an area of the pond with still water helps.
https://www.chewy.com/aqueon-pro-aquarium-heater/dp/185002
Surround the above ground part like this, cover with whatever's handy (I used old storm windows, here they are using old doors):

 

[Lisak1]

I guess the one question I'm left with is - just because you CAN does that mean you SHOULD? Why push any creature to their absolute limit - or beyond - and hope they survive? Why not choose fish that are more suited for the environment you are keeping them in? Yes 78 gallons would be easier to heat than 3000 gallons, but it will also freeze solid much faster as well. One unexpected cold snap and your fish are goners. Unless you plan to heat 100% of the time.

78 gallons isn't much volume for fish keeping - that's small for even a few goldfish over time.