Insulating above ground stock tank 7B

[A113]

150 gallon rubbermaid stock tank above ground in 6'x6' pvc raised garden bed with soil surrounding tank. Medaka rice fish (above 40°F required). 7B. Heater cost $$ over winter. Need suggestions for pond insulation. Thanks!

 

[GBBUDD]

I'd create an air space around the tank. Use rigid insulation 2 inch minimal leave a good 4 to 6 inch space all the way around they lightly stuff with hay. Do not compact . Cover the space with another 2 inch rigid so your just above the edges so in the dead of winter you can place another 2 inch across the top.of the whole tank glue it all together with caulking construction adhesive

 

[ADHDiy_Guy]

Question for you first, is the raised garden bed an indication that you are an avid gardener? Do you have a compost pile or compost bin? Have you ever considered composting your kitchen scraps?

Compost creates heat while it breaks down, even when it is freezing outside. In the winter you could make compost piles around your pond to build up the walls around it. This would both insulate and create some heat.

Not like… keep tropical fish warm, but for 7b that should be be fine.

 

[GBBUDD]

kitchen scraps

EQUALS RATS, RACOONS, BEARS,

 

[ADHDiy_Guy]

EQUALS RATS, RACOONS, BEARS,

I should say *results may vary due to your unique area and local wildlife.

I was thinking since OP said they were concerned with the cost of running a heater over the winter that the cost of rigid insulation boards might be a restricting factor as well.

One additional thought on the cost of a heater - since it is a 150 gallon stock tank (not a 2000 gallon pond) and you aren’t trying to keep the water temp at 72°+, you just need to keep the temp over 40°, you could buy a 100w aquarium heater for a 20-30 gallon aquarium, obviously way too small right? But if it’s set at a temp of 72°, it will still keep a warm pocket in your stock tank that is 5-10° warmer than it would have been without the heater.

Tetra makes small, fully submersible aquarium heaters in 50w, 100w, etc increments, and the 100w is usually $15-20 at petsmart. If your electrical costs are $0.15 per kWh, that would cost you about $10 or $11 per month in electrical costs to run the 100w heater. Thats not nothing, but it’s not terribly bad when you think about the wattage of your water pump or the wattage of some of the pond heaters rated for larger bodies of water.

 

[JRS]

Don't forget some kind of cover, which will trap heat and reduce evaporation. I used a couple large panes of salvaged tempered glass with a space left for air exchange to cover my 300 gallon turtle tub during cold spells to extend their time outside.

 

[sissy]

I used an old glass table top for outdoors that I found at the dump for my preformed pond . It was hard to move by myself but it does work . I wish I could find another tabletop that is long enough foor my koi pond for just one siden , but also afraid it will break with my luck . I got some f that plastic from walmart that used to be used to cover furniture back in the 60's . Not sure you remember that rubbery plastic that stuck to your legs and made funny noises when you sat on the furniture .

 

[Jhn]

Not sure how tough rice fish are, but have had goldfish, pumpkinseeds, and other minnows survive in above ground stock tank for years now with noth8ng but a pond breather in it. Not that it helps you much, since they discontinued those, just saying if a fish can survive down to 40f it can probably survive down around just above freezing as well.

 

[ADHDiy_Guy]

Don't forget some kind of cover, which will trap heat and reduce evaporation. I used a couple large panes of salvaged tempered glass with a space left for air exchange to cover my 300 gallon turtle tub during cold spells to extend their time outside.

Agreed with the cover sentiment, as long as you don’t seal it off entirely from any air/gas exchange. On my small preformed, I used corrugated plastic boards that were used for menu’s at my wife’s coffee shop. I like those because they have gaps between the two sides with little plastic bracing, making little individual channels of air pockets. I throw some duct tape up and down each end to block off the ends of the open channels, which traps the air in those pockets and prevents convection. Air is a fantastic insulator if you can prevent convection (hot air rising and being replaced by cold air), which is why closed cell foam is used so often,

The “survivalist” in me loves the concept of insulation without modern heating and cooling technology.

 

[Rambler man]

Just found your forum really interesting I live near Gettysburg Pa and I use the 100gal stock tanks for my lotus containers I have one in ground and 2 on wheels. The wheeled ones I bring into the barn for winter I do not use any heaters and I have had them freeze completely solid and I have not lost any lotus yet. Another question has anybody ever tried to cross two different colors and so how do you do it?

 

[sissy]

try that insulating bubble wrap stuff they sell for houses . I used it when I built my shed guest house and then added insulation inside under the drywall I put up

 

[GBBUDD]

the absolute best is closed cell expandable foam , followed by straw, fiberglass can work but if it gets wet the mold can become a problem, as it can with the straw but you just grab the bale and pull it out and replace it

 

[sissy]

Straw you have to watch because mice and other critters fing homes in it . Straw also molds . My sister puts those straw bales out on her lawn with pumpkins ans mums and the mold , mice , snakes and skunks decide it is home . But she did it every year and now that she has reired she decided she does not want those critters around . The land on either side of her 7 acres is being developed . A house is being built on one side by a nieghbor for his son and new bride and a barn is going up on the other side for the guys show horses . Trees are being taken down so driving more critters to her property now which 4 of her acres is still wooded

 

[GBBUDD]

yes straw will absolutely make temp homes for varment but thats the good point . you put the hay around the pon for the winter and rip it appart in the spring and dispose of it .