Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!

Koi Pond warming....

Options
Mad Dog_2
Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
edited 5:02PM in THE MAIN WALL

This project was great fun and put all my 40 years of hydronics expertise to the test. This client has a small Koi breeding operation. The Koi in these two ponds are worth close to 100K. They are his babies. He wants to see them all year round. The piping pictures to follow. Mad Dog

koi_pond.png
Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,574

    That needs a garden gnome that is sitting on a rock next to the pond with a fishing pole

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    Mad Dog_2Intplm.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,838

    Koi ponds are a pain in the… well, wherever. Trust me. We have one. Ongoing headache!

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
    edited 5:39PM

    The mixing station and Flat Plate HX and pond filtration

    koi2.jpg
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    HVACNUT
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
    edited 5:39PM

    The Williamson on the left has been the dedicated pool heater/boiler for the Gunite pool for the last 25 years. I repiped for boiler protection (in a very tight corner and around his tool shelves) and to provide pond warming, so this boiler now gets year round use. WIRING BY OTHERS. Next time I'm there I'll bring a bag of zip ties. Mad Dog

    koi3.jpg
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    mattmia2offdutytech
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
    edited 5:39PM

    This is a 28 year learning and experimentation lab for me. As I learned better hydronic techniques and strategies, I would repipe accordingly. The Home has staple up Radiant, Mud Job Ceramic tile Radiant, Buderus Panel Radiators, Modine Heater for Classic Car 🚗 area. Mad Dog

    koi4.jpg
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409

    Part of my redesign was to have these two boilers be able to operate either sides' system (Temporarily carry most of tje load) if one went down. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 26,592

    nice work, how many btu/hr to keep the pond warm?

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409

    Great question. This is the first season and the data logger is getting installed next. The big concern was not boiling the Koi! Ha ha. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409

    Another huge concern for me was using Koi Friendly PVC glue, no copper or brass either. Stainless steel as much as possible. The HX is an alloy. I even installed extra ball valves and drain stations to throughly flush out any toxins in the glue. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
    edited 5:40PM

    Not Bahamas water temps, be keeps it ice free while they semi-hibernate. Mad Dog

    koi5.jpg
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,586

    Looks like a full time job!!

    Mad Dog_2
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 26,592

    Looks like that can survive as low as 35° water temperature.

    Screenshot 2025-12-27 at 8.50.42 AM.png
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    Mad Dog_2
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
    edited 4:54PM

    Yes...My client is a Mad Scientist tinkerer...He adjusts temps with his phone. I'll put up some pics of his protein collector. When we were looking at Colleges for Matt Jr years back we got a tour of some MIT Aquaculture labs. I took pictures and shared them with the client. This inspired him. Its not as elaborate, but its very impressive...New York Aquarium at Coney Island quality....Lucite tanks with all of cool piping. 😎 Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
    edited 5:09PM

    Its his Man Cave Ed....his therapy if you will..Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409
    edited 5:41PM
    koi6.jpg koi7.jpg
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,598

    and a random urinal…

    EdTheHeaterManMad Dog_2
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,574

    the saves lots of steps! @mattmia2

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,409

    You guys are over 55 I presume? Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.

Categories