my question to you is this can I heat my koi pond with a troth heater that I use in my horse water (not the same one of course)
My first season having a pond the pond is 5 months old it is preformed 20 in deep and apx 250 gallons. I have 2 sml koi (pika and 007) shubunkin (curley) and a comet (Sid) and numerouse green frogs.********** I know in the next year or so I will have to go bigger with the koi but this is what I have to get me through the winter this year (I was lucky to get this one)mothers day present)
I have reallllly grown to love these guys ( who thought you could love fish). I am out there everyday they all eat out of my hand and curley I swear he comes up just to get rubbed on (maybe I am just crazy) I am scared to death that I may do something that is not right and they wont make it over the winter with this pond being so small please advise as to the troth/water heater
I appreciate any input you have in the matter and I look forward to hearing from you. By the way I am in Central Ohio. It can get cold around here. All my levels have been 0 to.25 (rarely) and my PH seems to steadily stay around 8.4 some algea out breaks since it is in full sun but nothing real bad just annoying no majoir problems at all since this pond has been up. I do weekly water changes (10-15 %) and clean the filter not real sure how much crap is on the bottom when I change the water I use a siphen hose and vaccume the bottom as much as I can. And that is about it. Thanks so much

Water trough heaters can work as long as they can't contact the edge of the pond and potentially melt it. My page on wintering ponds is at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/winter.htm and should give you some ideas. A single de-icer would be enough to keep most of the pond open for most of the winter. I suggest adding an air stone. Not only does it keep a hole open better than just a heater but it aerates the water in winter.

What levels were 0 to 0.25? Ammonia? If so, in established ponds, ammonia should always be zero.

My pond algae page is at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/algae2.htm to give you some tips on that.

Good luck!
I love my fish too!

when i first established the pond the highest the amna got was .25 stays at zero now the only time i had it go up when we lost Lucy was higher when she was sick and as soon as she passed the levels stayed at zero not sure if lucy may have caused that or not poor thing never really could tell whqat happened no signs of anything on her. Thanks sooo much for your help gald i found this and your site is great!!!!!
Chris