Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations controlling water temp.

I am having a new pond built. It will be a dug pond between 2 and 3 acres and an adverage depth of about 10 feet with a good flowing spring feed creek passing through it. I was wondering is there a good way to control water temp so that summer temps will not get too high? I am very close to being able to have trout year round but for the summer temps in July and August.

C.W.,

Depends on the temp of you "spring creek" and the volume coming in. I raise trout in a much smaller pond that gets breifly into the mid 60's in really hot weather. The pond is only 1/10th acre (59 by 88 feet), and I run 45 gpms or slightly less in from a well that runs in at 51.6 degrees. The well water is aerated by a packed column before entering the pond. Even at this rate and a very small pond with really steep sides the water temps still climbs to the mid 60's in really hot weather. I could have cooler water in the depths but I mix the water column as I prefer aeration to prevent other problems.

Although the trout can take the mid 60 water temps, optimum would be the mid 50's to keep stress and disease at bay. I've had a few mortalities that came about by some of the trout succumbing to columnaris or furunculosis which can happen above 59 degrees. One species I have -brook trout are notoriousl suceptable to furunculosis and columnaris is a bacteria that is more or less always present ready to attack under stress conditions. Usually furunculosis remains latent unless water warms over the low 60's or their is some kind of stress.

In South Carolina I doubt if you spring creek's temp is in the 50's. The farther south you go the higher the ground water temps. I know of ground water temps in the 40's in northern Wisconsis while Florida can have ground water in the 70's.

As far as controlling water temps it would be diffucult. Adding shade as in trees andor shade cloth would help. If you had a well with cool enough temps it would be a matter of opening or backing off the flow if you had enough flow to cool things down.

If your pond doesn't stay below 65 degrees in summer and D.O. levels in the deepest water drop below 5 ppms I would scrap the trout idea.

However if you still think it is a possibility I would do one of two things.

1.) Monitor temps and D.O. levels during the hottest time of year to determine feasibility of trout.

2.) Plant some trout. If they die they the answer is no if they live and grow than yes.

What temp is your spring creek during the hottest time of summer?

I'll check the temp in the creek this weekend and let you know, I have a feeling that I will not be able to keep the temps below 60 though. A smaller pond like you have that is feed by a well might just be the answer.

Just curious CW, are you stocking the trout for harvest later or as a high protein supplement for
the LMB.

Oh yeah I meant to say that sounds like it's going to be a very nice pond/lake. Your far enough south that Florida strain bass would probably do well. Would depend a lot on how cold it gets in the wrost part of Winter. Up here in Tennessee for the last few years it has been pretty mild but normally I think it gets a little
cold for pure strain Florida's.