Cooling water

[Bradley C Taylor]

I plan on doing a pond for native species and want steelhead. I am going to insulate and bury pipes, pond, add shade, etc and aerate like crazy. Any other suggestions for making the fish comfy?

[Jon Parr]

Don't insulate anything below grade. For trout you want cool water, and you need the thermal exchange of cool soil. Shade your tanks, use floating rafts instead of media, and pay the extra money for top-notch air pumps. Trout can take water up in the 70's if well-aerated. Might want to wait until fall to stock.

[Bradley C Taylor]

Thanks that was pretty much the plan and the deeper it is, the cooler it is right!?

Jon Parr said:

Don't insulate anything below grade. For trout you want cool water, and you need the thermal exchange of cool soil. Shade your tanks, use floating rafts instead of media, and pay the extra money for top-notch air pumps. Trout can take water up in the 70's if well-aerated. Might want to wait until fall to stock.

[Jon Parr]

Yep