Shutting off Bakki shower for the winter?

[keokoi]

My climate is getting a bit cooler and the water temps are going down into the 50's.. This is my first year for the bakki tower. I have Gravity flow fitration with enough bio for winter. I have seen many pics from people in the UK who cover the showers with corrugated plastic and such. Would this really help to keep the temps a few degrees warmer... ???

My thinking would be yes but I am all ears...

Joe

[Bob Winkler]

It makes a huge difference Joe...Do it, esp. without a heater. With a 235,000 bTU heater on 10,000 gallons, it could not keep up here in Colorado with the Bakki "unsealed". Sealed it had no problem.

[keokoi]

BW, what did you seal your with? Have any pics you might be able to share. I think I will go ahead and do it this weekend as I kinda like the bakki to be own and get a headstart for the spring.

If it wasnt for the Surf and Bikini's I would move inland Ok its more the bikini's

[dick benbow]

I think having a working bakki come spring will be worth the hassel to cover it. I think by constructing a housing bigger than the unit, this will allow for
condensation to form and not drip directly back into the water. Since one of the functions of this unit is to degas, it might not hurt to have some method
to have the ability to open something to allow some air transfer..

[Bob Winkler]

I am sorry, I do not have a picture of what I did here at the office, but here is one that was posted on a BBS that is very similar to what I did. Except, I made my "frame from 2" by 4"'s and they did a better job. Done again, I would do the frame from metal like shown. After 2 winters, the wood started to mildew. Not sure who took the picture, or whose pond it is.

I do not have that pond or BS running currently, but just the temp pond with plastic crate BS going. This year, so far , I just got some 1" thick insulation sheets from Home Depot and cut them to fit tight against the sides of the BS. I ran Duct tape around the structure to hold the sheet against the side. Works great, looks like hell, and lets a little air in. I will take and post a picture if you make me. It was easy, we are moving in 3 months, and I am lazy. That added up to this way. Longer term, would do the polycarbonate sheets, and metal framework. In fact, in the big pond next house, I will have that on there all year round, since the BS will be in an out building and I want to minimize humidity damage to the building. previously have seen that rot the metal in an outbuilding . Plus it seems enough air gets in to do most, if not all the degassing. To me anyway.

[mitten]

Bob Hart's pond. Stainless and double wall from what I remember.

Mickey the windowman

[aquitori]

I still have mine up, but turned off the air pump.