This year we are trying something different and we hope much more effective than our DIY electrical heaters from last year. The photos below show a rudimentary solar collector that we are using on one of our small 3 year old croc pools. The idea is simple and basic and uses the pool water as the heat basin.

The photos are of an incomplete unit but I wanted to show the first stages before the finished one and I haven't taken that pic yet. The design is simple and it is simply amazing how warm you can make water with this simple method. Not to mention the cost savings of not using any electricity save on the pumps that circulate the water. All you need is a full sun location and point them south.

You can of course purchase solar pool heaters but they don't get nearly as hot as these DIY models but they likely are more efficient per unit but also have limits on the amount of heat they will retain.

We cover what you see here with glass/plexiglass which creates a greenhouse effect. The foil backing reflects additional light into the 'box' intensifying the heat on the black hose even more. As the water circulates through the hose it collects the radiant heat and transfers it to the pond. Water being a heat trap stores the energy in a fashion similiar to a battery. Even using the collector EXACTLY as is we where able to raise the temp of the pond 3 degrees in a few hours. Doesn't sound like much but you should see how warm it gets with the box and additional hose.

You will have to play with what you need in terms of hose length and number of collectors. The bigger the pond the more of both you will need but for smaller ponds these DIY collectors are a tremendous source of free heat for your crocodilians. In small pools such as the black landscape ponds I would be aware of overheating.

I will have full build details on my website within a few days. Hopefully, I'm backlogged

P.S. The photos are the front, the back, and the pond entry/exit points.

Website

-----
CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'