Hope it works. Even with the air bubbles, I think you may still need some type of hole in the ice to let gases escape.

Hi Rich,
This happened to me last year in Dec, except I didn't realize the heater had quit until it was froze in solid.......I wasn't able to deal with that until the ice melted in March, but I kept the bubbler going anyways.
My fishes were just fine, although I only have an assortment of goldies.
This year I decided to only use the bubbler and have only had a short time where it froze over solid....usually if the temps dip below -0F for awhile.
I attached the bubblers to a black plastic piece leftover from the previous heater I had, that is held up out the water by a orange pool noodle with a pie plate on top to add heat when the sun ever decides to show up. You can't see it but inside the circle the water doesn't freeze solid unless it gets real cold.
{{gwi:182239}}
I might try a tent over part of the pond as an experiment next year.
Let us know how you make out.
Flora

I purchased a stock tank heater a few years ago. My aquarium air bubblier kept a constant hole in the ice two years ago, but I needed the stock tank heater to open the hole a few times last year. I've tried all kinds of methods in eleven winters and the air bubblier with the stock tank heater as a backup are the best solution in my opinion.

The stock tank heater will open a hole within an hour and once the hole is open I shut it off and rely on the aquarium bubblier to maintain the hole.

I don't think a freeze over of a few days will harm your fish. I would start to get worried if a hole is not present for a longer period of time.

Last winter I experienced temperatures well below zero on several occasions. I would open a hole with the stock tank heater during the day and it would freeze up during the night.

Letting a pond freeze over for longer periods of time involves risk. You never know what is going on under the ice. Decaying leaves, plants, a dead fish or frog could cause an increase in ammonia and toxins. Some of my fish are as old as the pond and I would not want to loose them to something I could control.

Thanks for your responses.

It's supposed to warm up this week. I will drill some holes in the ice around the frozen in deicer and see what happens.

Rich

The pond never freezes to the point that the air from the pump can't get out. You may not see the air get out but it does or it would lift the ice off the pond. As long as the air stones are not on the bottom you will not have a problem. Even if they were on the bottom this would only be a problem with koi.
Mike

I went out to the pond to drill some holes in the ice a couple of days ago. To my suprise, the air bubbles from the air pump had kept a hole open even at single digit temperatures.

That does it for me and pond deicers. I'm just going to keep the bubbles going and nothing else.

Thanks all.

Rich

Rich, a few years ago there was a post about a home made heater and along with many great reviews & testaments. It was basic, cheap to operate and works!Cost pennies a day to run unlike a 1500 watt de-icer. I know because I made one and have used it every year. I have added one feature to it. It boils down to this. (1) 14" Plastic flower pot, (1) Exterior/waterproof light socket(spotlight) type fixture, a cord with 3 prong at one end, some 2" PVC & 90 degree elbows, a 75 watt light bulb, spray foam. In a nutshell the pot is turned upside down, the light fixture is mounted on the inside of the pot (on the pot bottom if you will) and the PVC is then screwed to the pot(the Larger diameter of the pot)in a square configuration to give it flotation. Just plug in to a GFCI receptacle and it will keep a hole in your ice no problem. It won't melt a pond that is already frozen over but if you have it in before the pond really freezes it stays warm enough under the light bulb that ice never has chance to form. The only thing I've added is I set the whole unit on one of my kids old styrofoam floats(the ones you set the baby in) It has a nice hole in it already and when it comes time to change the light bulb the unit is not frozen in by ice(I learned)
Its a great device and works..try searching it on this forum, the original poster was from NJ. If you would like I could draw some things up and post some pic's. By the way my pond is @ 2,500 gal and lots of Koi & goldfish that have been with me for years!! Good Luck, Ed

Rich, in my experience an aquarium air pump bubblier will maintain a hole in surface ice at temperatures down to zero degrees. I had to use the stock take heater last winter when the temperatures were well below zero and only for about an hour. I think you will be happy with the choice.

Ed, a light bulb heater at 75 watts is still much more expensive when compared to a 4 watt air pump. The air pump also adds oxygen to the pond water and helps bring gases to the surface. I'm a proponent of things that work, but I also like to save some a little money and added benefits are also nice.

I began using an air pump because of the advice left by others on this forum. After using it for three years I can echo their favorable comments.

Good point John, I run an air bubbler & the home made light bulb device so I guess I'm covered. I guess I was just trying to ease Rich's frustration. In the end it's still cheaper than the stock tank heater right? Do anything for the fish....just dont't tell my wife how much it may cost..LOL!

Goldfish should be fine. As long as you don't have orfe or koi you shouldn't have a problem.

The bubbler on my 900g pond does keep a nice hole open for a while. When it gets frozen solid, i turn on the heater for a bit.

Also, i have used a large paddle bit on my cordless drill and drill a series of holes to make a large circle near the bubbler and then just lift the ice circle out.