Using Pond Heaters & De-Icers In winter Ponds

Consider a properly designed circulating water heater for larger ponds and a simple de-icer for smaller ponds

Seeing all those glaciers in Alaska recently and noticing a decided chill in the air I thought I would alert my Northern Hemisphere readers to some winter thinking about ponds. Thankfully here in South Africa we are enjoying the glorious early days of Spring.

If you have a largish pond and like to keep koi or goldfish and want to continue to see them grow through cold winter months then buying a special pond water heater is a real option since it will allow you to get water temperatures above say 50+ degrees at which fish can continue feeding. On the other hand if you are happy to let the fish "hibernate" in very cold water conditions then at least make sure you buy a low cost heater that will maintain a hole in the ice. This hole is required to allow noxious gasses that build up under water to escape and this will prevent fish suffering.

If you cannot afford a simple de-icer then boil a pan of water now and again and place it on ice surface ... this will thaw a hole and allow gases to escape. Do this periodically in areas where ponds freeze over for long periods. For me this would be a hassle especially since the de-icers are low cost.

Proper Pond Heaters ...

Heating pond water requires water to be pumped through a heat exchanger that uses fuel of various sorts to be burned and in turn the burned fuel transfers its heat to the circulating water.

Typically these pond heaters are specified as follows ... and for each situation a recommended model will be given. It is also important to work on specified flow rates and rather than go into too much detail here since correct specification can be quite complex rather go to the site that sells them and makes enquiries there ... see link below table

Click this link to go to site that offers many different heaters then type heaters into the search box that you will see and you will find a lot of information on installation and specifications. The information you will find will show you installation diagrams that will explain exactly what is required.

De-Icers for ponds (even patio and indoor ponds)

These of course are far more simple and low cost devices and can be viewed and explored at the same site ... ie click here. One of the models offered reads as follows and this will give you an idea as to how they work.

Heats the water, keeps open an ice-free area of approximately 30" in diameter at minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermostatically controlled, which shuts off at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Heavy-duty float will not rust, corrode or leak. Special 10" heating element. 6' heavy duty grounded wire. If tank runs dry, heating element will not burn out. Individually packed. 120 AC voltage.

Pond sludge digester that works well. Take a look at VIresco.