When fountains and ponds freeze over, they are actually quite a sight. The icicles that can form and the ice over the pond can have beautiful aesthetics when the light hits just right. While this works great for a yard display if you have aquatic life that you’re trying to keep alive and well in the winter a frozen pond can cause irreparable damage to it.
The good news is, there’s a way to admire the beauty of mother nature while keeping your aquatic life thriving. With a solar-powered pond aerator and de-icer, your pond can remain healthy even in the coldest of winter. Many people are familiar with pond aeration to keep a pond healthy, but de-icers are a little bit more unknown.
So, How Does a De-Icer Work?
A de-icer is a device that floats in your pond and keeps a hole open in the ice. This allows for bad gasses to escape from the pond which would otherwise build up and suffocate your aquatic life. There’s a misconception that the cold doesn’t allow for bad gasses but that isn’t the case as these gasses are from exhaling fish and decomposing debris.
The way a de-icer works is it heats up just enough to form a small opening in the ice without causing a significant increase in the temperature of your pond. Even though your pond is facing cold temperatures, we assure you your fish will be OK. The fish will enter torpor as the temperatures drop and there are still parts of your pond that will freeze over but, that’s OK, your aquatic life will be fine.
It’s important to note that you should still run your solar pond aerator when running your de-icer. Because of the weather conditions, there’s a good chance that oxygen isn’t being circulated in your pond and will need some manual assistance. Whether it’s a surface aerator like a solar-powered fountain or a solar-powered pond aerator that sits under the water, as long as you’re using a pond aeration system with your de-icer your pond will be in good shape.
But, Why Not a Pond Heater?
While a pond heater is always an option, it’s actually more for anyone keeping tropical fish in their ponds and needs to keep their pond spring-like all year round. Your typical aquatic pond life enters a state of near-hibernation allowing them to survive the cold. The thing they will need most is proper oxygen which a de-icer will help them receive.
Do You Really Need a Pond De-Icer?
If you already know about pond aeration and use a system such as a solar pond aerator then chances are you’re pretty serious about the health of your pond. So, adding a de-icer to your pond’s maintenance really depends on the climate you’re in. If you’re in an area that is known for freezing temperatures then a de-icer might be a necessity. However, if you’re in an area that isn’t really known for freezing temperatures but they are a possibility, it doesn’t hurt to keep one on hand.
At Air-O-Lator, our goal is to help you keep your pond and aquatic life healthy and thriving. Ponds are great additions to the aesthetic of any property but they also need a little help when mother nature can’t. Our pond aeration products like our solar-powered pond aerators are not only great for keeping your pond healthy but can also help you save money on your electricity bills. For more information on our solar pond aerators and de-icers, contact us today at 866.471.1614 to speak to one of our professionals!