De-Icers

Under normal circumstances, De-icers will take care of turning themselves on and off as needed, dependent on water temperature (normally turning on when the water temperature is below 40 degrees F for more than 30 minutes). De-icers will also normally turn themselves off if removed from the water for more than 40-50 seconds. To turn a de-icer off, you should unplug the unit from the power source before removing from the water. This "out of water" shut off device is for safety purposes and should not be relied upon as an "off switch".

To make a de-icer even more energy efficient, use the Thermo-Cube which will ensure that the de-icer will shut off when the surrounding air temperature is above 35 degrees F. For example, your pond temperature is 35 degrees, but the air temperature is 52 degrees. The de-icer would remain active, even though the water most likely would not freeze, while the Thermo-Cube will shut the de-icer off until the air temperature drops to 35 degrees.

The purpose of a De-icer is not to heat the water, but rather to melt enough ice from the surface to allow the exchange of air between the pond and the surrounding atmosphere, permitting the escape of toxic gases like carbon dioxide and ammonia.

The predominate reason for failure of a de-icer is the build-up of excessive lime scale deposits on the base housing which can cause "hot spots" and uneven heating. To prevent the build-up, periodically clean the metal of the unit with a mild vinegar/water solution and a nylon scrubber.

You may notice that the fish are congregating around the de-icer on cold days. This is not harmful to them. Fish are "cold blooded" and have a body temperature which corresponds roughly with the temperature of the water they are in. Naturally, fish are attracted to the warmer water in winter, but will not be bruned by the de-icer since they are sensitive enough to temperature changes to avoid it.