How many watts should our pond de icer be?

[OliveFish05]

Hi! We have a pond about 1,500 gallons. It has a small waterfall and we planned to get a de icer for the winter. How many watts do we need? I don’t understand how gallons plays into the needed watts, doesn’t it just need to keep a small hole open? I am looking at the Tetra 300 watt pond de icer.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/tetra-pond-de-icer-thermostatically-controlled-winter-survival-solution-for-fish

 

[Slaphppy7]

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[Uberhoust]

It might get colder where you are but I haven't used de-icers but I have put out an airstone to keep a section ice free. 1500 gallons is pretty large, if you wanted to keep it totally ice free would used a lot of electricity. I would likely purchase a cheap stock heater and use an airstone. B

 

[OliveFish05]

It might get colder where you are but I haven't used de-icers but I have put out an airstone to keep a section ice free. 1500 gallons is pretty large, if you wanted to keep it totally ice free would used a lot of electricity. I would likely purchase a cheap stock heater and use an airstone. B

I’m not looking to have no ice, I am looking for a small part of it not to have ice, for gas exchange.

5 Best Pond De-Icers - Jan. 2025 - BestReviews

Our team of experts has selected the best pond de-icers out of hundreds of models. Don't buy a pond de-icer before reading these reviews.

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Thank you. I think I will go with the Tetra De Icer. Even know it is rated for up to 300 gallons, I think that with the water fall in action and the fact that we don’t get TOO cold here It’ll be good. Thoughts? I am not looking for it to heat the pond, just keep a small hole in the ice. The temps typically drop to 14F in the night in the winter. The tetra de icer says it works in -20F

 

[Slaphppy7]

I’m not looking to have no ice, I am looking for a small part of it not to have ice, for gas exchange.

Thank you. I think I will go with the Tetra De Icer. Even know it is rated for up to 300 gallons, I think that with the water fall in action and the fact that we don’t get TOO cold here It’ll be good. Thoughts? I am not looking for it to heat the pond, just keep a small hole in the ice. The temps typically drop to 14F in the night in the winter. The tetra de icer says it works in -20F

I don't have a pond, and it rarely freezes here...sorry

 

[Uberhoust]

I have a cattle trough 200gal with minnows waterlilies and floating sundews alive using only an air pump, for two weeks of -15 C weather (cold for here). If the fish are cold tolerant then you are really only looking at providing O2 under the ice, so I suspect a 300 watt heater will do the trick. If you do use an air pump as well it is generally not a good idea to put it right at the bottom but more mid level, You really don't want to disturb the bottom where the water will be slightly warmer. Air and heating would likely help a lot. If you use air note that in cold weather the pumps don't work as well and that condensation in the air hose can plug the line so a heater might be best.

 

[OliveFish05]

I have a cattle trough 200gal with minnows waterlilies and floating sundews alive using only an air pump, for two weeks of -15 C weather (cold for here). If the fish are cold tolerant then you are really only looking at providing O2 under the ice, so I suspect a 300 watt heater will do the trick. If you do use an air pump as well it is generally not a good idea to put it right at the bottom but more mid level, You really don't want to disturb the bottom where the water will be slightly warmer. Air and heating would likely help a lot. If you use air note that in cold weather the pumps don't work as well and that condensation in the air hose can plug the line so a heater might be best.

Ok, thank you. I can look into an air pump. Not sure if we’ve got enough outlets for the filter pump, de icer, and air pump but I can see!

 

[itiwhetu]

Ponds are fine freezing over as long as they don't freeze solid.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Ponds are fine freezing over as long as they don't freeze solid.

Agreed. The trouble is that in an artificial pond, there's no in/out flow, so oxygen can get depleted.

When we had a pond, we used a through-the-ice circulator. Worked pretty well. We put two 40w devices in our 30x50' pond and, as long as the stocking was small, it worked fine.

http://aquaticaplus.com/deicers/api-8pb-pond-breather-heated-aerator-40-watts

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Can't you just leave a football floating in it?
(That's a proper spherical football, not a strange Rugby-style 'ball' )