Best Pond DeIcer Product Reviews and Help Guide
You spend a lot of money and time during the summer to improve your pond. When it is time for winter, you need to protect your investment by winterizing your pond as much as possible using the best pond deicer you can. A frozen over pond means that the water under the ice is totally cut off from the air above.
Meaning the water cannot take in any new oxygen. It also cannot release toxic gases that build-up due to the decomposition of plants or respiration of the fish. One of the best apond equipment you can use to help keep your pond stable throughout the winter is a pond de-icer. Although most of this equipment doesn’t really prevent ice formation in the pond, they do create a better winter habitat for your fish while they are stuck under the ice. Lets take a look at some great small pond deicers now. Click on images for more detail.
- Thermostatically Controlled Winter Survival
- Keeps small area of pond ice free
- Allows toxic gasses to escape
- Good down to -20 degrees
- 300 Watts with thermostat
- 15 foot power cord
TetraPond De-icer
This is a good floating pond deicer to buy. TetraPond De-icer is a very easy model to use. All you have to do is put it in the pond, allow it float, and then plug it in. This deicer keeps your pond ice-free when the temperature reaches down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is extremely powerful because it is a 300W unit. It is designed to be a perfect winter survival solution for fish. It’s a great unit to use because it has a built-in thermostat that turns it off when it’s not needed, which helps you save energy.
We choose this deicer because it is a very strong option to go with and one that will last you for a good period of time. Tetra Pond De-Icer heats up to melt the ice around it whenever you placed it on your pond. A layer of ice in your pond traps gases and waste that is toxic to fish.
By melting most of the ice, it lets the trapped toxins and gases to escape and keep your fish healthy during the winter. The following are some of the reasons why TetraPond De-icer is one of the favorites among pond owners.
- It comes with a built-in thermostat
- It is energy saving
- It looks very neat
- It is very easy to use
- It doesn’t damage your ponds or fish
- 120 Watts
- Corded electric
- Thermostatic control
- Energy effecient
- 18 foot power cord
- Highly rated for small outdoor ponds
Danner Manufacturing 2175 Pond Deicer
This is a very efficient and affordable option for ponds of about 1000 gallons. This PondMaster Floating Winter Pond De-Icer is used in those colder places where usual winter temperatures lead to significant or long-term freezing of pond surfaces. This unique doughnut-shaped design keeps an ice-free core area that lets the gathered toxic gases to escape from the trapped pond, thereby promoting a healthy environment for plant and aquatic life.
PondMaster comes with a built-in thermostat that turns on the de-icer when the temperature approaches freezing point and then turns it off when the temperature warm-up. This makes it more energy-efficient without adding a Thermo Cube. You don’t need to try adjusting settings, just place the unit in water and plug it in.
It is better to place the deicer inside water before it form ice, but if the ice has formed already, the heater will thaw through a small layer of ice. It is better go use using this deicer in a ponds up to 1000 gallons. It has an 18-foot power cord.
It will not damage your rubber linings. You can use 2 deicers if you have many large koi fish (over 12 inches). Deicers like this unit have a built-in thermostat and will melt the ice to ventilate the pond, but will not heat water above 40 degrees. The following are some of the reasons why PondMaster Pond De-Icer is one of the favorites among pond owners.
- Internal thermostat controls make it more energy efficient
- It has a long 18-foot cord
- It works for ponds up to 1000 gallons
- It has a decent price point
- Conserves power
- Built in thermostat
- Durable and rugged enclosed floating deicer
- Galvanized wire guard protector
- 6 foot anti rub power cord
- Capacity 100 to 300 gallons
API 1500 Watt Floating De-Icer
If you are looking for a pond deicer for your large pond, then API 1500 Watt floating de Icer is a very good choice to consider. Sure, this deicer is rated at a full 1500 watt, meaning it can handle a large pond and can deal with very low temperatures. It also comes with a built-in thermostat that turns off when it is not necessary. It keeps big ponds from freezing completely, thus saving the lives of all your fish.
This pond deicer is designed with a nice small floater that is completely covered in plastic, which helps make it stable and durable. The heating elements are protected with metal rods, thus preventing them from hurting your fish or damaging your pond liner. The guards also protect the elements, the fish, and the plastic tank around the heater.
This is a floating heater, therefore you need to place it in the pond before icing the forms, but other than that, there aren’t many drawbacks to this deicer. The following are some of the reasons why API 1500 Watt Floating deicer is one of the favorites among pond owners.
- It is very powerful
- It is also perfect for large ponds
- It is very durable
- It can withstand very low temperatures
- It comes with a built-in thermostat
- It has a 6 foot long power cord and easy to place
What is a Pond DeIcer?
A good pond deicer is a device used to prevent ice buildup in a pond during winter. The two main types of pond deicers are floating and submersible pond deicers. Floating deicer will hover on the surface of the pond while submersible deicer will sit on the base of the pond.
Both deicers keep a tiny hole in the pond surface free from ice to allow the escape of gases that could have killed or sickened the fish. Anyone living in a freezing climate needs a deicer for their ponds each winter. These small heaters will keep your pond surface free of ice during cold winter months. Having a way of allowing the toxic fumes to escape is necessary.
It is also important to be able to re-oxygenate the water through exposure to the outside air. Even though your fish will be dormant and will not need much food during the winter months, they still need to able to breathe.
Floating vs Submersible
The difference between floating and submersible pond deicer is that a floating deicer will hover on the surface of the pond while a submersible deicer will sit on the base of the pond.
To know which one best suit your situation, you need to know the pros and cons of these two kinds of deicer. Submersible deicers are nice because they are protected from the elements such as wind, rain, snow, and animals. The wind is the major issue with floating deicer, something which a submersible deicer doesn’t have to deal with.
However, you will need a floating deicer if you have a pond with a plastic liner. A submerged deicer next to a plastic pond liner will lead to a melted liner and a damaged pond. Now that you know the right one that is suitable for your particular pond, let’s take a look at the major reasons why you need a pond deicer and the right size for your pond.
Why do I need a pond deicer?
There are three major reasons why you need a pond deicer.
The first is that it helps provide oxygen when your pond freezes; it will create a hole that allows oxygenation to take place during the cold winter months.
The next reason is that it increases the flow of water when the pond freezes. As your deicer is working, it creates an ice-free area and boosts the temperature of the water around it. Then this warmer water will mix with the colder water to create flow.
And lastly, it helps in faster thawing come spring. Although this is not the most important reason, having a part of your pond that is always thawed will help when spring arrives. About choosing the right size of pond deicer for your pond, the truth is that making the right choice will depend on the number of the water gallons your pond holds. The following are our recommendations based on the size of your pond.
- Up to 250 gallons: 100 – 250-watt deicer
- 250 to 500 gallons: 300-watt deicer
- 500 to 1,000 gallons: 750-watt deicer
- 1,000 to 1,500 gallons – 1,250-watt deicer
- 1500 to 2000 gallons: 1500 watt deicer
Now that you have the important information about choosing the best pond deicer, keep in mind that when it comes to buying ponds deicers, you have many options on the market. They come in a wide variety of wattage, sizes, looks, and price.
Because of these, it can be tough to find your way through all the available de-icers out there and choose the best one for your pond. But don’t worry because we have scouted out the best pond de-icers for you, both floating and submersible deicers.
Best Pond DeIcer F.A.Q’s
Q: What is a pond de-icer?
Ans: This is a device used to prevent the accumulation of ice in the pond.
Q: How does a pond freeze?
Ans: The water freezes from the edge to the center of the pond, and from top to bottom.
Q: Will a fountain prevent the pond from freezing?
Ans: The movement of water is one of the best ways to prevent the pond from freezing. Only at very low temperatures will the fountain freeze itself.
Q: How can I clean the item?
Ans: You can use white vinegar and water to clean the element. We recommend regular cleaning during the winter months to maximize efficiency and performance.
Q: Why is my de-icer not thawing well?
Ans: There are many factors that can be involved in making your unit not work efficiently. These include placement of de-icer, the outside temperature is well below zero, and a high wind chill factor, wrong de-icer, Water volume, and the use of long extension cords.
Q: What does “Safe in Plastic” mean?
Ans: This means that the producer has tested the unit in plastic, pool liners, and structural foam in the worst condition to ensure that the unit will not damage the application.
Q: Will my fish be safe with my deicer on?
Ans: Sure, as long as you have the minimum depth required and follows the general rule of placing them in the deepest area of the pond. The fish will be safe even though they contact the heating unit. These deicers should not be hot to touch when in water. They are designed to be safe for the fish in your pond.
