Will a de-icer increase the temp of pond water?

Contrary to what some may think, pond de-icers will not increase the temperature of your pond. A de-icer’s purpose is to keep a hole in the water so that toxic gasses can leave and oxygen can enter the pond. They release just enough heat to dissolve the ice without affecting the water.

How do pond de-icers work?

Pond de-icers float on the surface of your pond and melt the ice around them to allow the transfer of gasses in your pond. Most de-icers we carry range from 100 watts all the way up to 1500 watts. The exact wattage you need will depend on the size of your pond, and your average temperatures. The more powerful the unit, the higher your energy bill will be,so don’t run it unless you need to.

Pond de-icers require you to plug them into an outlet for power. Depending on how far away your pond is from an open plug, you may need to pick up an extension cord.

When should I use a pond de-icer?

It all depends on where you live and often your pond freezes over. As a rule of thumb, if my pond will be frozen over for more than a few days, then I’ll turn on the de-icer. However, if you have a lot of organic matter buildup in your pond, then you really want to make sure your pond isn’t frozen over for very long.

Dirty ponds make it harder for your fish to survive, since all that waste is absorbing oxygen and excreting toxic gasses into the water. If your pond has higher levels of organic waste, I recommend using an air pump along with your de-icer. This will supply even more oxygen into your pond over the winter.

Can my fish survive in cold water?

Believe it or not, common pond fish like koi, goldfish, and other members of the carp family survive just fine in freezing waters. They go into a form of hibernation where their metabolism slows way down. This is also why we recommend you don’t feed them when the temperature gets too low. In fact, they benefit from freezing waters because it kills off bacteria in the water.

The only time you need heated water for your backyard pond is if you have it stocked with fish that need the water to stay above certain temperatures. This is usually for catfish or tropical fish that you would find in an aquarium.