De-icer recommendations

[maria.ny]

I have a 5x8ft pond 3ft deep in Buffalo NY. I've been using a 300w Aquascape floating de-icer which keeps a good-sized hole in the ice, except it often trips the gfci. Seems to happen when it's windy. I thought maybe the housing seal was going bad & water was getting in & shorting it out, so I replaced it with the same brand last year and had the same problem. It works fine after resetting the gfci, but will trip it again next really windy day. It hasn't killed any fish (yet) but I don't trust it and want to try a different brand. Any recommendations?

FYI I remove the pump in the winter & use a airstone type bubbler and the de-icer to keep the fish alive

 

[Tula]

In our final years of keeping koi, we covered our pond and only used an air diffuser.

 

[j.w]

@maria.ny

 

[GBBUDD]

i do not use any cover and have a strong air pump just pushing air to a shallow shelf in the pond leaving the depth undisturbed .
my air pump is also in my bulked so it is semi protected from super chilled air

 

[jgrandmont]

I don't know the specific brand, but I think I got my de-icer at Tractor Supply.

 

[zainwahid]

I’ve been checking out different lake dock deicers lately and wondering if anyone here has tried using them for larger ponds or docks during winter. Do they work better than regular pond de-icers in keeping the ice clear around docks?

 

[Stephen Noble]

Welcome to the forum @maria.ny! Given you have tried two heaters with the same result, I wonder if the GFCI is the problem? They do go bad. The wind could be blowing moisture into the GFCI and it could be tripping due to moisture.
As far as a heater goes, back when I needed one, I used one of these for 10 years and it performed beautifully. They come in various wattages but I used the 500Watt.

Laguna Power Heat 500-Watt Floating Pond De-Icer

The Laguna 500 watt Power Heat pond heater will keep an area thawed and open in the pond during the cold winter months, allowing the release of toxic gases from fish respiration and decomposing organic matter to escape. At the same time it allows oxygen to re-enter the pond. Safe for plastic and...

webbsonline.com

 

[GBBUDD]

heaters are a waste of energy and money, air pumps are simple to operate and use so much less energy than does a heater. @Jhn works with docks and i'd be willing to bet a good air pump and layout is the prefered set up