Question about pump versus deicer in 300 gallon pond

10 years ago

I have a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank sunk into the ground. I don't have fish, but I have grown frogs and tadpoles. I didn't clean the muck out of the bottom, since I think the frogs get into it for winter. There are several potted plants (umbrella pond, lily, etc.) that I sank to the bottom for the winter.

When it goes below freezing, I usually use a pond deicer in there. I forget the wattage, but it's one of those blue round ones. Anyhow......last year was pretty cold, but there were some times when it was above 40, so I turned it off until it got cold again. I don't usually use the pump in winter. Last spring, I found 8 big dead frogs in the stock tank, when I was cleaning it out for Spring. I'm thinking that the deicer I have is too warm in the winter, and maybe the fluctuations are what kills the frogs..........Or maybe it's not having any oxygenation from the pump? So a couple weeks ago, I turned off the deicer and started up the pump, which just delivers a flow of water out a 1" tube. I wanted it to take on more oxygen, so I set a thin, long piece of wood across the stock tank so the water would hit it and spray more. Am I correct in thinking that would add more oxygen?

Would I do better to just keep that pump going (without the deicer) until it freezes and then turn on the deicer? I can't have both running at the same time, 'cause I think the circuit breaker would trip. Maybe I just need to get a smaller wattage decier?

I'm just trying to figure out which way would keep more of the frogs alive over winter.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

Debbie Downer
10 years ago
I don't leav e my fish out for winter, but my understanding of a de icer is that it only keeps an opening in the ice, it shouldn't be heating the water all that much .... and it should have a thermostat which turns it on only as water approaches freezing temps so you shouldn't have to be turning it on and off yourself. A pond thermometer is something you might want to have - it would help you understand whats going on and you can see if there are large temperature swings - a few degrees up and down wont hurt anything but it would be good to know for sure if its overheating the water or not. Possibly with a smaller pond like yours it may in fact be heating the water more than you'd like? Either way, it would be good to know.

Also for oxygenation an air pump (air stone) would probably work better - deliver more oxygen where its needed and possibly a problem with keeping a water pump going is that if theres tubeing above the water or outside the pond k\it could freeze up . If there are large fluctuations in water temps and if the pump is down at bottom of pond - that could be whats causing it - bringing colder (near freezing) water down to the bottom (or the warmer water if the deicer is heating it)

Well those are some thoughts based on what I know about deicers - admittedly, not all that much. Hopefully someone with more frog-specific info will weigh in.
catherinet
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks kashka! You gave me some good info and lots to think about. I do have a thermometer, but I always bring it in in the fall.......but I'll put one back out there.

Thanks again for all your help!
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tropicbreezent
10 years ago
I don't know anything about deicers but what could be happening is that with the temperature being artificially raised the frogs are being encouraged to come out of hibernation. This would activate their metabolism and cause them to use up stored reserves in their bodies. But they wouldn't be able to replenish it and so wouldn't likely survive going back into hibernation.
Hal Warrick
10 years ago
here is a youtube link to a DIY airator idea that might help, yes you have a smaller pump but I've done this and it puts out some air. I do also have a pond heater running, it does turn on when it gets down to freezing then off above freezing. It's not to warm the pond, just one area to allow gas exchanges when all else freezes it closed. https://youtu.be/X46_sHifBHk