Bearon Aquatics
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Guide & FAQ
How to choose the right de-icer for your dock or pond
- 3 min overview
- Ice-Eater models, mounting & power
- 5 common questions
Why run a de-icer at all?
Ice expands and shifts as it forms and thaws, and that movement can lift, crack, or crush dock framing, pilings, and boat hulls. A de-icer keeps a patch of water open, which can help reduce that pressure around docks and boats.
It also keeps an opening in the ice for gas exchange, which helps support fish and beneficial bacteria through cold weather.
Ice-Eater, Weeds Away, or aeration equipment
These units solve different problems in different seasons, so it helps to match the tool to the job.
Bearon Aquatics Ice-Eater
Choose the Ice-Eater when freezing conditions are the problem: a dock, pier, marina slip, boat, or fish population that needs open water through winter.
Bearon Aquatics Weeds Away
Choose Weeds Away when muck, silt, and floating weeds pile up around a dock, pier, marina, or swimming area in warm weather. It pushes material away from the shoreline and works in water as shallow as 2 feet.
Surface aerators and aerating fountains
Choose a Power House Surface Aerator or Aerating Fountain when summer oxygenation and circulation are the goal, with the fountain adding a visible spray display. If aeration is what you need rather than ice control, compare the Bearon Aquatics aerators and fountains.
How to choose the model and mounting
The Ice-Eater itself is a single-purpose unit, so most of the choice is how you will hold it and control it.
- Suspension lines. Every Ice-Eater ships with suspension lines, so hanging it from a dock cleat or piling is the starting setup and is enough for many customers.
- Dock mount. Choose the dock mount when you want to set depth, direction, and operating angle precisely and adjust them from the dock. The small dock mount (Model 75001) fits the Power House P500 Ice-Eater, and a large dock mount covers the larger units. Check the size guide on the product page to confirm the fit.
- Shallow water stand. Choose the stand when there is no dock or piling to hang from. It is fully adjustable, can be added to a new unit or retrofitted, and works in water as shallow as 18 inches.
- Thermostat controller. Choose it when you do not want the unit running continuously through the winter.
Power and placement
Confirm your dockside electrical supply before you buy. The thermostat controller is available in 115V and 230V versions to match compatible Ice-Eater systems, with an adjustable range from 0°F to 80°F, roughly 2°F accuracy, and a 2.5°F differential.
Where there is no dock or piling at the water, plan on the shallow water stand. It can be added to a new compatible unit or retrofitted to Bearon Aquatics equipment you already own.
What comes with it
An Ice-Eater ships complete and ready to hang:
- the Ice-Eater unit
- suspension lines
The dock mount, shallow water stand, and thermostat controller are sold separately. For warm-weather gear, the large float cage protects F-Series surface aerators and aerating fountains that use the large square float, and the RGBW light kit fits compatible Power House aerators and fountains.
Not sure which one you need?
If you are unsure which setup fits your dock, send PondHaven your dock type, water depth, and what power is available at the water, and we can help narrow it down. You can also browse the full Bearon Aquatics collection or the PondHaven vendors index.
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Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about our bearon aquatics.
How does the Ice-Eater melt ice if it has no heating element?
It works by circulation, not heat. The unit pulls warmer water from below the surface and pushes it upward, which melts existing ice and helps keep new ice from forming in the area it treats.
Do I need the dock mount, or are suspension lines enough?
Suspension lines come with every Ice-Eater and are enough to hang the unit from a dock cleat or piling. Add the dock mount when you want to fine-tune depth, direction, and angle, or the shallow water stand when there is no dock or piling to hang from.
How does the thermostat controller save electricity?
It switches the Ice-Eater on only when outdoor temperatures drop below your chosen setting and back off as conditions warm, so the unit is not running around the clock.
Can I run the Ice-Eater in saltwater?
The Ice-Eater Dock Mount is built for freshwater and saltwater use, with powder-coated steel components and stainless-steel fasteners. For the Ice-Eater unit itself, check the product page or ask us before installing in saltwater.
How deep does the water need to be?
The Shallow Water Stand has a minimum operating depth of 18 inches. Check the product page for the operating depth of the Ice-Eater model you are considering.
Need expert help finding the right setup?
Contact Pond Haven Support