Pond De-Icers
A pond de-icer holds a hole open in hard winter ice so your fish keep getting oxygen. It doesn't heat the water. Warming a pond is a pond heater's job. The circulators here run from 1/4 to 1 HP for large ponds, lakes, and docks, from Kasco, Scott Aerator, Bearon Aquatics, and Outdoor Water Solutions. Most hang from mooring ropes below a dock or float, with dock mounts for a fixed install. They're the same units that keep decoy holes open, so duck hunters can start with our ice eaters for duck hunting. These are large-pond units, not the small thermostatic floats made for backyard koi ponds.
Filters
Filters
View product
Bearon Aquatics
p250 model - 1/4 to p1000 model - 1 HP
Bearon Aquatics Ice-Eater By Power House
from $849.99
Winter pond care
Choosing the right de-icer for your pond or dock
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a de-icer heat the water, or just keep a hole open in the ice?
A de-icer doesn't heat the water, it keeps a hole open in the ice. That open patch lets trapped gases like carbon dioxide and methane escape and lets oxygen back in, which is what carries fish through winter. To warm the water, you'd need a pond heater, a different product for a different job. The units on this page hold the hole open by pulling warmer water up from lower in the pond.
What size (HP) de-icer do I need for my pond, and how big a hole will it open?
The size you need depends on how much open water you want to hold and how cold your winters run, not on your pond's acreage. A 1/2 HP unit holds a hole around 40 feet across in a normal freeze, and a 1 HP unit roughly doubles that. Deep cold and wind both shrink the opening, so size up if your winters run hard. Every unit runs on shore power, and cord lengths go out to 400 feet if your pond sits well back from the outlet.
Do I need a de-icer or an aerator to keep my pond open in winter?
You need a de-icer if your goal is holding a hole open through hard, sustained cold. A diffused aerator costs far less to run and oxygenates the water year-round, but in a deep freeze it won't always hold as large or stable an opening. Plenty of northern pond owners run a pond aerator most of the year and add the de-icer for the worst of winter.
Can I run a de-icer and an aerator together?
Yes, you can run a de-icer and an aerator together, and on large or heavily stocked ponds it's a common winter setup. The aerator keeps oxygen levels up across the water column, while the de-icer maintains an open hole for gas exchange once the ice thickens. Just move the aerator's diffuser out of the deepest part of the pond for winter so it doesn't stir up the warm layer your fish hold in.
How much does it cost to run a de-icer through winter?
A 1/2 HP de-icer running around the clock costs roughly $70 a month at an average electric rate. Bigger units cost more to run, and your local power rate moves the number up or down. A thermostat controller keeps the cost down by running the unit only when temperatures are near freezing, and a timer does the same on a set schedule. An oversized unit burning power in mild cold is money wasted, so sizing it right saves you twice.
Will a de-icer keep a hole open in sub-zero temperatures?
Yes, a de-icer will hold a hole open in sub-zero cold. Expect a smaller opening during a hard freeze than the rated diameter, since both deep cold and wind can cause it to shrink. For winters that run consistently harsh, set the thermostat high enough that the unit runs straight through the freeze instead of cycling off, and place it in water sheltered from the wind so the hole stays put.
Are pond de-icers safe for fish?
Yes, pond de-icers are safe for fish. The open hole they hold keeps fish alive through winter by letting toxic gases out and oxygen in. The one rule that matters is suspension depth: keep the unit well off the bottom so it doesn't pull up and chill the warm layer where your fish settle for the season. Set right, it works the surface and leaves the depths undisturbed.
Is there a solar-powered de-icer for a pond with no electricity nearby?
No, there isn't a solar de-icer that will hold a hole in hard ice. The motor draws far more power than a panel and battery can supply through a freezing night. These units need 115V or 230V shore power, with cords out to 400 feet to reach a pond set back from the outlet, and where there's no power at all, solar aeration is the off-grid route.
Do the de-icers you sell come with a manufacturer warranty?
Yes, every de-icer we carry comes with the manufacturer's factory warranty, and coverage runs by brand. Scott Aerator covers the motor for 5 years and other components for 1 year, Kasco and Bearon Aquatics both cover their units for 3 years, and the Outdoor Water Solutions Ice-Away carries a 2-year warranty.
Pond School, keep reading
View all guidesNeed expert help finding the right setup?
Contact Pond Haven Support