How to De-ice a Spot in Your Pond

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When your pond freezes, you must keep a hole open in the ice. Gases must exchange between the pond and the air so the oxygen can enter the pond and noxious gases can escape. Even though the fish are in torpor, they are still breathing and need oxygen to do so. By keeping a hole open will help keep your fish alive.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

An electric de-icer, or
• A couple of plastic milk jugs about 1/4 full of water.
• Ropes long enough to reach the edge of the pond.
• A cup of antifreeze

Keeping an air hole open

Step1

You an use an electric de-icer. They cost between $50.00 and $100.00. You put them on the ice and plug in to a GFCI outlet. They can heat up the ice and fall through the resulting hole. Sometimes free is better.

Step2

You can use gallon jugs that milk or water is in when you buy them.

Step3

Fill the jugs 1/4 full with water, add a few tablespoons of antifreeze. Do not put the anti-freeze in the pond. Put it in the jug with the water. Put the cap on.

Step4

Tie on a rope to each jug handle.

Step5

Throw the jugs in the water before the freeze. The next morning, haul out the jugs and you have a hole in the ice. Repeat for each freeze.

Tips & Warnings

Some people take their plants and fish inside for the winter. If you do that, go ahead and let the pond freeze. Be sure you remove any pump, filter or UV light.
Do not try to walk on the pond ice.
Never use a hammer to break the ice. The concussion can kill your fish.