Allied Precision Industries Pond Breather

Maintain a healthier winter pond environment while reducing energy use. The energy-efficient Pond Breather works like a chimney to pull oxygen-poor water to the surface and exchange it with freshly oxygenated water. Effectively vents harmful gases into the atmosphere while expending less energy than conventional de-icers. The Pond Breather's innovative split-chamber Gas Exchanger moves a steady stream of water above the ice layer for reliable performance even at ice depths up to 15 inches! The versatile Pond Breather can also be used year-round to increase gas exchange and oxygenation in ponds. Measures 23" x 8" float. 15 foot power cord. 40 watt. Reliable performance range from minus 10°F to minus 20°F.

Please click on "More Information" for directions for use.

• Carefully remove the unit from the box. The Cap, Gas Exchanger, Float, and Ice Guard should all be connected via the Tubing and Heater Cord that passes through them from the Cap to the Pump.
• Slide the Float up the tubing and over the end of the Gas Exchanger. The Float is notched so the tabs on the end of the Gas Exchanger will pass through it,
• Next, slide the Ice Guard up so the Cap engages the tabs on the bottom of the Gas Exchanger. Rotate the Ice Guard to lock it in place.
• The Pond Breather is now assembled. If for some reason, the Pump Screen is not attached, simply fold the cords around the pump and snap together the Pump Screen halves with all cords and tubing exiting through he large hole.

Operation
Install the Pond Breather in open water. It should float vertically. The Pump Screen can either lie on the bottom of the pond or, in deep water, it will hang suspended by the tubing. The Pond Breather operates on 120 volts and is supplied with a 15 foot cord that should be plugged into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). When plugged in, you should see water start to flow through the Gas Exchanger.

During operation, ice may form on top of the Float from water that exits the overflow hole near the bottom of the Gas Exchanger. This is normal, do not remove the Heater Cord from the overflow hole or plug the hole in any way.

Maintenance
The Pond Breather is designed to operate practically maintenance free. However, to maintain optimum performance you should do the following:

• Make sure the Pump Screen is located where it will not become clogged with leaves or mud.
• Keep the Cap clear of snow so air can enter the Gas Exchanger.
• Make sure the Heater Cord runs down the outside of the Gas Exchanger and enters the overflow hole. Make sure the overflow hole is not blocked.

Troubleshooting

1. Unit is plugged in but no water is running.
   • Check to see that electricity is being provided to the unit and that the GFCI has not been tripped.
   • Look closely to make sure that the unit is running. Sometimes the water movement within the Gas Exchanger can be hard to see.
   • The Tubing may have become disconnected from the pump. Open the Pump Screen and reconnect the Tubing if necessary.
   • The power may have gone off and there is frozen water in the unit. If so, the unit should thaw and resume operation within 2 hours after electric power is restored.
2. The Heater Cord on the outside of the Gas Exchanger feels hot.
   • This is normal. The cord puts out 25 watts of heat and should feel warm or hot to the touch.
3. Icicles are hanging down the side of the Gas Exchanger.
   • Check that the overflow hole in the lower portion of the Gas Exchanger is open. Check the Heater Cord to make sure it feels warm and is entering through the overflow hole.
4. The unit keeps tripping the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
   • The unit is defective and, if under warranty, should be returned.
5. Ice is building up on top of the Float and around the Gas Exchanger.
   • This is part of normal operation.

General Information
During the winter, harmful gases from decomposing matter and accumulated fish waste can be trapped under the ice in a pond. If not allowed to escape, the gases can reach toxic levels and harm the fish. The Pond Breather from Allied Precision is specifically designed to vent the harmful gases into the atmosphere without incurring the potentially harmful effects of de-icers.

The Pond Breather operates at 40 watts and can be run year-round to aerate the pond. During winter, it is designed to freeze into the ice and move a steady stream of water above the ice layer to be exposed to the air. The Pond Breather's innovative split-chamber Gas Exchanger generates airflow past the water stream to sustain gas exchange at its highest efficiency. The aerated water then returns to the same level of the pond with just enough heat added to replace heat lost through the atmosphere.

The amount of gases that can escape, as well as the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed, is directly proportional to the exposed water surface area. Every 24 hours, the Pond Breather exposes more than 4,000 to 10,000 times the water surface area than conventional heaters or de-icers.