Installation Instructions
Warning: Extreme caution should be taken when working near frozen ponds. Never walk on thin ice. Your safety should always be of the highest priority.
The heated de-icer should be positioned over the deepest part of the pond.
Place the de-icer in the pond first. Then connect the cord to the electrical supply after the de-icer is properly installed in the pond water. DO NOT CONNECT THE DE-ICER TO THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY BEFORE IT IS PLACED IN THE POND WATER. If the pond surface is already frozen do the following:
Fill a pot with boiling water, attach a cord or string to it and place it on the frozen surface. The hot pot will eventually melt a hole through the ice surface. Once a suitably large hole is created, install the unit. Never break or chop at the ice as the shock waves can unnecessarily stress pond fish.
For added stability, the de-icer can be anchored to the pond bottom using a string or cord attached to the hook underneath the de-icer and anchored to the bottom of the pond by a brick or other suitable weight.
The primary function of a heated de-icer is to maintain a small opening at the surface of the pond to allow natural degassing to occur.
For climates with severe winter conditions the use of a Laguna Aeration Pump #25415 (sold separately) is strongly recommended in conjunction with the surface de-icer.
Adding an Aeration Pump
Install the aeration pump in a suitable location as per instructions included with the aeration pump, then run the air line tubing through the hook located underneath the heated de-icer. Attach an air stone to the tubing and place at half the distance of the depth of the pond.
LED pilot light (located at the top of the de-icer)
The LED pilot light is designed to indicate when the de-icer is functioning. When the light is on, the de-icer is functioning. When the light is off, the de-icer is not functioning.
Note:
The de-icer is designed to function continuously when it is plugged in. However it has a thermostatically-controlled safety feature that will automatically turn off the heating element when the core unit reaches 34°C (93°F). |