Pond frozen over

[Scott M.]

I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen over.
There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed the
bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating heater in
the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface. I hope
it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out a
garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of water. I am
also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.

Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)

[Nedra]

My De-Icer used to get iced in all the time. I would melt the top layer
with a tea
kettle full of boiling water.... Got un-iced in a hurry.
Careful in carrying the tea-kettle!

Nedra in Missouri

Lotus Garden:
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
Backyard Pond:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
"Scott M." > wrote in message
...
> I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen over.
> There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed the
> bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating heater in
> the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
> plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface. I
hope
> it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out a
> garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of water. I
am
> also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
>
> Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
>
>

[Jerry Donovan]

"Scott M." > wrote in message
...
> I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen over.
> There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed the
> bubbler to test it and it is fine.

If the bubbler was still putting out bubbles under the ice, then the
pond will be fine. That air is escaping somewhere around the
edges or some cracks in the ice. Having a hole in the middle
of the pond isn't what is important. What is important is just
having any bad gasses escape.

Jerry

[Crashj]

On or about Wed, 8 Dec 2004 16:23:07 -0500, "Scott M."
> wrote something like:

>I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
>checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen over.

I know it is possible, but is that what you really meant to say?
Radiant heat losses into space on a clear night can frost a windshield
even though the air temp is above 32*F, but I never heard of a pond
freezing that way. Or did it just warm up by the time you rousted
yourself out of bed? {;-)
--
Crashj

[Scott M.]

I think the overnight temperature was a few degrees below freezing.

Scott


"Crashj" > wrote in message
...
> On or about Wed, 8 Dec 2004 16:23:07 -0500, "Scott M."
> > wrote something like:
>
> >I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> >checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
over.
>
> I know it is possible, but is that what you really meant to say?
> Radiant heat losses into space on a clear night can frost a windshield
> even though the air temp is above 32*F, but I never heard of a pond
> freezing that way. Or did it just warm up by the time you rousted
> yourself out of bed? {;-)
> --
> Crashj

[Scott M.]

You raise an interesting point Jerry. The only problem would then be being
sure that the bubbler was still working if you can't see it through the snow
and ice.

Scott

"Jerry Donovan" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Scott M." > wrote in message
> ...
> > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
over.
> > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed the
> > bubbler to test it and it is fine.
>
> If the bubbler was still putting out bubbles under the ice, then the
> pond will be fine. That air is escaping somewhere around the
> edges or some cracks in the ice. Having a hole in the middle
> of the pond isn't what is important. What is important is just
> having any bad gasses escape.
>
> Jerry
>
>

[Scott M.]

I was able to free up the floating heater and I ran it all night. Since it
is 1250 Watts, it will cost me a fortune, so today I went out and adjusted
my timer to have the heater come on for 6 one hour periods throughout the 24
hour day.

Scott


"Nedra" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> My De-Icer used to get iced in all the time. I would melt the top layer
> with a tea
> kettle full of boiling water.... Got un-iced in a hurry.
> Careful in carrying the tea-kettle!
>
> Nedra in Missouri
>
> Lotus Garden:
> http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> Backyard Pond:
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> "Scott M." > wrote in message
> ...
> > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
over.
> > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed the
> > bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating heater
in
> > the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
> > plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface. I
> hope
> > it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out a
> > garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of water.
I
> am
> > also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
> >
> > Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
> >
> >
>

[Nedra]

De-Icers are programmed to come on at about 40 degrees F. so it shouldn't be
too
costly for you. In winters past I would plug in the de-icer and forget it
for the whole
winter. Never cost me a fortune or I wouldn't have been able to continue my
lazy
ways. lol

Nedra
Lotus Garden:
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
Backyard Pond:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836

"Scott M." > wrote in message
...
> I was able to free up the floating heater and I ran it all night. Since it
> is 1250 Watts, it will cost me a fortune, so today I went out and adjusted
> my timer to have the heater come on for 6 one hour periods throughout the
24
> hour day.
>
> Scott
>
>
> "Nedra" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
> > My De-Icer used to get iced in all the time. I would melt the top layer
> > with a tea
> > kettle full of boiling water.... Got un-iced in a hurry.
> > Careful in carrying the tea-kettle!
> >
> > Nedra in Missouri
> >
> > Lotus Garden:
> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> > Backyard Pond:
> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > "Scott M." > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> > > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
> over.
> > > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed
the
> > > bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating heater
> in
> > > the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
> > > plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface.
I
> > hope
> > > it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out
a
> > > garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of
water.
> I
> > am
> > > also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
> > >
> > > Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>

[Gale Pearce]

> If the bubbler was still putting out bubbles under the ice, then the
> pond will be fine. That air is escaping somewhere around the
> edges or some cracks in the ice. Having a hole in the middle
> of the pond isn't what is important. What is important is just
> having any bad gasses escape.

I had a bad experience with my bubbler last year following that line of
thought - it is true that as long as you're bubbler is making bubbles under
the ice, the air must be escaping along the edge somewhere, but your ice
dome is getting thicker as long as the temps stay cold enough
I got lazy last year and let the ice dome stay froze over for 3 days and
the ice kept getting thicker - when I finally went to break it (light
tapping works OK on thin ice, but needs to be done daily or twice a day on
real cold days ) it was 2" thick and I had to use a cordless drill with a
spade bit to make 1" holes in it - they froze over in no time and eventually
the ice froze down to the airstone, freezing it up and killing the air flow
and I had to borrow a 1500 watt stock tank heater and let it melt it's way
through the ice to open up a hole - from now on I am going to check the hole
to make sure it isn't froze over as it only takes a minute to grab the stick
to tap the dome and break it open
Gale :~)

[pixi]

I throw a two foot log in the pond and it always keeps a small thawed area
around the log. My fish have survived many a winter with me in Florida
unable to do anything to thaw a hole for gas to escape.

It went down to about 20 last night and is going to 17 tonight. Has gotten
as cold as 25 below. I can see that the pond by the house is frozen over.
I hope that the snake that was residing behind the rocks in the waterfall
has either gone elsewhere or is kaput!!!


"Scott M." > wrote in message
...
> I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen over.
> There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed the
> bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating heater in
> the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
> plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface. I
hope
> it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out a
> garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of water. I
am
> also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
>
> Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
>
>

[Bill Stock]

"pixi" > wrote in message
...
> I throw a two foot log in the pond and it always keeps a small thawed area
> around the log. My fish have survived many a winter with me in Florida
> unable to do anything to thaw a hole for gas to escape.


Damn, you spoil your fish! Taking them to Florida with you. :)

> It went down to about 20 last night and is going to 17 tonight. Has
gotten
> as cold as 25 below. I can see that the pond by the house is frozen
over.
> I hope that the snake that was residing behind the rocks in the waterfall
> has either gone elsewhere or is kaput!!!

It hit 16°F here last night. The pond heater started for the first time
yesterday afternoon and kept kicking off during the night. It must have
started about 10 times between 2 am and 4 am, but only for a few minutes at
a time. The fish are at a balmy 38°F. :) Although I'm a little concerned
that the heater won't keep up when -30°C hits.


> "Scott M." > wrote in message
> ...
> > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
over.
> > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed the
> > bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating heater
in
> > the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
> > plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface. I
> hope
> > it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out a
> > garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of water.
I
> am
> > also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
> >
> > Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Derek Broughton]

pixi wrote:

> I throw a two foot log in the pond and it always keeps a small thawed area
> around the log.

Yeah, the hi-tech solution is the large rubber ball :-)

> My fish have survived many a winter with me in Florida
> unable to do anything to thaw a hole for gas to escape.

My first thought was that in Florida, the fish wouldn't have much of a
problem with freezing, anyway :-) Then I realized _you_ were in Florida,
they weren't...
--
derek

[pixi]

That's funny. Your e-mail, I mean. Your English is obviously better than
mine.. I think I'd better go back to school and study some more English.
That was badly put on my part.

Off course what I meant was - "My fish survive up north in spite of the
fact that I can't keep a hole in the ice.

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
>
> "pixi" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I throw a two foot log in the pond and it always keeps a small thawed
area
> > around the log. My fish have survived many a winter with me in Florida
> > unable to do anything to thaw a hole for gas to escape.
>
>
> Damn, you spoil your fish! Taking them to Florida with you. :)
>
> > It went down to about 20 last night and is going to 17 tonight. Has
> gotten
> > as cold as 25 below. I can see that the pond by the house is frozen
> over.
> > I hope that the snake that was residing behind the rocks in the
waterfall
> > has either gone elsewhere or is kaput!!!
>
> It hit 16°F here last night. The pond heater started for the first time
> yesterday afternoon and kept kicking off during the night. It must have
> started about 10 times between 2 am and 4 am, but only for a few minutes
at
> a time. The fish are at a balmy 38°F. :) Although I'm a little concerned
> that the heater won't keep up when -30°C hits.
>
>
> > "Scott M." > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when I
> > > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
> over.
> > > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed
the
> > > bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating heater
> in
> > > the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
> > > plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface.
I
> > hope
> > > it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out
a
> > > garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of
water.
> I
> > am
> > > also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
> > >
> > > Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[pixi]

Glad you figured it out. I can't believe I wrote that. And I always got
A's in English including the grammar.


"Derek Broughton" > wrote in message
...
> pixi wrote:
>
> > I throw a two foot log in the pond and it always keeps a small thawed
area
> > around the log.
>
> Yeah, the hi-tech solution is the large rubber ball :-)
>
> > My fish have survived many a winter with me in Florida
> > unable to do anything to thaw a hole for gas to escape.
>
> My first thought was that in Florida, the fish wouldn't have much of a
> problem with freezing, anyway :-) Then I realized _you_ were in Florida,
> they weren't...
> --
> derek

[Bill Stock]

"pixi" > wrote in message
...
> That's funny. Your e-mail, I mean. Your English is obviously better than
> mine.. I think I'd better go back to school and study some more English.
> That was badly put on my part.
>
> Off course what I meant was - "My fish survive up north in spite of the
> fact that I can't keep a hole in the ice.

Sorry Pixi, I wasn't trying to be a Grammar Nazi. Because I certainly did
not get A's in English. (Public Relations either. :) )

Bill



> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "pixi" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I throw a two foot log in the pond and it always keeps a small thawed
> area
> > > around the log. My fish have survived many a winter with me in
Florida
> > > unable to do anything to thaw a hole for gas to escape.
> >
> >
> > Damn, you spoil your fish! Taking them to Florida with you. :)
> >
> > > It went down to about 20 last night and is going to 17 tonight. Has
> > gotten
> > > as cold as 25 below. I can see that the pond by the house is frozen
> > over.
> > > I hope that the snake that was residing behind the rocks in the
> waterfall
> > > has either gone elsewhere or is kaput!!!
> >
> > It hit 16°F here last night. The pond heater started for the first time
> > yesterday afternoon and kept kicking off during the night. It must have
> > started about 10 times between 2 am and 4 am, but only for a few minutes
> at
> > a time. The fish are at a balmy 38°F. :) Although I'm a little concerned
> > that the heater won't keep up when -30°C hits.
> >
> >
> > > "Scott M." > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when
I
> > > > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
> > over.
> > > > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed
> the
> > > > bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating
heater
> > in
> > > > the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning
I
> > > > plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the
surface.
> I
> > > hope
> > > > it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw
out
> a
> > > > garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of
> water.
> > I
> > > am
> > > > also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
> > > >
> > > > Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[pixi]

Don't be sorry. I did not think you were being snide. I laughed.because I
hadn't realized what I had written until you wrote. I would have probably
written the same thing as you did if I had caught someone else with such
confused wording.

You ought to see the stuff in our hometown paper. Hard to believe they ever
attended school.


"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
>
> "pixi" > wrote in message
> ...
> > That's funny. Your e-mail, I mean. Your English is obviously better
than
> > mine.. I think I'd better go back to school and study some more
English.
> > That was badly put on my part.
> >
> > Off course what I meant was - "My fish survive up north in spite of the
> > fact that I can't keep a hole in the ice.
>
> Sorry Pixi, I wasn't trying to be a Grammar Nazi. Because I certainly did
> not get A's in English. (Public Relations either. :) )
>
> Bill
>
>
>
> > "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > "pixi" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > I throw a two foot log in the pond and it always keeps a small
thawed
> > area
> > > > around the log. My fish have survived many a winter with me in
> Florida
> > > > unable to do anything to thaw a hole for gas to escape.
> > >
> > >
> > > Damn, you spoil your fish! Taking them to Florida with you. :)
> > >
> > > > It went down to about 20 last night and is going to 17 tonight. Has
> > > gotten
> > > > as cold as 25 below. I can see that the pond by the house is
frozen
> > > over.
> > > > I hope that the snake that was residing behind the rocks in the
> > waterfall
> > > > has either gone elsewhere or is kaput!!!
> > >
> > > It hit 16°F here last night. The pond heater started for the first
time
> > > yesterday afternoon and kept kicking off during the night. It must
have
> > > started about 10 times between 2 am and 4 am, but only for a few
minutes
> > at
> > > a time. The fish are at a balmy 38°F. :) Although I'm a little
concerned
> > > that the heater won't keep up when -30°C hits.
> > >
> > >
> > > > "Scott M." > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning
when
> I
> > > > > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely
frozen
> > > over.
> > > > > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I
removed
> > the
> > > > > bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating
> heater
> > > in
> > > > > the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This
morning
> I
> > > > > plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the
> surface.
> > I
> > > > hope
> > > > > it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw
> out
> > a
> > > > > garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of
> > water.
> > > I
> > > > am
> > > > > also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
> > > > >
> > > > > Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Janet]

Scott, listen to Nedra, she is absolutely right. I had to do the same as you
today. My old stocktank de-icer finally konked out and kept tripping the
GFI. Checked out the TSC flyer (farm supply) and picked up a new 1500W
floating stocktank de-icer for $28. They are meant to be plugged in all the
time. Do not put it on a timer. They are thermostatically controlled and can
take up to 30 minutes to kick on the element once 40 degrees is detected. We
ran several of them for years when we raised cattle, the electricity
consumption is generally quite low. My new one is working so good that it's
thawed the 2+" of ice off the whole pond and it's steaming in this polar
air! :o)
Janet in very cold Niagara Falls

--

"Nedra" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> De-Icers are programmed to come on at about 40 degrees F. so it shouldn't
> be
> too
> costly for you. In winters past I would plug in the de-icer and forget it
> for the whole
> winter. Never cost me a fortune or I wouldn't have been able to continue
> my
> lazy
> ways. lol
>
> Nedra
> Lotus Garden:
> http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> Backyard Pond:
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
>
> "Scott M." > wrote in message
> ...
>> I was able to free up the floating heater and I ran it all night. Since
>> it
>> is 1250 Watts, it will cost me a fortune, so today I went out and
>> adjusted
>> my timer to have the heater come on for 6 one hour periods throughout the
> 24
>> hour day.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>>
>> "Nedra" > wrote in message
>> nk.net...
>> > My De-Icer used to get iced in all the time. I would melt the top
>> > layer
>> > with a tea
>> > kettle full of boiling water.... Got un-iced in a hurry.
>> > Careful in carrying the tea-kettle!
>> >
>> > Nedra in Missouri
>> >
>> > Lotus Garden:
>> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
>> > Backyard Pond:
>> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
>> > "Scott M." > wrote in message
>> > ...
>> > > I can't believe it. My pond froze over last night. This morning when
>> > > I
>> > > checked it, it was above freezing and the pond was completely frozen
>> over.
>> > > There was a hump where the bubbler was sending up bubbles. I removed
> the
>> > > bubbler to test it and it is fine. Last week, I put my floating
>> > > heater
>> in
>> > > the pond and left it off. It froze right into the ice. This morning I
>> > > plugged it in. Hopefully it will melt the ice and pop to the surface.
> I
>> > hope
>> > > it doesn't get watterlogged and electrocute my fish. I might thaw out
> a
>> > > garden hose and see if I can free it up tonight with a stream of
> water.
>> I
>> > am
>> > > also building a light bulb heated box to keep the bubbler in.
>> > >
>> > > Scott M in Carp (Ottawa)
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>