CobyRupert
Super Member
What are the chances a fish aquarium bubbler would work to keep a small water tub unfrozen?
Freeze protect water tub: aquarium bubbler?
- Thread starter CobyRupert
- Start date
- Views: 5479
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
probably low.
why not put a trough de-icer in it.
why not put a trough de-icer in it.
DougM
Gold Member
I have a 10x17 foot pond and use air to keep a hole open and did not lose any fish last Year
Humblebub
Member
I spent time in your general area (Lake George) and it is common to use small compressors to bubble around docks to keep ice away from docks. Seems to work well.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,241
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
I am an ice fisherman. I sometimes use minnows for bait. I can tell you from personal experience, that a small water tub with an aquarium bubbler will first get a layer of ice on top with a hole for the air. Then ice will form along the sides. Then ice will form on the bottom. Then you will have a block of ice with a cup of water in the middle bubbling a small stream of air out a hole the size of a dime. Of course, this all depends on the air temperature outside the tub, as well as the air temp the bubbler is blowing in.
What size tub are you thinking about? I have friends that have horses and they keep their water tanks open with a horse water tank heater, like what Soundguy mentions. They're commonly called stock tank heaters.
Tractor Supply Co. - Enjoy browsing:Stock Tank Heaters
What size tub are you thinking about? I have friends that have horses and they keep their water tanks open with a horse water tank heater, like what Soundguy mentions. They're commonly called stock tank heaters.
Tractor Supply Co. - Enjoy browsing:Stock Tank Heaters
mike69440
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2005
- Messages
- 3,307
- Location
- Central NH (God's Country)
- Tractor
- 2005 L39 Kubota, 2020 Polaris 570 Sportsman, 2006 RTV 900, 2019 RTV1100C, 1997 Komatsu PC75UU2E w/ Thumb & Blade, 2013 Mahindra Max28XL Shuttle plus many attachments
I would think a combo of a small heater and a bubbler would be more efficient than just a heater.
A bubbler with a heater would be a slick product maybe?
A bubbler with a heater would be a slick product maybe?
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,241
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Hey, how small a tub are you talking, anyway? Just curious.
OP
CobyRupert
Super Member
A 3'l x 2'h x 1.5'w -ish rubber tub, probably holds 50-60 gallons I'm guessing. Looking for a temporary solution that requires something less than 1500 watts. A permanent solution requiring a backhoe, trenching & running water/electric lines ain't going to happen this year. Had no heat last year and just had to break/dump the ice. No biggee.
hosspuller
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2008
- Messages
- 1,751
- Location
- Piedmont Triad, NC
- Tractor
- Didn't intend to have a Deere fleet - it just happened 310C, F915,102, 5200 & 5065E
Sounds like you have a live stock water trough. I use a 1500 watt heater in mine. It has a T-stat so it doesn't draw power all the time.
As for your question:A bubbler will just keep a small hole open... You might try an aquarium water pump to circulate the water and keep more of the surface from freezing. But, still ... the only heat you have is the latent heat of the 50 gallons, eventually it will freeze.
As for your question:A bubbler will just keep a small hole open... You might try an aquarium water pump to circulate the water and keep more of the surface from freezing. But, still ... the only heat you have is the latent heat of the 50 gallons, eventually it will freeze.
