I bought this unit last week and had a 1/2 inch layer of ice on my pond but had a small opening where my water moves. I plugged it in and the next day no ice. Now my pond water is up to 50 degree's and it is 7 outside. I thought this shut off once it hit a certain temp. Is my broken? I bought this unit last week and had a 1/2 inch layer of ice on my pond but had a small opening where my water moves. I plugged it in and the next day no ice. Now my pond water is up to 50... » Read More I bought this unit last week and had a 1/2 inch layer of ice on my pond but had a small opening where my water moves. I plugged it in and the next day no ice. Now my pond water is up to 50 degree's and it is 7 outside. I thought this shut off once it hit a certain temp. Is my broken? « Show Less
366414
It doesn't have a thermostat. The styrofoam float in mine melted after about a week and it sink to the bottom. my pond guy says not to use it on the bottom as it can melt through your pond liner. After 3 emails to the company with no reply, I threw the unit away.
366415
Are you using it as a floating device or sunken device. Mine is on the bottom of the pond. NC climate is pretty mild compared to some. If you are floating it unit might be effected by air temp.
366416
Ours stays on a lot but it's not boiling the fish. LOL I really don't know what to tell you except to contact the factory. Good luck!
366417
I don't think it has an auto shut of. Mine does not sit off either, so I put a thermostat on the outlet.
366418
NO, I don't think so. What volume is your pond? Also, with the moving water it keeps dispersing the heat throughout the pond. I think that you are good... Just make sure that the unit doesn't evaporate too much water and get hung-up fully exposed to the air (totally out of the water) cuz it can melt.
2251255
i called the company and asked. it is not recomended because as the ice melts it becomes very small, slipping through the screen and damaging the impellers on the water pump. ok good?
1980897
Mine lasted a little less than 2 years and quit working in the middle of a week of teen temperatures. The pond it now frozen solid on top cracking the liner. Based on not telling whether this is working on not without an indicator, I would now recommend it. Especially now that it is going to cost us a lot of time to dig out and replace the entire pond unit.
2226001
I agree with jsto's comments....I never thought to put ice in their with the water. I'll will try that. I bought that unit for my enclosed patio because I didn't want to have a hole in my patio for draining.
1110859
It started out reasonably quiet but after a month or so it started making new noises on an almost weekly basis. I caught myself turning the TV up one night because the cooler kicked in! I had enough of the noises and had a friend take it apart and fix it. Now 10 months after I bought it, it seems that it can no longer keep the water cold! I really wouldn't recommend this unit, although don't expect to receive the model pictured the 900184, you might get the 900134 which does look quite similar but not what is in the picture. This has been noted before. Makes you wonder about the mixed reviews, who's getting what?! Whatever you decide, good luck on your roll of the dice... It started out reasonably quiet but after a month or so it started making new noises on an almost weekly basis. I caught myself turning the TV up one night because the cooler kicked in! I had enough of the noises and had a friend take it apart and fix it. Now 10 months after I bought it, it seems that it can no longer keep the water cold! I really wouldn't recommend this unit, although don't expect to receive the model pictured the 900184, you might get the 900134 which does look quite similar but not what is in the picture. This has been noted before. Makes you wonder about the mixed... » Read More It started out reasonably quiet but after a month or so it started making new noises on an almost weekly basis. I caught myself turning the TV up one night because the cooler kicked in! I had enough of the noises and had a friend take it apart and fix it. Now 10 months after I bought it, it seems that it can no longer keep the water cold! I really wouldn't recommend this unit, although don't expect to receive the model pictured the 900184, you might get the 900134 which does look quite similar but not what is in the picture. This has been noted before. Makes you wonder about the mixed reviews, who's getting what?! Whatever you decide, good luck on your roll of the dice... « Show Less
804198
This past winter it didn't freeze and I live in Maine, we got about 6" of ice in the tub. We did however, finally get a heater for the tub because it is the farm animals sorce of water. The heater didn't melt it either by the way.
1443429
Hi Steve, I actually bought 2 of these for my mother's 175 gallon pond. We sat one on the bottom of each side of the pond and set the thermostat to 70 degrees. During the evening, we keep to surface covered with that blue bubble wrap stuff that people use to cover pools. Even during the coldest winter days, the pond water is still close to 70 degrees. Her tropical fish and turtles are still doing great with this setup 3 years later.
862659
I had some trouble when it was -20F. the heater that comes with the unit is adjustable. It gets very warm/ hot when you turn it all the way hot. The water still freezes over some on the top.
858156
I had to leave mine in snow and ice and subfreezing temperatures this winter at a remote location. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to check how it did and I won't be able to do it until the end of April. If no one else has a better answer and you're not in a hurry, I'll provide an update at that time.
836694
I've not taken the temp of the heated water. I don't know what birds can tolerate but none of them seem to have a problem. We've had maybe a total of 10 days below freezing this winter and a few of those had lows in the teens. That's really cold for us. Because I have a shallow bird bath, I didn't give a second thought to adding water ever day. Evaporation due to the heater? Maybe a luttle bit.
364414
I have a cement fish pond that is 14 feet by 5 feet (weird shape) and 3-4 feet deep..I believe I figured it at over 2000 gallons at one point.I run it during the night about 12 hours (on a timer) so there is about a 4 foot melted circle when its consistently 18-28 degrees outside (in Michigan). I have it parked by a bank of rocks the fish lurk in to keep oxygen to the surface and the fish okay (they do fine). The local foxes and birds hang out here as well for water. If its for stock water, Id guess it would heat a lot better in a much smaller tank or pond. I dont think you need to melt the whole thing. I have a cement fish pond that is 14 feet by 5 feet (weird shape) and 3-4 feet deep..I believe I figured it at over 2000 gallons at one point.I run it during the night about 12 hours (on a timer) so there is about a 4 foot melted circle when its consistently 18-28 degrees outside (in Michigan). I have it parked by a bank of rocks the fish lurk in to keep oxygen to the surface and the fish okay (they do fine). The local foxes and birds hang out here as well for water. If its for stock water, Id guess it would heat a lot better in a much smaller tank or pond. I dont think you need to... » Read More I have a cement fish pond that is 14 feet by 5 feet (weird shape) and 3-4 feet deep..I believe I figured it at over 2000 gallons at one point.I run it during the night about 12 hours (on a timer) so there is about a 4 foot melted circle when its consistently 18-28 degrees outside (in Michigan). I have it parked by a bank of rocks the fish lurk in to keep oxygen to the surface and the fish okay (they do fine). The local foxes and birds hang out here as well for water. If its for stock water, Id guess it would heat a lot better in a much smaller tank or pond. I dont think you need to melt the whole thing. « Show Less
1398930
You might have had a rubber ring fall off and in the way of the the cold intake. Shut your water off and take the part out and see if any rubber rings fell off
431426
Take out the filter and look at the "evaporator". It will probably be covered with ice. I believe this means the unit is low on freon. I had the same problem and have not been able to find anyone to repair it. Mine lasted two seasons.
1535469
I would add to the previous comment two points: Water boils at different temperatures depending upon one's elevation; I'm at 1380-1385 feet or so, and if I recall properly my water boils closer to 205*F than 212; so look up your elevation and factor in the correction. With regard to chips of ice and water, the temp will be a little higher than freezing, given the water is obviously not frozen; when I calibrate my thermometer probes for testing produce I look for a reading closer to 33*F, or 34*F, when left sitting in a glass of ice water; clearly the more surface area of the ice chips the better, and allow a few minutes for the temp to stabilize.
417543
I have a pond myself and what we normally do is take the filter indoors over the winter and not let it run because we had a filter before that completely froze over while we had it running during a winter and it broke the filter. It all really depends on where you're located and matters of preference . I've seen people who do leave them out during the winter and they're just fine. Personally, I like to take ours in.
1197389
I have a 3 or 3.5 gallon square tank and if I filled it up almost to the top (it has a lid) the water came to the min waterline for the water- I have a beta too- it seems to work way better then the under gravel flat disc types, of wich I had to use two to make any difference- however a few times it shut off and left the tank cold, I'm not sure why- but most of the time it seems to stay true to the temp u dial it to
460864
I do not know if the cold weather would affect this unit. The one I purchased was defective and I returned it for a refund. The problem was with the timer. I couldn't get it to take the correct time setting and although this was not a biggie for me, because I could easily have it feed the fish a few hours off here or there, on top of the hour setting problem, the amount of food dispensed was not easy to control either. Great concept, very bad execution. I wish the manufacturer got more serious with the quality of the timer used, then this unit would be something very useful for all of us owners of ponds and koi. I do not know if the cold weather would affect this unit. The one I purchased was defective and I returned it for a refund. The problem was with the timer. I couldn't get it to take the correct time setting and although this was not a biggie for me, because I could easily have it feed the fish a few hours off here or there, on top of the hour setting problem, the amount of food dispensed was not easy to control either. Great concept, very bad execution. I wish the manufacturer got more serious with the quality of the timer used, then this unit would be something very useful for all of us... » Read More I do not know if the cold weather would affect this unit. The one I purchased was defective and I returned it for a refund. The problem was with the timer. I couldn't get it to take the correct time setting and although this was not a biggie for me, because I could easily have it feed the fish a few hours off here or there, on top of the hour setting problem, the amount of food dispensed was not easy to control either. Great concept, very bad execution. I wish the manufacturer got more serious with the quality of the timer used, then this unit would be something very useful for all of us owners of ponds and koi. « Show Less