Instruction Manual, Warranty & Troubleshooting for the Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-icer (#39000)
Keeping oxygen flowing is the most important thing you can do to keep your fish happy and healthy in winter. A de-icer makes this job easier by keeping a small hole open in the surface ice, letting bad gases out and good gases in.
The stainless steel 300-watt Pond De-Icer floats on the pond’s surface, heating up just enough to melt the ice without causing a significant increase in the pond’s overall temperature. It’s thermostatically controlled and automatically shuts off when it reaches a certain temperature, making it safe and energy-efficient. A built-in LED lets you know when the deicer is in use.
Always use an aerator in addition to a de-icer to break the surface tension of the water and ensure good gas exchange in the pond.
Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer Instruction Manual
- Warranty
- Safety Information
- Instructions for Use
- Using the Pond De-Icer with an Aeration System
- Troubleshooting
Aquascape Pond De-Icer Warranty
The Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer is guaranteed for three years from date of purchase. Proof of purchase required.
Warranty does not cover damage resulting from negligent handling, misuse or lack of reasonable maintenance or care. Warranty is valid against defects due to material and the company’s workmanship only.
The sole obligation shall be to replace the defective unit with a suitable replacement unit. Units should be checked for proper operation prior to returning as defective.
No liability for loss or damage of any nature or kind, whether arising out of or from the use of the product, whether defective or not defective, is assumed by Aquascape, Inc. or its affiliates.
Safety Information
WARNING: We recommend that you store your Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer indoors, when not in use or after the winter season. Inspect cord before using. Do not use extension cords. Read all instructions carefully, before installation. Take extreme caution when working on or near a frozen pond. Never walk on thin ice.
CAUTION: To provide continued protection against risk of electric shock, connect to properly grounded outlets only, using the following guidelines:
- Have a qualified electrician install a properly grounded receptacle outlet, acceptable for outdoor use and protected from snow and rain, immediately adjacent to the location where the Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer will be used
- Route supply cord and locate the heater so as to be protected from damage by live stock
- Do not use extension cords
- Inspect cord before using
- Unplug Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer at receptacle outlet when not in use or before removal from pond
- Store Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer indoors after winter season, or when not in use
Aquascape Pond De-Icer Instructions
STEP ONE
We recommend floating the Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer over the deepest part of the pond.
If the ice is completely frozen, laying the heater on its side will enable it to melt through the ice slowly. You may have to adjust or reorient the heater in an upright position as it starts to melt through the ice.
Be patient, heater may take several hours to completely melt through. Never break the ice with force; the shock will stress fish and could cause unnecessary fish loss.
We recommend floating the heater in the pond for about one hour before plugging in the unit, allowing the unit to calibrate to the water temperature.
STEP TWO
Plug the electrical cord into a GFI-regulated power receptacle. The indicator light will be red when the unit is warm or heating and blue when it is cool or not heating.
CAUTION: When indicator light is red the unit will be very hot. Do not touch unit when indicator light is red. Make sure unit is unplugged and given time to cool, before touching.
STEP THREE
In the springtime, or when heater is no longer needed, unplug the unit and let sit in the pond for at least one hour, to allow for proper cooling.
Prior to storing the unit, when not in use, we recommend that you clean the outside surface with a mild acid, like white vinegar, and then rinse thoroughly with clean tap water. This will remove calcium deposits and will not damage the stainless steel finish.
Allowing calcium deposits to build up on the unit may impede the thermostat from working correctly.
Using the Pond De-Icer with an Aeration System
PLEASE NOTE: If you are also using an Aquascape aeration system in addition to the Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer, place the aerator or air stone beneath the De-Icer to increase the degassing effect.
Aquascape Pond De-Icer Troubleshooting
In the event that the Aquascape 300-Watt Pond De-Icer should malfunction or fail to operate, please check the following:
- Check to ensure that the unit is plugged in properly
- Make sure that the GFI-rated receptacle or ground fault interrupter is operating properly
- Check to see that the LED light on the top of the unit is indicating that the unit is heating. LED light will be red when unit is heating. If the indicator LED light on top of the unit is blue, the heater is in the off mode and not heating.
The LED indicator light and thermostat is a safety function of the heater to prevent accidental burns. If not functioning correctly you may need to reset the thermostat by unplugging the heater, for approximately one hour, to allow the heater to completely cool. When you plug in the heater the LED indicator should turn red, indicating heating.
PLEASE NOTE: The thermostat on the heater is set to turn off at 70°F or 21°C, the thermostat or safety shut off is a safety feature and not meant to turn off the heater when ice is not present.
