Freeze protect water tub: aquarium bubbler?

[Soundguy]

Build up an earth been and countersink it a bit, however the stock tank heater is the way to go...

 

[rd_macgregor]

My pasture water tanks have spring water from a drain tile passing through them continuously (from the tile, though the tank and back into the tile). While this extends the season that I can use the tanks, they will eventually freeze up (before that happens, I open a valve to let the water stay in the tile and bypass the tanks). In the barn, we use an insulated, heated water tank. There are also solar-powered tanks that claim to prevent freeze-up, but I can't vouch for their effectiveness.

 

[zing]

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.

We use one of these troughs with a 1500 watt heater and last winter it kept the ice away during a two week spell of -20 degrees celcius. Water wasn't luke warm, but it was no problem to put your hand in without feeling very cold.

If you wnt to stay under 1500w, you can get 1000 watt tank heater that would do just as well I think. Using the aquarium bubbler is likely to just end up causing you grief. Why not just do it right and not have to worry about it in the middle of winter?

 

[Soundguy]

Yup, if running power to a bubbler, run power to a de-icer

 

[MossRoad]

Since he mentioned 1500W or less my guess is he is limited in current.

 

[Soundguy]

Since he mentioned 1500W or less my guess is he is limited in current.

can get de-icers in that range.

amazon has a 750w pond deicer, K&H 8175 40$

there are others.250w for 37$ etc..

 

[tcreeley]

Tank heaters work great, either the floating ones or the ones that sit in the bottom of the tanks. If the temps get to -20F, and/or there is a super harsh wind -sometimes you have yo beak up the surface 1" of ice. But the rest is all water. Horses like it. You can always put two heaters in- then never a problem. The heaters last close to 10 years.

 

[Soundguy]

i like the floating bobbing heaters. even the low wattage ones usually prevent surface ice due to movement.

 

[rd_macgregor]

Tank heaters work great, .... Horses like it. You can always put two heaters in- then never a problem. The heaters last close to 10 years.

Slightly warmed water is more drinkable than near-zero degree water, and horses will drink more, which is a good thing for their health when they are eating dry feed.

 

[Soundguy]

near zero? if it's near zero.. it's way past freezing and the heater ain't working.