update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

[crazy charlie]

Just wanted to let you guys know how my fishtank airpump bubbles around the piling in my dock space to prevent ice worked out.IT IS A SUCCESS!!I needed an inexpensive way to prevent ice formation around the base of the dock pole that almost got pulled up last winter.I thought of using a fishtank pump and running the air lines along the pole and beneath the water surface and leaving it on to make bubbles around the base of the pole to prevent the ice from forming.Though we have not had any thick ice like last winter yet,The few inches of ice we have had were no match for my $12 air pump.The pole was ice free for around 5 inches all around while the entire marina was frozen.As I said ,there is no 12 inch ice yet but I think it will work fine if it does freeze thick.Just wanted to let everyone know that IT WORKS!!!!!Charlie

 

[Solittle]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

12" of ice!!!!!!!!!!! Where do you live?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

Glad to hear it worked out for you. Sometimes it takes a little backyard ingenuity.

 

[Barlow]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

cool beans crazy c .. never thought of this with my own pier even tho we as a laka association had an aerator in one part of our small lake to keep O2 levels stabble through a tough hi snowfall winter.. kept a good 2-3 acre chunk of the lake wide open all winter long.<br /><br />If I only knew then what I know now.. <br /><br />I would've had some dead goldfish to flush.. <br /><br />Glad it worked out!

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

Solittle,I am on Long Island NY and 12inches of ice is what we had last winter which was uncommon.As a matter of fact ,I have had the same slip for 15 years and have never even had to think about thick ice before.Next week is supposed to be below freezing all week long so there will be a better test coming.Charlie

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

move down here to florida. <br /><br />ice???...... only in our drinks !

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

Im a step ahead of you myoutboards,I will be in Pompano 2-12 thru 2-22 ,cant wait!!!!!Tried to get there for New Years eve for 3 days but couldnt get a flight.I would love to eventually do just winters there cause its hard to beat Long Island for summers Charlie

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

Crazy,<br /><br />Great results. Patent it quick, and market a kit.<br /><br />Ciao

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

The thought did cross my mind SF Charlie

 

[G DANE]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

I'm sorry, but we used over here for years. The marina has an aerator and hoses under every bridge. If you keep your boat in water during winther season, you can pay to get a hose under boat, it only feeds air when its freezing. Works like a charm !

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

Google "ice-prevention with air bubbles" and you'll get 243989 hits. There are several companies that specialize in that technology for marinas; their patents are in the equipment they use, not the theory. Here's one: http://www.agoberlin.de/hydroair/gew_anl_schutz/ago_gwa001_e.html It's in Europe somewhere...Denmark?! <br /><br />Nonetheless, you came up with a elegant, inexpensive way to solve the problem. Good job.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

Thanks Capn Mike.I dont know how elegant it is but it is sure inexpensive.Charlie

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

Now if you can just fix my fish tank.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: update (air bubbles for ice prevention)

If it freezes ,I got you covered!!