I've been pulling out the last of the water lettuce with extra leaves. We've had ice/frost for a week now. :( Somebody ( not sure if on this list or Yahoo site ) mentioned the pool solar covers. I don't use mine, so I cut some ragged squares out of it. So far the 3 peices are floating pretty good, and I don't have to put in an extra protection plastic pot I had planned on dropping in. I just have to figure out how to keep them away from the de-icer. When I take out the big pump, I'll be dropping in the de-icer.

What kind of deicer do you have? The only one that you would have to worry about is one by Allied. It is red with exposed elements around the bottom. The other deicer are either enclosed element or low wattage. If you do have the allied they sell a protection cage for it.

Guess what I have.. :o . Yep, it's an Allied, and no..I don't have the safety cage. Off to shop. <_<

KK...guess mine is slightly defective. With bottom being able to move then I'll assume the styrofoam insert is kaput. The main body is out of the water so I will only use it if really needed. thanks, got the email.

Winds were so bad today the pond iced over. :angry: I put the de-icer on for a couple of hours ( okay, I forgot about it ). The big guys were underneath it. I don't think I better forget again, I don't want their body chemistry to screw up with warming up the water too much. :o At least ...FINALLY....DH agrees that the solar panels seem like a good idea, at 2ft deep it gives the fishys some more room while giving them protection from the top. :)

I am dumb on this one. What are the solar panels you are talking about SadieMay? They just lay on top of the pond water? :blink:

The solar panels are actually cut pieces from the blue bubble wrap you float on top of your pool. I decided to leave the de-icer on today...we have ice. :( The hose/spitter is not only being held up by rocks but by ice now. Since it's 1000 watt and built for a horse trough, I hope it doesn't warm up a 600 gal. pond tooo much. <_<