On each trip when the lines are drained, have him take along 3-4 bottles rubbing alcohol (91% Walmart). Iced lines can be cleared of ice by pouring about 1/2 to a cup of alcohol into the line and allowing it to soak for several minutes. That small amount of alcohol will not hurt the pond ecology. Rubbing alcohol is what is used in the windmill freeze control tanks. The mechanism on the tank releases a little bit of alcohol into the airline when an ice plug forms.

Lot of species, especially those in the groups Chrysophyta (golden browns) and Bacillarophyta (diatoms), grow well in cold water. I've seen a bloom of Chrysococcus occur in 34F-36F water when the aerator was operating keeping water open.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/29/17 08:14 PM.

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