My aeration always has a foam ring frozen around the edge of the open water. I am only running 1( 5cfm or so )compressor this winter and feeding 1 (5 disc) air station in 10 feet of water. It seems to run well and even when it gets -35c the hole is still 10feet diameter. Last winter running both compressors and 4( 5 disc ) in -35 the holes would freeze to 1ft diameter and make big foam piles on the ice. My trout have survived through both scenarios so far.

I would give up on the life jacket program and just leave it run. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

"I think I have a nibble" Homer Simpson

34ac natural lake