Oase IceFree Thermo 200 Pond Ice Preventer

Oase IceFree Thermo 200 Pond Ice Preventer

Keeps a breathing hole open during prolonged hard frost

The Oase IceFree Thermo 200 is a 200W floating pond ice preventer for winters when a passive float may not be enough. Its stainless-steel resistance heater sits beneath an insulated float and maintains an open area at the water surface, allowing oxygen to enter and gases produced by decomposing organic matter to escape.

It is important to understand what the product does: it is not intended to heat the whole pond or keep the water at a tropical temperature. Its job is to protect gas exchange when the surface would otherwise freeze solid. This makes it useful for shallow ponds and exposed sites where long periods of sub-zero weather are expected.

Technical details

• 200W resistance heater
• Designed to maintain an ice-free opening down to approximately –20°C
• 10m power cable
• Approximate dimensions: 300 × 135 × 270mm
• Approximate net weight: 1.2kg
• Two-year manufacturer guarantee

How to use it well

Remove as much fallen leaf litter and sludge as practical before winter, because decomposing material increases the gases that need to escape. Position the unit where it can float freely and where its lead can reach a correctly protected outdoor supply without joins lying in standing water. The surrounding open area will vary with wind, temperature and pond exposure.

Keep filtration and aeration decisions separate. In many ponds the main filter continues at reduced flow, but avoid drawing the warmer bottom layer into a vigorous winter circulation unnecessarily. An air stone should not automatically be placed at the deepest point during cold weather. Browse our wider pond heating and winter-care range if you need temperature control rather than surface ice prevention.

Frequently asked questions

Will it heat my pond?

No. It uses heat to keep a local opening in the ice, not to raise the temperature of the entire pond.

Does it have a thermostat?

The 200 model is the straightforward 200W version. The later IceFree Thermo 330 is the model commonly associated with an integrated frost-monitor function.

Is an open hole really necessary?

Yes, especially in stocked ponds. Gas exchange is restricted when ice seals the surface, while decomposition continues beneath it.