Using bubbler for water trough

[TooMuchRebel]

I got to thinking, and moving water takes longer than still water to freeze over. So I figured maybe throwing in one of those fish tank aerators to create bubbles may help keep the trough from freezing as quick? I’m using a large black rubber trough, and so far this winter we havent gone below 20° at night.

I threw a bubbler in my trough, and it seemed to be moving the jolly ball I have in there around at least slightly. Would this be enough to keep it from freezing too quick/thick? How about in a 20litre water bucket?

[Bluey]

We use big tractor innertubes that float.
Being black helps warm up.
They fit in most of the 4’ and up to 20’ water tanks.
Cattle and horses learn to move them around and drink in the open space there is generally under them.
They also will flip them out of the tank at times.

There are ways to add a propane tank with a copper line with pinholes.
That works as a bubbler, but does smell bad.
Livestock don’t seem to mind the smell and drink out of those tanks just fine.

I would say for light ice formation, a bubbler would help some, why not try it?

[Guilherme]

Yes, it will prevent freezing but now your horse is drinking the equivalent of “super cooled” water because the water is still at a temp below freezing but motion is preventing that process.

I don’t know if this would be an equine health issue or not. I just think I know the Physics of it!!!

G.

[2DogsFarm]

I have a Tarter galvanized 100gal tank I keep goldfish(now goldtrout) in on my back patio.
I use a floating de-icer & keep the small pump aerator going all Winter.

When we get subzero temps a thick “roof” of ice forms on the tank except for a small area around the base of the de-icer.
I can see faint movement in the water (from the pump), but neither de-icer or pump prevent this layer from forming in really frigid weather.

I don’t know if the small unfrozen area would be sufficient for horses to drink from, or if just the pump alone would prevent ice from forming.

My horse trough is a plastic foodgrade 50gal barrel that I use a sinking de-icer in.
Sinking because otherwise “someone” - I’m looking at you pony! - will pull out the floating version just for grins.
Cord is run through PVC & weighted with cinderblock for this same reason.
Even with polar Vortex temps this arrangement kept the barrel liquid.

[cutter99]

We have a 400 gallon stock tank that is spring fed, so the water flows continuously. The overflow drains out a cutout in the side so it is almost always moving. I am in Middle TN, where it can freeze over if the temperatures are low for an extended period of time. Last winter was much colder than this winter, and for a couple weeks I took inches of ice off the top in the morning and then once or twice again during the day.

If you are going to the trouble to run electric for a bubbler, you might be better served by a stock tank heater.

[TooMuchRebel]

Thank you all. I’ll do a real test tonight when things should freeze a bit. If it doesnt work for my big tank, I’ll be throwing it in a smaller one in their run in. I wish we had spring fed!

cutter99, its actually a battery powered one. We ran heaters last year but all ended up faulty and shocking horses. We did what we could with them (deicing troughs whenever we were around) but it wasnt worth it. With over 8 troughs to defrost it wouldn’t be worth it this year to try and rotate.