Solar Bubbler Keeps Water Open

Solar Bubbler Keeps Water Open MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 31-6-28 This new "solar bubbler" is a 10-watt unit that harvests the sun to power an underwater aerator. Air bubbles create a flow of warmer water against the ice, melting it away to keep waterers open or pond fish alive. "It works great in ponds up to a 6 ft. depth and in stock tanks," says Rose Kern, Solar Ranch Products, Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Up to two inches of ice on the pond shouldn't be a problem as long as there's water beneath it and you have plenty of sunshine. It'll go through one inch easily." A 15 by 24 1/4-in., photovoltaic module powers an actuator air pump. Air flows through a 15-ft. hose to a one-way air valve below the ice. Mounting brackets provided with the kit make it easy to attach the solar panel and air pump out of the reach of livestock. The system has proven itself in some tough conditions. However, Kern cautions it may not work in some areas where the ice freezes too thick overnight or where there isn't sufficient sunlight. We have people using them in the mountains of Utah and Colorado, and we've sold them as far east as Pennsylvania," she says. The pre-assembled units are priced at $299 plus shipping. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Solar Ranch, P.O. Box 9964, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87119 (ph 505 417-6790; solarranch@aceweb.com; www. solarranch.com).

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