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Surface Aeration For Pond Algae Control
Surface Aeration All ponds and lakes will benefit from aeration. Pond aeration is just like adding air to an aquarium. With air, the aquarium stays fairly clean. Shut off the air and it starts to turn green. Adding oxygen to a pond helps aerobic bacteria thrive. They are the lifeblood of a healthy pond as aerobic bacteria are much more effective than anaerobic bacteria at breaking down organic matter and excess nutrients. Bottom diffused aeration brings water from the bottom of the pond to the surface where it comes in contact with sunlight and wind, which add viable oxygen. This water then goes back down to the bottom where the aerobic bacteria can start to eat the black organic matter and muck on the bottom. Surface aerators – effective on ponds with higher fish stocking rates. They can add supplemental oxygen needed to keep fish alive in the warmer summer months. They’re not as effective as bottom diffused aeration in circulating the water from top to bottom and eliminating stratification unless the pond is fairly shallow (< 8 feet). Fountains – they look great but are not really designed for aeration. They can help, especially in shallow ponds but do not add as much oxygen as a surface aerator or bottom diffused aerator. The existence of algae in you pond may be a fact of life, but it is good to know that there are ways to prevent excessive growth of it and there are ways to control it with some patience and the right tools. Outdoor Water Solutions manufactures a wide range of pond and lake products for algae control. You can learn more at www.Outdoorwatersolutions.com or by calling 1-866-471-1614 for a free catalog.
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Pond Algae Control
Pond Algae Control Once you have a problem with pond algae, there are a couple of options for controlling the situation. The most common is to add a copper based algaecide, either in dry or liquid form, to kill the visible algae. You want to avoid not killing too much algae at one time because it will take most of the available oxygen out of the water and you may end up with a fish kill. Most companies recommend treating one-third of your pond at a time. Algaecides can be effective at controlling what you can see, but this does not address the bigger problem. As a result the algae problem will come back time and again. Killing the algae can also contribute to more and more excess organic matter as when it dies. It will sink to the bottom, adding yet another layer of rich, black organic matter that feeds more algae. Grass carp sometimes eat algae, but it is not common. They have been seen eating plants coated with algae, but their mouth and gills are not positioned to eat algae effectively. Although grass carp can be used to control some aquatic weeds, they should not be stocked to control algae. In fact, grass carp can add to a nutrient problem and cause algae to multiply if they are no longer eating aquatic weeds efficiently. The existence of algae in you pond may be a fact of life, but it is good to know that there are ways to prevent excessive growth of it and there are ways to control it with some patience and the right tools.
Pond Algae Prevention
Pond Algae Prevention Pond algae is a common problem in a majority of ponds, especially if they are more than 3 to 4 years old. Algae can come in many different shapes and sizes, but the most common is filamentous algae that looks like clumps and float in the water. Filamentous algae All ponds have some algae. They are essential to a healthy pond. However, excessive growth of algae and discoloration of the water may mean that the water quality in the pond is in trouble. Too much algae can also interfere with boating, fishing and even swimming and can cause fish kills if it were to die suddenly. So how can you prevent having too much algae in your pond and how do you treat algae once it has become a problem? An algae “bloom” is when there is an accelerated growth of algae in your pond. This is when the problem will be most easily noticed.. By the time you identify that there is a problem, it is usually too late to do anything preventative. There are some short term solutions that we’ll discuss shortly, but the best strategy for pond owners is to keep excessive algae from growing in the first place. The most common reason why ponds have excessive algae growth is that they have too many nutrients in the water supply. Nitrogen and phosphorous are the two nutrients that cause the most trouble. In a pond, these nutrients are invisible and almost impossible to detect without testing. When these nutrients are combined with sunlight and warm temperatures, algae can easily grow out of control. Preventing nutrient runoff is one of the first steps to preventing over-fertilization of a pond. Common sources of nutrients are septic tanks, farm fertilizer run off, livestock and excessive plant or grass clippings. Providing a 10 to 20 foot buffer around the pond with taller vegetation can help filter some of the excess nutrients before they enter the pond. If possible, you should also restrict the amount of fertilizer in areas that run into the pond and keep septic fields away from ponds or below the pond dam where the nutrients can’t leach into your water supply. Trying to restrict nutrients from entering your pond is important, but it is not always enough. A second source of excess nutrients is a build-up of excess “muck” and organic matter on the bottom of the pond. Many ponds have from 3 inches to as much as 24 inches of black organic matter sitting on the bottom. Unfortunately, this organic matter releases excess nutrients as it decomposes, especially if the pond has a shortage of oxygen in the deeper parts. Breaking down some of that excess organic matter is critical to preventing pond algae long term. So how do you do this? Options include: • Adding aeration. Pond aeration through a bottom diffuser is the most important thing you can do to help prevent algae long term. Aeration increases the level of DO, or dissolved oxygen, in the bottom part of the pond which increases the number of aerobic bacteria. These bacteria, in turn, begin to feed on the excess organic matter and reduce the amount of nutrients released. More and more people are using aeration as a solution and turning to companies like Outdoor Water Solutions (www.OutdoorWaterSolutions.com) to help them find a solution. This company offers both electric aerators and a new, much improved version of windmill aerators that are extremely cost effective to both purchase and operate. • Adding beneficial bacteria. Beneficial bacteria work at decomposing excess organic matter, sticks, leaves, decayed fish and excess nutrients. They don’t have to be combined with aeration, but adding oxygen will significantly increase both their numbers and their level of activity at the bottom of your pond where you need them most. • Another option is to use a combination of beneficial bacteria, a clarifier that helps tie up excess nutrients and possibly a pond dye to help filter sunlight. • A more radical solution to removing the excessive organic matter is dredging or even draining the pond, cleaning out the bottom and starting over. This can definitely work, but is very expensive. Also, once you clean out the pond, the problems can start all over again unless you take a proactive approach to managing excessive organic matter and nutrients.
Solar vs. Wind – What are the Differences?
We often get the question, “what is the difference between using a solar aerator and a wind powered aeration system?” The main differences have to do with cost per CFM of output and whether you’re in an area that is better for one vs. the other. Let’s talk about cost first. There are a couple of solar aerator manufacturers in the U.S. Keeton Industries, based in Colorado is probably the most well-known. They sell a high quality solar aeration system that starts at $6,495 for a one diffuser system and $12,825 for a 3 diffuser system. These systems include a high quality compressor designed to aerate ponds from 1/8 of an acre up to 5 acres in size. A second company, “PEC” or Pennington Equipment Company, also manufactures a solar aerator, but their systems are much smaller and use a diaphragm pump that can only pump air in shallow ponds. Their GV2-Star system produces 1.35 CFM of air with a cost of $2,819. This system is adequate for ponds .25 to .50 acres in size. Most of PEC’s other solar aerators are best in koi ponds or small ¼ acre ponds no deeper than about 6’ and use small compressors with .25 – 1.0 CFM of air. All solar aerators use solar panels and batteries, controllers, etc. which require maintenance over time. A wind powered aeration system will cost $1,300 - $2,000 or so depending on height, # of diffusers and amount of weighted airline. A 20’ windmill aeration system with 100’ of tubing and one diffuser sells for $1,595. These systems are designed to operate with minimal maintenance and for a long time. The compressor is a high psi piston compressor capable of pushing out up to 5.0 CFM. So, when you look at cost per CFM a windmill comes in around $320 per 1 CFM vs. a solar aerator at $2,100 - $3,500. Regarding geography, if you’re located in a low wind area or an area completely surrounded by trees and/or buildings, then a solar aerator system might be your best choice, especially if you don’t have access to electricity. Most locations do get wind for 4-6 hours a day on average and can use a windmill aerator. Some days it may not blow at all and other days it may turn for 12 hours straight but on average, 4-6 hours is sufficient for circulation and aeration. In summary, both windmill aerators and solar aerators can effectively aerate ponds and lakes. If you’re going with solar, lean towards the higher quality, higher output systems manufactured by Keeton Industries. They may cost more, but are well worth it when you consider the amount of air they produce. If you’re going to use wind, Outdoor Water Solutions is considered the Industry leader and offers a full 5 year warranty on their compressors.
Bottom Diffused Aeration
Why is Bottom Diffused Aeration Better? There are lots of ways to improve water quality in your pond or lake. If it’s fairly shallow, then a surface aerator or a fountain can do wonders in helping circulate the water and add much needed oxygen. If it’s deeper than 8 feet, then it’s hard to find something better than a bottom diffused aerator. What is bottom diffused aeration? That’s where you take compressed air and inject it into the bottom of a pond, lake, lagoon or anything containing water. Aeration accomplishes two things. It adds oxygen to the water as the bubbles rise from the bottom to the surface. It also circulates the oxygen rich water on the top and brings it down to the bottom, which is usually oxygen deficient and in an anaerobic state. By circulating the water, we can increase the levels of dissolved oxygen or DO in the lower parts of a pond and make it aerobic vs. anaerobic. Aerobic bacteria are much more efficient and active in breaking down organic matter and excess nutrients. That’s why you see waste treatment plants churning the water, they’re trying to add oxygen and let the aerobic bacteria do their job, which is to consume organic matter. Aeration and aerobic bacteria can help clean up a pond by reducing the level of nutrients and muck on the bottom which helps to reduce algae because you’re eliminating their food source. Bottom diffused aeration can be accomplished using electricity, wind or solar as a power source. Electric aerators are a great tool and offer aeration continuously but have a monthly cost associated with them. Wind driven systems also work great for eliminating stratification and circulation but are dependent on having a little wind sometime during the day. Solar is another alternative but is dependent on sunlight for power and is typically 2 to 3 times more expensive than either electric or wind systems. Bottom diffused aeration can also eliminate most stratification of the water column and help keep a pond from turning over in the spring or fall. Pond turnover is one of the leading causes of fish death as the low oxygen water from the bottom comes to the top ½ of the pond where most fish live and there is not enough oxygen for fish to survive. So in summary, adding oxygen and circulating your pond or lake is very important if you want it to look great in the long run. Bottom diffused aeration is not only effective, but also one of the best ways for pond aeration.
Outdoor Water Solutions Garden Windmills
Outdoor Water Solutions Garden Windmills Outdoor Water Solutions has a full line of Garden Windmills designed to last for years and to add an attractive ambiance to your backyard, farm or rural property. Made of either wood or steel, these windmills are fun to watch and tell you if it’s windy outside or not. The wood Garden Windmills are 10 feet tall and are made with stained pine wood with a galvanized steel head. The metal Garden Windmills are either 8’3” tall or 11’6” tall depending on if you want the short or tall versions. All of the metal windmills come in Galvanized, Bronze, Red & White, Green & Yellow or Red, White and Blue. All painted windmills have a baked on powder coat finish. What sets these Garden Windmills apart from others on the market is their quality construction. Outdoor Water Solutions uses only high-quality steel and wood in their construction. All contain sealed bearing’s and not bushings like other ornamental windmills on the market. The metal windmills have a one piece head for easier installation and cross brace tighteners to make sure your windmill doesn’t wobble in the wind. Each comes with it’s own ground rods for mounting. Designed to last for years, Garden Windmills are the perfect addition to your yard!
Wind Driven Aeration Systems
Outdoor Water Solutions Expands Line of Wind Driven Aeration Systems with a DIY Wood Kit Outdoor Water Solutions, a Pond & Lake Products manufacturing company based out of Springdale, AR has announced an expanded line of wind driven aerators for the 2013 season. John Redd, President, states “Outdoor Water Solutions is the leading manufacturer in the Wind Driven Aeration category, which is still a growing market.” In 2012, we introduced a new line of wood windmills for our dealers to sell to their customers. This product is made using a red cedar colored pressure treated pine which gives our towers a great look. For 2013, we are expanding the line by offering a DIY (Do it Yourself) kit for those that want to build their own windmill towers. This gives you or your customer the option to save some money or to use the wood of your choice (red cedar for example). These kits come in several different versions. They can be sold as either an ornamental or functional windmill. They can also be galvanized or the head can be powder coated in a wide range of colors. Accessories for the functional compressors include both weighted and non-weighted airline, a choice of air stone diffusers or low psi rubber membrane diffusers, ect. Each kit comes with the windmill head, mounting brackets, tower hardware and full set of plans and cut sheets. The only thing you’ll need is some wood. You can view our complete product line online at www.Outdoorwatersolutions.com. You can also request one of our color catalogs to look at the complete line of pond products, download the catalog online or contact Outdoor Water Solutions at 1-866-471-1614. Expanding our network of full service dealers is our main focus.
New Tri-fold Brochure
Is a Wind-Driven Aeration System right for me? Windmill Aerator Options: Every Aeration windmill that Outdoor Water Solutions sells has the same windmill head. We use the same blades, hub assembly, compressor, tail arms, and tail fins on all of our windmills. The only difference between the windmill shown here are the towers. One system is designed to aerate up to a 2 to 3 acre pond Multiple systems can be installed for larger bodies of water One system can be used to aerate a section of the larger body of water Operates in as little as 3-5 mph winds Can be located up to 1000 feet from the body of water No electricity required Improves water ecosystem naturally, with no additional cost System can be combined with an electric aerator using a control box Tri-fold Brochure Check out our new tri-fold brochure! You can click to see it or you can download the PDF here. 2013 Trifold Front 2013 Trifold Back We are not mailing these tri-folds, you can only access them via the website.
Outdoor Water Solutions Black Friday
Outdoor Water Solutions Black Friday Sales Check out Outdoor Water Solutions Black Friday Sales! Save on all online purchases during our 4-day sale on Black Friday Weekend, November 23 - 26, 2012 at Outdoor Water Solutions. Just enter coupon code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout to save 10% off EVERYTHING in your order!!! Offer valid while supplies last and only good for online purchases Friday, November 23 - Monday, November 26.
Pumps and Water Features in Winter
Preparing your Pond for Winter: Pumps and Water Features in Winter With cooler weather moving in it's time to prepare your pond and water features for winter. Here are some tips to help you prepare your pumps and water features in winter. Shut down any above-ground water sources such as fountains or waterfalls for the winter. Remove the pump from the pond and store it away for winter. You don't want the pump to run during the winter because the moving water mixes up thermal layers, making the water near the bottom colder (where fish will be). Give the pump a once-over and remove and clean or replace the filters so it's ready to go in the spring.
Preparing Pond Plants For Winter
Preparing Pond Plants For Winter As cold weather approaches, trim hardy lotus and lilies and then put them in the deepest part of the pond. Other hardy plants such as grasses, cattails, and iris do not need to be trimmed back in temperate zone gardens, but for colder climates just put them at the bottom of the pond for the fish to hunker down in. You can also remove and/or compost tropical oxygenators and floating plants like water lettuce and water hyacinths. If you have space, you can bring your plants inside. Some of the ones that are a little more fragile you can put into plastic tubs and overwinter indoors. Remember to provide them with light, keep them damp and check on them weekly.
Pond Boss Conference & Expo!
Join Us at the Pond Boss Conference & Expo! Outdoor Water Solutions invites you to attend the Pond Boss V Conference & Expo at Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri, October 11-13, 2012. Sponsored by Pond Boss Magazine, Pond Boss V provides an opportunity to visit with industry experts on pond management, see hands-on demonstrations, participate in seminars and workshops, and learn your path to the perfect pond! The Conference kicks off with a fireside reception on Thursday evening October 11th, followed with two days of seminars, workshops and demonstrations leaving you informed, energized and excited about reaching your own pond management goals. The Expo puts you face-to-face with leading industry experts, state-of-the-art products and cutting edge technologies for your pond. Stop by the Outdoor Water Solutions booths, 22 & 23 and see the latest we have to offer in windmill aeration, water pumps, fish feeders, fountains and pond & lake care products. Kick off the event with the 2012 Pond Boss Fishing Tournament! Table Rock Lake at Big Cedar Lodge is known for excellent Bass fishing and this will be a great opportunity for you to show off your angling skills! The fishing tournament starts at 1pm on Thursday, October 11th. We don't forget the ladies either! Planned spouse activities include a Ladies Shopping Trip to Branson on Friday, Oct. 12, and a Ladies Craft Show Trip in Branson on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. Conference registration fees include all program sessions and workshops, access to the Expo, Thursday evening fireside reception, Friday Walking-Talking Lunch, Friday evening Banquet and Saturday Lunch. Register by August 27th for discounted rates! Click on the links below for more information and to register: Get more information Register Now! We look forward to seeing you at the Pond Boss V Conference & Expo!
Windmill Aerators for Ponds and Lakes
We often get the question, “Why use a windmill for pond or lake aeration when there are other aeration options out there?” The answer is quite simple. Your pond needs aeration to keep it healthy and using a windmill for aeration is one option for doing that. Windmill aerators have been around for 25 or so years. They have proven themselves to be effective in most situations over that time. This article will discuss when windmill aeration works, when it doesn’t and what are viable alternatives. Q. First, why do I need aeration? A. All ponds and lakes will benefit from aeration. Pond aeration is just like adding air to an aquarium. With air, the aquarium stays fairly clean. Shut off the air and it starts to turn green. Adding oxygen to a pond helps aerobic bacteria thrive. They are the lifeblood of a healthy pond as aerobic bacteria are much more effective than anaerobic bacteria at breaking down organic matter and excess nutrients. Bottom diffused aeration brings water from the bottom of the pond to the surface where it comes in contact with sunlight and wind, which add viable oxygen. This water then goes back down to the bottom where the aerobic bacteria can start to eat the black organic matter and muck on the bottom. Without aeration, ponds turn eutrophic. They start to accumulate excess muck on the bottom which then feeds algae and other weeds. Aeration has been proven to reduce algae growth, eliminate pond stratification, reduce pond turnover and complete freeze up in the winter. All of this means a cleaner, healthier pond with less fish kills. Q. When does Windmill Aeration work? A. Windmill aerators are effective options when: Your pond is stocked at normal levels and not severely overstocked. Most farm ponds and small to medium sized fishing ponds are not overstocked. The bass and other fish do a good job of keeping the populations in check. You have access to an area where there’s some wind to turn a windmill. Typically, each windmill will need 3-6 mph of wind to turn. We need a little more wind if your diffusers are placed in deeper water (10’ or deeper) because of the added back pressure on the system. For a windmill to be effective, you would need an average of 6-8 hours of wind each day. On some days, there might not be any wind. On others, you might have 24 hours of constant wind. But, if we can average 6-8 hours a day, you can get enough wind to aerate and circulate your pond. You don’t want to purchase electricity or want to be as “green” as possible. Wind is free once you have a system set up. Q. When does Windmill Aeration not work? A. Windmill Aeration is not the best solutions when: Your pond is heavily stocked and possibly overstocked. In this situation, fish will need supplemental oxygen in the late evening and early morning hours in the hot July, August and September timeframe. Using electric aeration via a top aerator, bottom aerator or an emergency paddle wheel is recommended. If your pond is down in a deep ravine or low area where access to wind is not possible. Windmills can be set up to 1,000 feet away from the pond, but sometimes getting access to wind isn’t possible. You might also have tree’s completely surrounding your pond with no open fields or other unobstructed area’s to set up a windmill. If you’re in a very low wind area for a majority of the year. 95% of the U.S. gets at least 6-8 hours of a 4-6 mph wind most days. There are some days without wind and some days with tons of wind, but most of the U.S. does get some wind every day - enough to operate a windmill and get some air in your pond to reduce the stratification and get oxygen back down to the bottom. Q. What are alternatives to Windmill Aerators? A. Alternatives are really electricity and solar. There are many good electric aerator options out there if you have access to electricity. You can then aerate 24 hours a day or put the aerator on a timer and aerate 12-14 hours if you want. Solar is also a viable option but is about 2-3 times more expensive than using electricity or wind for a given CFM output plus you have the added cost of battery replacement every 4-6 years. Another option is to integrate a windmill aeration system and an electric aerator into the same system. Both would share the same airlines and diffusers. A control box as sold by Outdoor Water Solutions could be used to manage the two by turning on the electric aerator when the wind isn’t blowing and shutting it back off when the wind starts. This option allows you to aerate 24 hours a day and to do it as cost effective as possible given you’re using wind energy as often as possible.