How Does Aeration Help A Pond

Is Aeration Important? 

Caring for a pond can involve a few things. One of the most important aspects of caring for a pond includes aeration. Many may wonder: Is it really necessary or essential to have aeration in a pond setup? The short answer is yes. Let’s see what could happen when you leave aeration out of your pond’s environment.   

The Aeration Process 

Before we go over why aeration is important for your pond, it is essential to know what aeration is and how it works. First, aeration is the process of injecting oxygen into a body of water. In this case, we’ll be talking about ponds. Aeration creates a steady flow of movement in the waters. Without it, the water would just become stagnant from a lack of movement. This could lead to the formation of pond muck and other excessive nutrients.  

Two Different Cycles 

Proper aeration can prevent your pond from creating a dirty environment. Now, to find the right type of cycle, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with two cycles, which are aerobic and anaerobic. What you need is the aerobic cycle for your pond. The anaerobic cycle in a pond is when there is no movement or oxygen-infused deep in the waters. This will lead to an abundance of algae , bad bacteria, and pond muck. You will notice your pond forming brownish or green sludge in the water. If you get closer, you may even experience a foul odor indicating a collection of these nutrients. Rest assured that the aerobic cycle is the way to go if you want a proper oxygen balance. 

Surface and Bottom Pond Aeration 

When you’re looking for an aeration system for your pond, you will find two alternatives. Surface aerators come in the form of floating pond fountains and aerators. These are perfect solutions for aerating the surface of the pond or ponds that are less than 8 to 10’ in depth. All ponds and especially ponds greater than 8’ in depth will  benefit from a bottom diffused pond aerator. These are excellent choices for aerating the bottom or bed of the pond where excessive nutrients can build up over time. The bottom pond aerator will create rippling bubbles deep in the waters that shoot straight up and close to the surface. Large ponds, in particular will benefit from using both options. In the end, you will surely see the benefit of pond aeration within just a few days. 

What Happens Without Aeration? 

In summary, pond stratification can lead to pond turnover and fish kills, excess organic matter or muck on the bottom, filamentous algae on the surface and much more. Proper aeration is the key to fixing these problems. 

At Outdoor Water Solutions, we offer a variety of pond aerators providing you with the options needed to pick the perfect pond aerator for your pond. We always enjoy working with clients on ways to improve the quality of their ponds’ health so, if you have any questions or would like more information on our pond aerators, contact us at 866.471.1614 today!