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.