Is the pond aerator really effective

Benefits of lake and pond aeration

Just as oxygen is the important element in life on earth, oxygen is also the important part of water health. Pond aeration is a simple but effective method of increasing the oxygen content in a pond, which can not only greatly enhance the beauty of the pond, but also improve the natural system that occurs below the water surface. Aeration causes stratification of the water column, because lakes and ponds are usually composed of stratified layers mainly separated by different temperatures and oxygen levels. Natural resource and environmental managers are often challenged by problems caused by stratification of lakes and ponds. The main purpose of aeration is to increase and stabilize the amount of dissolved oxygen in the entire water column, which has a wide range of effects on many different aspects of pond and lake health.

Aeration systems are generally considered beneficial to warm-water fish because they require sufficient dissolved oxygen levels and are difficult to survive in anoxic habitats. The dissolved oxygen in the colder water is higher, and the aeration process will distribute the colder oxygen-enriched water into the hotter water and lower dissolved oxygen, thereby destroying the stratification in the water column. Aeration allows fish to inhabit the entire lake, not only a specific layer, but also improves the conditions for fish to feed on organisms.

Benefits of lake and pond inflation
By using aeration, the water quality is also greatly improved. Under hypoxic or hypoxic conditions, lake bottom sediments release various gases and metals that may cause water quality problems. Proper aeration will cause many factors that lead to poor water quality to be released at the oxygen-water interface. Aeration can not only improve the water quality by stabilizing pH, reducing alkalinity and removing carbon dioxide, but also greatly reduce the cost of pond treatment.

Ventilation can also reduce the amount of algae in the pond through a variety of processes. Through aeration, algae spores can mix into deeper lakes and pond areas, thereby reducing the time that algae spores are exposed to precious sunlight and reducing their chances of growth. Higher dissolved oxygen levels may also cause the conversion from harmful blue-green algae to less toxic green algae.

Another important benefit of aeration is the reduction of phosphorus concentration in the pond. Phosphorus is needed to maintain algae reproduction, and once phosphorus enters the pond ecosystem, it is difficult to remove. Aeration is achieved by using an oxidation reaction to combine phosphorus with natural iron. Once combined with iron, this new form of phosphorus will precipitate into the sediment. As long as a sufficient level of dissolved oxygen is maintained, the phosphorus will not be used by plants and algae.

Overall, aeration will bring many different benefits to the pond ecosystem. In addition to improving the habitat of pond fish, improving water quality, reducing algae and removing phosphorus, aeration can also decompose harmful bacteria by circulating water and adding dissolved oxygen, helping mosquitoes solve problems and eliminate malodors in ponds. Pond aeration can be carried out in a variety of different ways, whether through a floor aerator such as a floating fountain, or a bottom-feed aerator that uses a compressor and diffuser. Now, after understanding the benefits of aeration, it is time to decide what type and size of aeration is needed for a particular water body. Contact lake and pond management professionals to discuss the method for your pond.