As we all get excited and start thinking of the chance to get back outside, our thoughts should drift towards what pond care steps are needed to manage our water bodies. In order to get a jump start on Mother Nature it is necessary to proactively take a few simple management approaches to make sure these water bodies can be enjoyed.
A rule a thumb to follow is for each 5 degrees (Celsius) rise in temperature the speed of reaction doubles. So cold blooded organisms become more active and organic material in your water body requires more oxygen as it starts to decompose. The most important water quality parameter for all lakes and ponds is dissolved oxygen. Oxygen is essential for all aerobic (air breathing) aquatic organisms. Without oxygen present or with minimal oxygen:
- Ponds can thermally and chemically stratify which can result in a less effective living space for fish and many of their food choices can be reduced.
- The organic muck layers on the bottom degrade much slower.
- Phosphorous can stay in solution making it readily available for plant growth.
- Oxygen breathing, sediment consuming organisms can be stressed or die.
- Conditions become favorable for the formulation of harmful gases like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.
- Mosquito larvae and pupae require still or stagnant water. They hang at the surface during the short air breathing stage of their lives and suck oxygen via a siphon or snout. With surface circulation, the stage can be interrupted and mosquito control can be achieved.
So the time to act is now to select the right pond care solution. If you have an aeration system that has been left off for the winter and your pond temperature is at or above 50 degrees, I’d suggest turning it back on. This will be a prevention tactic to head off issues that could result if the system is turned on later in the year.
If you do not have an aeration system but are considering one here are some simple guidelines.
For ponds great than 8 ft. of depth, I’d suggest a our Robust-AireTM bottom-mounted diffused air system. In simple terms, these systems employ a shore mounted compressor, airline and a diffuser or diffusers that rest on the bottom. They are more of a circulation system than an aeration system. One diffuser being supplied air by a 1/4HP Teich-AireTM rocking piston compressor can circulate over 3,000 gallons per minute while only drawing 2.3 amps of power at 120 volts. There is no better way to move water in deeper ponds, period! Diffused air can be used in ponds shallower than 8 ft., you’ll just need more diffusers to move water.
For ponds that are less than 8 ft. of depth, you can employ some type of surface aeration or decorative fountains for proper pond care. We also offer
surface aerators or splashers. They have been independently third-party tested at Auburn University to produce an industry leading oxygen transfer rate. These are the same type of aerators that fish farmers rely on to support increased feeding and stocking densities for their grow-out facilities. In some cases as summer progresses and water temperatures increase, these units might be used only at night to basically cool the water (colder water will hold more oxygen and slow down oxygen demand).
- Aerating fountains are a hybrid between surface aerators and fountains. They produce a decent flow rate resulting in a V pattern display. I like to say they give the end user the best of both words. A decent aerator and an aesthetically pleasing display.
- Decorative fountains do some aeration, you’ll just need a little more energy to get the same results. They create beautiful displays and can be enjoyed into the evening hours with the accompaniment of one of our LED light options.
- Lastly, our circulators are basically the surface aerators mounted on their sides. They produce tremendous flow and have been employed around docks as well in stagnant dead end canals to move water and improve overall water quality.
Feel free to touch base with our staff of biologists to discuss any questions you have relating to your pond and how aeration might help you at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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