Aeration mixes the pond, releasing toxic gases while readily replacing them with life-giving oxygen. Aerated ponds are cleaner, clearer, and have less bottom muck than unaerated ponds. A pond aerator is useful for ponds in manifold ways:
Stratification
In the summer heat, a pond without aeration will stratify into two distinct layers. This is due to water’s physical properties. As the sun warms the surface water, it loses density and becomes lighter than the cool water beneath it. The thermocline is the line where these two layers separate (similar to oil floating on water).
No life without oxygen
The vast majority of water-cleaning organisms in a pond use oxygen to power their metabolic processes. In a non-aerated pond, oxygen enters the water column almost entirely through the surface.As the surface water does not mix with the water below, oxygen in the bottom layer depletes quickly under stratified conditions, allowing toxic gases to accumulate. As there is no oxygen available below, the pond’s overall ecosystem will suffer.
Nutrient Retention
Because the bottom contains no water-cleaning organisms, any sediment, debris, or nutrients that enter the system settle to the bottom and accumulate.This layer at the bottom is commonly referred to as “muck.” Having an unwanted muck pile as well as a toxic lower-layer in your pond will quickly cause major headaches such as algae blooms, rampant weed growth, and fish kills.
Many high-quality aeration systems will use a pump to spread air throughout the water, as well as provide circulation to both spread oxygen and eliminate the thermocline and stop stratification altogether. Natural bacteria and phytoplankton get to work in the water column and on the bottom with a fresh supply of oxygen. Excess nutrients are metabolized, resulting in cleaner, clearer water with less muck. In brief, a good aerator for ponds and lakes can be beneficial in many ways:
- It reduces organic sediment, or muck.
- It breaks down nutrients, causing harmful plant growth and algae blooms.
- It helps in aerobic digestion and oxidation.
- It improves fish habitat.
- It reduces midge and mosquito breeding.
- It helps in improving the visual aesthetic of the lake or pond.
- It helps to increase property values and pond restoration.
- Mitigating odors
- Improves community satisfaction with the water body
There are mainly four types of pond fountains and aeration system including floating fountains, bottom diffused aerators, solar powered aeration and windmill powered aeration. There are companies engaged in designing and implementing fountain and pond aeration system for a variety of communities and water bodies and also guide customers in choosing the right solution to suit their needs.