Suppose you plan to have a pond in your yard or garden; a very common question comes to mind: do ponds really need aerators?
A standard aeration system is necessary for the fishes and aquatic plants to live properly, and aerators help boost the dissolved oxygen level in pond water. Usually, using an aerator is not a must for all the ponds.
However, if you find some symptoms of a low oxygen level in your pond water, you will definitely have to consider planting an aerator in your pond.
Want to know more? Let’s continue.
What Is Aeration?
In simple words, aeration is the introduction of air into any material. When we say aeration in an aquatic ecosystem, we mean the process of air getting dissolved in the water. Any method by which oxygen is added to water is considered a form of water aeration.
The sole purpose of aeration in water is to provide oxygen, which is necessary for the living organisms residing there. Therefore, it is a key element to achieve a balanced ecosystem in a pond or lake. Without a proper aeration system, it becomes hard for the fishes and aquatic plants to survive there.
Some devices increase the aeration in both soil and water; these are called aerators. Now you might be wondering, do ponds really need aerators? Let’s find it out.
What Is the DO Level?
Before jumping into the main topic, let’s know what DO level in water is because we will mention it several times in this article.
DO is the abbreviated form of Dissolved Oxygen, the level of oxygen dissolved in the water. The most popular way to measure the DO level in water is the diaphragm electrode method. Titration and Fluorescence are the two other common methods.
Is it necessary to check the DO level in your pond? In my opinion, it is not, as it takes quite some money. There are some other easy ways to figure out if your pond is low in DA level or not, which will cost you nothing.
If you find the following symptoms or situations, you will know that the DO level in your pond is low, and it might require you to get an aerator to normalize it.
- The pond water’s standard color gets changed. It may change into brown or deeper brown, even black.
- Fishes stop eating and spending more time on the surface to get oxygen from the air.
- The water gets stinky; it might smell like a rotten egg.
- Extreme weather. For example, too hot or too cloudy, heavy rain or wind.
Do Ponds Really Need Aerators?: Let’s find out
Aeration is a natural process; I will not say fishes and plants will go extinct in a pond if you do not get involved with its aeration. Lives in both shallow and deeper ponds survive without facing any problem if there is a proper natural aeration system.
However, when we use artificial aerators to increase the oxygen level in a pond, the ecosystem boosts, leading to a better life for the living organisms.
There are some crucial reasons why you should consider aerating your pond. Check them below.
Improves the Water Quality
A balanced pH in pond water is required to ensure a better environment for the living beings there. Too much alkalinity in water is also harmful to them. And as we know, excessive CO2 is dangerous for fishes and other aquatic plants as well.
An aerator stabilizes pH, reduces alkalinity, and removes carbon dioxide from the water. Thus, improved water quality is achieved by using an aerator.
Boosts Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Levels
Aeration increases the DO level in pond water so that the natural biological processes in that pond’s system remain balanced. The oxygen-rich water allows the fish and beneficial bacteria to grow, eventually leading to a better pond environment.
Reduces the Thermocline
The thermocline is the thin yet distinct separation between the layers in pond water, which is the transition from the top warm water and the cold bottom water. Too much thermocline affects a pond’s lower level by making it way colder than it is supposed to be.
Aerators (especially the subsurface aerators) reduce the thermocline in pond water by mixing the water from the upper and lower layers.
Reduces Algae Blooms and Growth
Algaes are good in some circumstances, but too many algae in pond water may cause the DO level in the water to decrease, eventually leading the fishes to die. When we use an aerator, the pond algae spores get less exposure to direct sunlight, which hampers their growth; thus, a healthy aquatic ecosystem is ensured.
Eliminates Foul Odor
Foul water is usually noticed during early summer or spring. The odor is caused by a combination of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; these are the waste products of anaerobic bacteria which survive in low oxygen levels.
There are several causes of foul pond odor; the major one is the shortage of water aeration. Aerator provides the pond water with the necessary water flow, nutrients, and fresh oxygen and eventually eliminates the bad odor.
Reduces Fish Kills
Aerators might play a big role in reducing the fish kill in your pond. As we know, due to the shortage of oxygen in the water, the fishes die. If you have proper aeration in your pond, you can avoid that problem easily. So, if you are facing this problem, go for an aerator.
Enhances Beauty
No one wants an ugly-looking, filthy pond in their yard, and if you have a proper aeration system in your pond, you will not have to worry about it, ever.
Aerators keep the pond water clean by enhancing the DO level, thus reducing muck, unnecessary algae, eliminating foul odor, and all. Your pond water will be healthy and clean and will enhance the overall beauty of your yard.
Promotes Healthy Bacteria Levels
A proper DO level is necessary for the good bacteria to grow in pond water. Without these bacteria, the overall ecosystem of the pond will shatter. However, too much or too few bacteria are equally problematic for a healthy aquatic life in a pond.
Aerators ensure the balance of these good bacteria remains at a healthy level.
Prevents the Pond from Freezing in Winter
Freezing pond water is not always that bad for the overall ecosystem as we sometimes assume. However, if you want the pond not to freeze, an aerator will come in handy.
Aerators maintain a continuous movement in the water so that it does not freeze. Still, keep in mind that if the weather gets too cold, an aerator might not be of any help; just let it go.
Reduces Pond Muck
Pond muck is one of the main reasons for causing the foul odor in pond water. It is the dark-colored slimy substance that usually builds up on the bottom of ponds. Muck is the collection of dead algae, fish waste, leaves, etc.
Aerator helps reduce the muck getting stagnant on the bottom by circulating the pond water throughout the pond.
Controls Mosquitos in the Pond
No one wants their ponds to be a safe haven and birthplace for the mosquitos. To eliminate them, aerators work as a chime. Mosquitos usually lay their eggs on immobile water places.
And as we know, aerators never let that happen. So, to save yourself from the deadliest animal in the world, use an aerator in the pond.
Reduces Pond Maintenance and Saves Money
Maintaining a pond can be problematic and cost you some bucks every season. However, if you have an aerator installed in the pond, maintaining it will be a breeze and save you your money simultaneously.
The aerator will work on its own to help you keep your laborious works aside and ensure the pond looks beautiful and healthy all the time.
Types of Aerators
Depending on their position and location, there are mainly two types of aerators: surface and subsurface. Let’s talk about them here in brief.
1. Surface Aerators
You may go for surface aerators if your pond is not more than eight feet deep or when you need a large amount of oxygen in a short time. These aerators are portable, and their installation process is also easy.
If you are concerned about maintenance, maintaining these aerators is also a breeze. And what about maintenance costs? Do not worry; you do not need to break your bank to acquire one of these.
Now, suppose you have a pond in your yard; which surface aerator should you go for? Well, if the pond is not too large, we suggest you plant a fountain. It is an easy option, and any fountain integrated into a pond will get the task done.
A fountain in your pond will increase the DO level and the overall beauty of your pond simultaneously. Therefore, it is the best option, in my opinion. You will get varieties of fountains in the market, with each having a different water flow pattern. Choose whatever you want; they all have the same functionality.
There are other types of surface aerators, such as low speed, paddle-wheel, floating, etc. They are mainly used for fish hatcheries or other industrial purposes. These aerators are big and heavy-duty compared to the fountains.
2. Subsurface Aerators
They are also known as bottom aerators. These are said to be 5-10 times more effective than surface aerators. They are usually planted at the bottom of a pond, as you can guess by its name. Bottom aerators work by compressing the oxygen first and then pump it into the water through diffusers.
This oxygen take small bubble forms and rise from the deepest portion of the pond to reach the surface, and while doing that, spread the oxygen everywhere in the water, regardless of the pond’s depth. So, the complete aeration of the pond is done without much hassle.
Another advantage of using a subsurface aerator is, it reduces the stratification in the pond water. Due to the even dispersion of oxygen throughout the pond, fishes get enough oxygen to survive fully, which reduces the risk of fishes getting killed.
The high level of oxygen also supports the bacteria by providing them with the necessary respiration energy. We know what pond bacteria do; they consume decaying organic matters of the water, which allows the water to be healthy. Thus, you will encounter less muck and sludge, and the weeds and algae will also take refuge at the bay.
Another advantage is the bottom aerator’s operation cost is also low compared to surface aerators. How? It takes more power to pump water up (surface aerator’s process) than pump air down. Experts say bottom aerators operation cost is 2-3 times less than the surface aerators due to this reason.
And if you want to reduce the operation cost to zero, you may use a windmill to run the bottom aerator. Great! Isn’t it?
Can you have ponds with No Aeration?
As stated earlier, it is not necessary to have an artificial aerator in your pond if it already has a proper aeration system. Especially if the pond is in a cooler climate, the DO level of the water will usually remain perfect for the ecosystem to survive. In case you have any doubt, just check the DO level, nothing more.
However, in a warm climate, you might need an aerator to improve the DO level to maintain a proper aquatic environment for the fishes and bacteria to live there. The reason is, oxygen’s ability to stay dissolved with water reduces with temperature rise. So, a warmer climate demands an aerator in the pond to increase the DO level.
If the pond has a large surface area, you might also not need an aerator. Why? Because the sunlight can hit a large water surface directly, which enables photosynthesis to take place more effectively. Also, more oxygen can get dissolved into the water due to the larger area.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, after reading this article, you now have a clear idea regarding whether ponds really need aerators or not. I tried to give you enough information about this topic.
I also covered the concept of DO level and different types of aerators here. All you need to do now is plant an aerator if you believe it is necessary.
Thanks for reading the whole thing and have a great day.
