Written By Industry Expert Brent Weber, Environmental Scientist, Solitude Lake Management
Just as oxygen serves as the most important element to life on Earth, oxygen also serves as the most essential component to the health of a body of water. Pond aeration is the simple, yet effective, process of increasing oxygen levels in a pond and can not only greatly enhance the aesthetic beauty of a lakeside home, but can also improve the natural systems taking place beneath the water’s surface. Aeration creates destratification of the water column, as lakes and ponds typically consist of stratified layers separated mainly by different temperature and oxygen levels. Natural resource and environmental managers are often challenged by problems caused by lake and pond stratification. The main purpose of aeration is to increase and stabilize the amount of dissolved oxygen in the entire water column and this has a widespread effect on many different aspects of pond and lake health.
Water quality is also greatly improved through the use of aeration. Under oxygen deprived or anoxic conditions, lake-bottom sediments release various gases and metals that can cause water quality problems. Proper aeration will allow for many of the factors contributing to poor water quality to be released at the oxygen-water interface. Aeration cannot only enhance water quality by stabilizing pH, reducing alkalinity, and removing carbon dioxide, but can also greatly decrease the cost of pond treatments.
Overall, aeration will provide many different benefits to a pond’s eco-system. Besides enhancing pond fish habitats, improving water quality, reducing algae, and removing phosphorus, aeration can also break down unwanted bacteria, help with mosquito problems, and remove foul odors from a pond — all by circulating the water and adding dissolved oxygen. Pond aeration is available through a variety of different means, whether through surface aerators like floating fountains, or through bottom fed aerators using compressors and diffusers. Now with an understanding of the benefits of aeration, it is time to decide what type(s) and size(s) of aeration are needed for your specific waterbody. Contact a lake and pond management professional to discuss what is best for your pond.
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Posted by Scott Freerksen “The Lake Guy”