Common Myths About Pond Aeration

Published on: July 30, 2020

Ponds/dugouts provide water for a wide variety of uses for their owners, including domestic supplies, livestock watering, crop spraying, fishing, recreational uses and more. Aeration is generally accepted as an inexpensive way to improve pond water quality. This article debunks some of the most common myths about pond aeration.

Ponds/dugouts provide water for a wide variety of uses for their owners, including domestic supplies, livestock watering, crop spraying, fishing, recreational uses and more. Aeration is generally accepted as an inexpensive way to improve pond water quality. This article debunks some of the most common myths about pond aeration.

Airstone Diffuser and Foot Valve 

Myth #1: You do not need an airstone diffuser to aerate a dugout effectively.

Fact: An airstone diffuser dramatically increases the effectiveness of any aeration system. Oxygen levels in ponds aerated with an airstone diffuser are twice as high as those aerated without one. An airstone diffuser is relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of a compressor, and by including it as part of your aeration system, you can improve your pond's water quality significantly.

Myth #2: An airstone diffuser should be elevated from the bottom of the pond.

Fact: Placing the airstone diffuser on the bottom of the pond at its deepest point produces the best aeration and the highest quality water. Diffusers do not mix water located below their elevation, and since sediments release nutrients when they come in contact with poor quality water, the airstone diffuser should be located in the deepest part of the pond.

Fact: Placing the airstone diffuser on the bottom of the pond at its deepest point produces the best aeration and the highest quality water. Diffusers do not mix water located below their elevation, and since sediments release nutrients when they come in contact with poor quality water, the airstone diffuser should be located in the deepest part of the pond.

It is recommended that the Airstone be installed in a plastic pail to reduce it stirring up the pond or dugout mud as well as to help keep debris off the Airstone. It is also recommended that you run a nylon rope through two slides of the pail, not the handle, so that you can retrieve it at any time. (Purchase bucket and rope here)

Myth #3: The airstone diffuser should be located near the water intake to get the best possible quality water.

Fact: The placement of the airstone diffuser does not need be located near the intake. If the aeration system is working properly, the water in the pond will be well mixed and uniform in quality regardless of the diffusers proximity to the intake.

Myth #4: You should only aerate at night.

Fact: While it may be possible to get away with aerating only at night, or for part of each day, aeration systems produce the best results when operated 24 hours per day. Aeration systems operate longer and are more trouble free when they are operated continuously. Turning the system on and off produces wear and tear on the compressor and the motor and will ultimately shorten the lifespan of these running parts. In the long run, this wear and tear will cost more than the energy required to operate the system 24 hours per day.

Myth #5: Aerating ponds in the summer heats up the water.

Fact: The temperature of the water in a pond is determined primarily by how much radiant energy it receives from the sun. Things like season and the amount of shade provided by nearby trees have a much greater effect on water temperature than aeration. It takes 1000 times more energy to increase the temperature of water than air. Therefore, aeration will not significantly increase the temperature of the water in a pond.

Myth #6: You should only aerate in the winter.

Fact: Aeration can also improve water quality during the summer. By maintaining a high level of oxygen, aeration reduces the risk of plant nutrients being released from the sediments, blue-green algae bloom, and the creation of taste and odor problems. By aerating and maintaining good water quality during the summer, you improve the ability of the dugout to avoid water quality problems in the winter. Aeration systems produce the best results when they are operated 365 days per year. In fact, water quality can continue to improve for up to five years after an aeration system is installed in a pond and operated continuously.

 

Myth #7: Aeration creates open water or thin ice making the dugout unsafe

Fact: Aeration produces thinner ice and sometimes open water only over the location of the airstone diffuser. The extent of the open water or thin ice depends on the type of diffuser used. Linear diffusers generally produce the least amount of open water, while the complete absence of a diffuser creates the most. Ice returns to normal thickness just a metre or two away from the airstone diffuser. Please Note: if the safety of children and animals, including pets, is a concern, the pond should be fenced. Always exercise caution on ice-covered waters.

Many farmers who raise fish in their ponds during the summer are concerned that aeration will warm the water and make it more difficult for the fish to survive. In fact, summer aeration will prevent the development of conditions that can lead to fish kills.

Myth #8: Aerating ponds in winter cools the water and results in thicker ice.

Fact: There is no difference between ice thickness on aerated and non-aerated dugouts. Thickness of snow on the pond is the overwhelming factor determining ice thickness. Some rural residents are concerned that thick ice reduces the amount of liquid water available for use during the winter months. Ice thickness is determined primarily by the snowfall patterns.


Myth #9: You must have open water in the winter in order to have a well-aerated pond.

Fact: The aeration system pumps air to the bottom of the pond and so open water is not needed to get oxygen into the pond. The highest concentrations of dissolved oxygen occur in the ponds with no open water. The amount of open water is determined by the type of diffuser and the overall efficiency of the aeration system. Point source diffusers such as airstones create a lot of turbulence at the surface and help prevent ice formation. Open water is also maintained in winter if the aeration system brings warm water from the bottom of the pond to the surface, preventing ice formation. An effective aeration system mixes all the water in the pond and maintains a constant temperature throughout. With a good aeration system, there is no warm water to bring to the surface to prevent ice formation.


The Big Picture

Aeration is one of the many tools available to improve pond water quality. Other techniques include appropriate management of the land surrounding the pond and controlling inflows to it. Regardless of what tools might be used, pond water is not safe for human consumption without additional treatment and disinfection. Aeration can however reduce the cost of these treatment processes and make them more effective.

While it is generally accepted that aeration can improve pond water quality, a number of myths related to aeration exist. It is important to understand the facts when designing and operating an aeration system.

To learn more about Koenders Aeration Systems (Windmill, Electric or Solar) or if you are ready to purchase your own, visit: https://www.koenderswatersolutions.com/product_type.html


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