Diffused Pond Aerator

Diffused aeration systems are the best way to aerate, destratify and create circulation on ponds over 6' deep. Each system has three basic parts.

1.an air compressor

2.an air hose

3.an air diffuser

The air compressor sits on shore and pumps air out through the hose to the air diffuser located on the bottom of the pond. The result is thousands of tiny bubbles rushing out of the diffuser to the pond surface, creating circulation and providing aeration.

There are several advantages to using diffused aeration kits instead of surface aerator:

1.Electric motor is on shore, not in the water,

2.Air diffusers lay on the bottom, ensuring aeration of entire pond from bottom to top, regardless of depth size,

3.With proper sizing, tubing lengths up to 2000' can be achieved for ponds without electricity nearby.

All motors are designed for continuous duty operation and are oil-less for low maintenance. Periodic cleaning of air filter and replacement of diaphragm and gasket every few years is all that is necessary. Air stones can be cleaned (if necessary) in muriatic acid to restore like-new performance. We can build much larger systems or alter these kits to fit you specific needs. Please call for assistance. Kits include everything needed for installation and operation except for tubing weights. Tubing is buoyant and requires a 5# weight every 6-8' sink, or use optional self-weighted tubing.

Fountans vs. Diffused Aeration - Which is Better?

Fountains are a popular choice when decorative aerator is desired. Fountains splash the surface of the pond and help control surface algae and duckweed, but do not aerate down to the bottom of deep ponds.

Diffused aeration is the best way to aerate deep ponds. Because the air diffuser lays on the bottom you achieve total pond aeration from top to bottom regardless of depth.

The Key to a Successful Pond

The most important factor in ensuring the success of a large pond or
lake is proper aeration. Dissolved oxygen is a critical
component in the ecology of a pond. It is what makes the pond
go and what keeps the inhabitants healthy and keeps the water clean.
This article will discuss the consequences of poor aeration and low
dissolved oxygen levels and the numerous benefits of proper pond
aeration and healthy dissolved oxygen levels.

To be technical, dissolved oxygen is gaseous oxygen dissolved
in an aqueous solution. So basically it is the amount of oxygen
available in the pond water. Generally speaking 5 ppm is the
baseline for what is good for a pond or lake. Anything below
that can lead to problems.

So what are these problems associated with low dissolved
oxygen and what causes them? The most critical problem associated with
low oxygen levels is a fish kill. Fish require a certain ppm
of dissolved oxygen to live and without it…well, they
die. Poor oxygen levels can also lead to noxious odors coming
from the pond as the break down of organic waste will shift from an
aerobic process to a slower anaerobic process that results in the
production of hydrogen sulfide. Also, in the case of deeper ponds, the
lack of oxygen will lead to stratification meaning there becomes a
layer at the bottom of the pond that becomes un-usable as it is
extremely oxygen deficient. This in turn reduces the
available living space of the fish, placing more strain on the still
oxygenated water

The issues that cause oxygen levels to become low are
numerous. Probably the most common is an over abundance of
aquatic plants, particularly algae. Aquatic plants are good in
moderation as they do release oxygen into the water. In the
case of algae, planktonic algae make up the base of the food chain in a
pond and are therefore critical. However, many of these
plants that release oxygen during the day, also consume oxygen at
night. So when you have a pond with a heavy algal bloom or
thick aquatic vegetation, oxygen can be rapidly consumed overnight and
even on cloudy days, causing a fish kill.

Other factors that contribute to poor dissolved oxygen levels
and the need for pond aeration is a high organic waste load.
Organic waste in a pond can come from a variety of sources including
dead vegetation, fertilizer run-off, fish food and fish
waste. All of those examples are naturally broken down in a
pond, but to do so efficiently and without further detriment to the
water quality, oxygen is needed. So when you have a high
waste load to be degraded, you will require a large amount of oxygen to
do so.

So, by now you may be concerned that these issues could
affect your pond and you want to prevent them from happening, but are
not sure how to select pond aeration system.

True, there are varying types of pond aerators to choose from, but to
keep things simple, you basically have two types of aeration systems:
surface aeration and bottom based aeration. A good rule of
thumb for figuring out which one would be best is to use the average
depth of your pond as a barometer. If your pond is less than
6 feet deep, than a surface aeration system will probably work well,
while deeper ponds will benefit more from a bottom based aeration
system.

What is the difference between the two you may be
wondering. Surface aerators are generally floating aeration
units that pull in water from the top foot or so of the pond and splash
it into the air. As the water crashes back down onto the
pond, oxygen transfer takes place as well as the venting of gases.
Because the oxygen transfer is taking place just at the surface, these
aeration systems or best suited for shallower ponds. Surface aeration
units can also be equipped with different spray patterns for more
aesthetic appeal, however the more extravagant the spray, usually the
less efficient it is at aerating.

Bottom based aeration systems or diffused aeration involves
pushing air down to the bottom of a pond or lake and allowing the
bubbles to naturally rise to the surface. These aeration
units are the most efficient for aerating deeper pond and lakes as the
bubbles are providing the bulk of the work. As the bubbles
rise, they destratify the water eliminating the oxygen poor zone at the
bottom and mixing it with the oxygen rich water above creating a
healthier water column. These systems also create very little surface
agitation other than a gentle rolling action therefore providing no
aesthetic appeal.

It is important to note that unless you have a very round
even depth pond, you should look for assistance in sizing a proper
aeration unit to meet the needs of your pond. Having an
undersized aeration system can actually lead to problems instead of
helping them.

Now you have a properly sized pond aeration system.
What can you expect now? The benefits to expect from a good
aeration systems are numerous.

• Fish kills(due to
  low oxygen) can be prevented


• Beneficial pond bacteria is
  stimulated to efficiently break down waste and reduce the bottom muck
  layer. Aerobic bacteria will out proliferate problematic
  anaerobic bacteria to control odors


• Key nutrients such as
  phosphates are rendered unavailable and metals like iron are
  precipitated out


• Algae blooms will
  be less severe and less problematic due to the lack of available
  nutrients


• Pond water is
  destratified leading to the prevention of turnovers and improved
  overall water quality


• Gasses such as
  carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide can be vented


• The need for
  maintenance products are reduced to the ponds naturally ability to
  regulate itself.


• In the case of
  northern states, aeration systems will also help prevent winter fish
  kills be preventing the pond’s surface from freezing over and
  allowing the venting of gasses.

Pond aeration systems can be a significant financial
investment, depending upon the size of the pond being
aerated. However the costs associated with monthly water
treatments, regular maintenance and the constant worrying about the
quality of water are far greater than the long term benefits and peace
of mind associated with a good aeration system.

Pond Aeration Information

-Is your Pond 6ft. in depth or deeper?

-Have you seen your fish gasping for oxygen at the top of your pond?

-Are you having unsightly algae problems in your pond?

-Does your pond appear to be stagnate and lifeless?
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions or want to improve your water quality -- read this info!

WHAT IS POND AERATION?

"Aeration" is the term that we use to mean adding air to the water. Because air contains 20% oxygen aeration adds oxygen to the water. If you have answered yes to any of the questions above your problem may be due to insufficient levels of oxygen in your pond. Ponds that are deeper than 6 ft. simply are not capable of producing significant levels of oxygen at those depths. Below is an illustration that will show you the problem:

[caption id="attachment_35" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Pond with no oxygen needs a pond aerator, pond aeration"][/caption]

The good health of a pond is held in a delicate balance. A pond's condition deteriorates when its bottom environment cannot support animal life. The bottom is the area that runs out of oxygen first (the bottom is where the most oxygen is used and is the farthest from the surface where it is replenished). The absence of oxygen kill all of the bottom dwelling animals that help keep a pond clean. The loss of these animals (snails, mussels, worms, etc.) will greatly reduce the pond's ability to clean itself.
Nutrients (fish waste, grass clippings, dead algae, etc.) cause most water quality problems. Nutrients are cleaned from a pond's bottom by the small bottom dwelling animals mentioned above. When these animals do not exist the nutrients accumulate on the bottom forming a layer of "muck" which serves as fertilizer for weeds and algae. If a pond is allowed to get seriously infested with weeds, herbicide treatment may be the only way to gain control. The idea is to prevent such infestation in the first place. Natural water cleanup through aeration offers preventative maintenance, reducing sediment before more serious problems arise.

[caption id="attachment_44" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="a pond without aeration and a pond with pond aeration"][/caption]

Pond Aeration - By pumping compressed air out into a pond or lake bed aerator -- an air diffuser that produces tiny air bubbles -- the rising air bubbles bring bottom water to the surface where it is exposed to the atmosphere. Large volumes of water thus lose bad gasses to the atmosphere and the water picks up even more oxygen while on the surface

Surface Splashers Vs. Diffused Pond Aeration

Surface Splashers include but are not limited to the following:

* Fountains
* Water Pumps
* Propeller type

-Look at the illustration below and notice how a diffuser will saturate the entire pond with oxygen and not just the surface. Unfortunately , as you can see the surface units expose just surface water to the atmosphere. NOT deep water.

[caption id="attachment_46" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Stagnate water at the bottom of the pond"][/caption]

VS.

[caption id="attachment_48" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="With a diffused aerator the entire pond receives adequate aeration."][/caption]

-Fountains are a popular choice when a decorative aerator is desired. Fountains splash the surface of the pond and help control surface algae and duckweed, but do not aerate down to the bottom in deep ponds. They are recommended for ponds with a max depth of 5' or less, otherwise diffused aeration will always be a more effective means of aeration.

-Diffused pond aeration is the best way to aerate deep ponds. Because the air diffuser lays on the bottom you achieve total pond aeration from top to bottom regardless of depth.

-Diffused aeration systems are the best way to aerate, destratify and create circulation on ponds over 6' deep. Each system has three basic parts:

-1. an air compressor

-2. an air hose

-3. an air diffuser

-The air compressor sits on shore and pumps air out through the hose to the air diffuser located on the bottom of the pond. The result is thousands of tiny bubbles rushing out of the diffuser to the pond surface, creating circulation and providing aeration. There are several advantages to using diffused pond aeration kits instead of surface aerator:

-1. Electric motor is on shore, not in the water;

-2. Air diffusers lay on the bottom, ensuring aeration of entire pond from bottom to top, regardless of depth size;

-3. With proper sizing, tubing lengths up to 2000' can be achieved for ponds without electricity nearby.

-Oxygen is most needed at the bottom or deepest part of a pond.

-Surface Splashers can also be a safetey hazard, electric wires need to be ran from your power source out to the motors in the water.

Please Note: Surface Splashers are recommended for all ponds that have a maximum depth of 5' or less. Diffused Aerators are not recommended in shallow water.

How do I know that I am purchasing the right size unit for my pond?

The deeper an air diffuser is located, the more boiling action it will create and a larger area will be aerated. Therefore the deeper your pond the less CFM needed to aerate your pond. 1.5 CFM of air can effectively aerate a 1 Acre pond at a depth of 12' or deeper. The chart below can be used to determine the size of the compressor that you will need, it is based on a compressor producing 1.5 CFM of air.



Below are the links to several pond aerator kits:

Less Than an Acre

1 to 2 Acre Ponds

3 to 4 Acre Ponds

5 to 6 Acre Ponds

6 Acre Ponds & Over