How Does Aeration Benefit a Pond?

One of the best and aesthetically pleasing ways to keep a pond healthy is to install an aerator. The process of aeration adds and maintains oxygen to a body of water. The most common type of pond aeration is a fountain that also enhances the pond's beauty and appeal. We've all seen them, aesthetically pleasing fountains tossing water into the air. This separates the water into droplets and allows more oxygen to enter each droplet. When they fall back into the pond, they bring this oxygen with them and therefore increase the overall oxygen level of the pond.

In a pond with stagnant water and not enough oxygen, the water quality is poor. It can contain dissolved gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Aeration helps release these gases in the same way it helps oxygen. Increased water movement and the surface area mean more opportunities to exchange these gases with open air.

If a pond is near turf grass, agriculture, or other types of land that has been fertilized, pond scum is an obvious result. This algae grows on the sides and bottom of ponds and then floats up to the top, where it blocks sunlight to other plants. It also damages the pond ecosystem and is generally not aesthetically pleasing. No one wants to fish or recreate in a smelly pond filled with algae.

When algae takes over, you may be tempted to go right to chemical treatments to solve the problem. And while this does take care of the problem, it is only temporary. Algae is stubborn, and after the chemical treatment wears off, the pond scum returns.

What Does an Aerator Do in a Pond?

Pond aeration is a more sustainable way to reduce pond scum from taking over your pond. It does more than increase the oxygenation levels, it also makes sure that the water circulates through all levels of the pond, from its depths to its shallows and back. This means that no algae get an undisturbed place on the surface, the sunniest and most beneficial spot around. As a result, deeper aquatic plants thrive, which further increases oxygen levels.

Fish Love Aeration

We all know that oxygen is necessary for animals and people to survive. But it's easy to overlook that fish need oxygen, too, and that they get their oxygen from the water around them.
In the summertime, a fish's metabolism speeds up and increases its need for oxygen. And warmer water contains less dissolved oxygen than cold water. Aquatic plants naturally produce some oxygen, and natural aeration can occur when raindrops hit the pond's surface, but this is not enough. Many fish die because of low oxygen levels in the summertime.

During the wintertime, decaying material such as leaf litter sinks to the pond's bottom and rots, adding carbon dioxide and other gases to the water. With cooler temperatures and reduced sunlight, plants produce less oxygen. While fish require less oxygen in winter, low oxygen levels in winter ponds can still kill fish. When large numbers of fish die simultaneously due to lack of oxygen, there is even more decaying material in the pond, which makes the problem even worse.

Pond aeration makes sure that adequate oxygen and gas exchange can happen throughout the year. This, in turn, keeps the fish and the pond healthy all year long. Get in touch with the best lake and pond maintenance services near me to professioanllly keep your pond healthy.

Pond Aeration Can Be Beautiful

It's not that often that the responsible and healthy choice is also the most pleasant one. This doesn't happen very often. An aeration system can be an enjoyable feature in a pond and keep it healthy. Fountains and aerators come in many varieties and styles to fit any pond.
A pond that is aerated has clearer water than a pond with low oxygen levels. It also smells better since aeration helps control the anaerobic bacteria that can cause ponds to give off a foul odor reminiscent of rotten eggs.

Aeration also reduces the mosquito population around your pond, a side effect that is welcomed by all. It does this by disturbing the pond's surface so that mosquitoes can't lay their eggs and supporting the health of frogs, fish, and other wildlife who eat the mosquitoes themselves.

In addition, the calming sound of the water's motion creates an outdoor environment that everyone can enjoy. No matter if the pond is in front of a business, on a golf course, or surrounded by a community, everyone likes a spot where they can relax and enjoy themselves. The right aeration system can take a pond, a pleasant feature to the highlight of the property.

Bottom Aeration vs. Surface Aeration

When considering an aeration system for your pond, there are a few things to consider. You can choose between bottom aeration and surface aeration. The depth of your pond and other factors come into play.

Bottom Aeration

Bottom aeration systems work by compressing oxygen and pumping it into the water from the pond's bottom. Tiny bubbles are diffused into the deepest part of the pond. As they rise up to the surface, they transfer oxygen into the water. This method allows for aeration throughout the pond, no matter how deep the water is.

The bubbling up motion mixes the water and reduces thermal stratification. The oxygen is equally dispersed through all the layers and improves the pond's health, and algae and weeds are kept in check.

Surface Aeration

Fountains work by agitating the surface of the pond to mix oxygen into the top layer of the water. As mentioned previously, they work by tossing the water into the air so that it can catch oxygen and infuse it into the water's top layer. Surface aeration helps control top level weeds and algae.

They are also aesthetically pleasing and add beauty to the pond. They can operate in shallower ponds, even those that are two feet deep.

Local Pond Aeration Company in North Florida

There's a lot to consider when thinking about how to aerate a pond. How deep is your pond? Do you need a fountain, an aerator, or both? The size, shape, and depth will all need to be considered to get the right aeration system for your needs. If so, contact your local experts for lake and pond maintenance in North Florida today.

The best way to get the aeration system you need is to look for pond aeration companies near you. A professional company with decades of experience in North Florida can help you choose the best option and ensure that your pond remains healthy and beautiful.