The Important of Subsurface Aeration

The Important of Subsurface Aeration

The aeration of ponds and lakes is a vital factor regarding the health of your feature. Dissolved oxygen is imperative for a healthy feature and to prevent pond and lake turnovers and fish kills. Secondly, all ponds or lakes deeper than 6-7 feet will have a thermocline - a separation of cooler water on the bottom level below the thermocline containing poor oxygen levels, high in methane, hydrogen sulfide and other toxic gases; and the top layer which is warmer and contains most of the oxygen. Bottom aeration breaks this thermocline up to mix the water together providing oxygen to all the water by breaking the thermocline and diffusing the toxic gases to the surface for evaporation through osmosis. Bottom aeration should be started slowly at an hour a day and steadily increasing an hour a day during daylight hours until the pond aerator is on 24 hours to prevent instant turnover and mixing of toxic gases. Pond or lake turnover happens naturally and will happen eventually in every pond - it is just a matter of time, not if, but when. Fish kills during a lake or pond turnover can happen overnight. Therefore, bottom aeration is so very important.

Large ponds and lakes naturally aerate through plant photosynthesis and atmospheric mixing like wind and rain. The problem is that most ponds and lakes do not absorb or receive enough oxygen compared to how much is being used and this harms the aquatic system. All life in the ponds or lakes needs oxygen to be healthy and prevent pond or lake turnover: the disruption of thermocline - the separation of upper levels of water and lower levels which then mixes toxic gases, nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen, into the oxygen rich surface water, killing and suffocating the wildlife within 24 hours or so.

The bottom aeration can work up to 40 feet or so without adding to much pressure back on the motor - psi. Bottom aeration should be used in conjunction with beneficial bacteria except in the case of an ongoing fish kill. Beneficial bacteria can be added once the pond or lake has adequate oxygen supplied for several weeks. The beneficial bacteria will eat the sludge layer at the bottom reducing nutrient levels feeding the algae. The benefits of bottom aeration are many - more oxygen which helps suffocate algae as algae breathes carbon dioxide, no thermocline which removes the chances of lake turnover, healthier fish, healthier pond and keeps a hole open in the ice for gases to escape in winter as well as allowing water fowl and other animals to drink depending on placement of diffuser.