Where Surface Pond Aerators Fit in Your Pond Management Plan
Dissolved oxygen is essential for balanced, beautiful lakes and ponds. When the water column is rich in oxygen, fish are healthier, muck decomposition is more efficient, and the waterbody is less susceptible to nuisance weed and algae growth. That’s why one key focus of proactive pond management programs is maintaining elevated dissolved oxygen levels. While fountains are the most widely used tools to increase oxygen in the top layer of water, surface aerators for ponds are a similar alternative that delivers more powerful results. Surface aerators may not be as well known for their aesthetic appeal, but given the benefits they offer, they should not be overlooked.
Pond surface aerators, like fountains, are most effective in waterbodies 4-6 feet deep. Both float on the surface and use electric motors to create turbulence, facilitating the transfer and circulation of dissolved oxygen. However, surface aerators are significantly more effective at moving water. Instead of shooting it into the air with dramatic spray patterns, they use large propellers to create a strong, boil-like movement, injecting up to 3 pounds of oxygen per horsepower into the water each hour.
No matter your goals or waterbody characteristics, pond surface aerators can play an important role in your Annual Management Program:
Recreation
Pond surface aerators can be a great addition if your program is designed around creating a fun, safe place to swim and kayak. Their compact design allows for strategic placement at specific locations, such as coves with stagnant water, without disrupting recreational activities or dock areas. Algae, including toxin-producing Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), often accumulate along the shoreline in these stagnant spots. Muck can also be an issue in shallow areas. The high dissolved oxygen levels generated by pond aerators support beneficial biological bacteria that break down organic material, helping you avoid the unpleasant sensation of sludge between your toes when entering the water.
Beauty
If you manage a homeowners community or golf course, your lake or pond management program likely emphasizes an element of aesthetics. Traditional floating fountains are generally considered more aesthetically pleasing than surface aerators with their graceful spray patterns, but the oxygenation benefits are less powerful. Both pond fountains and pond surface aerators can enhance the beauty of your property with their stunning lighting features. Waterbody owners looking to add visual dynamics to their waterbody can pair the two systems. This blend of varying heights, sizes, and water patterns not only adds visual interest but may also help reduce overhead costs that would normally be used to treat algae or weeds.
Trophy Fishing
If your goal is to cultivate a robust trophy fishery, pond surface aerators are an excellent choice. Maintaining consistent dissolved oxygen levels is essential to foster a healthy food chain, from the smallest microorganisms to large trophy-sized bass. Ponds with surface aerators are less likely to have dissolved oxygen crashes, which are known to cause fish kills. Strategically placed surface aerators play a crucial role in stabilizing the aquatic ecosystem, protecting your fish, and safeguarding the years of effort and investment you’ve dedicated to your fishery.
Stormwater Management
Waterbodies constructed to manage stormwater runoff or for water treatment purposes require powerful oxygenation to help break down all the inputs they receive over the years. With the ability to inject 72 pounds of oxygen into the water in 24 hours, pond surface aerators are a no-brainer. In cases where the depth exceeds 6 feet, submersed aeration units can be placed underneath surface aerators to maximize oxygenation and circulatory benefits.
While aeration is essential to a healthy ecosystem, it is not a cure-all. Annual Management Programs incorporate a full toolbox of solutions to prevent muck and cloudiness, support a vibrant food chain, and keep algae and weeds at bay.
Water quality testing
Comprehensive water quality testing is the backbone of any management program. By assessing dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, pH, and many other parameters on a consistent basis, Aquatic Experts can identify imbalances and take steps to resolve them before they get out of hand. If dissolved oxygen is determined to be low, then surface aerators may be a good option.
Nutrient remediation
Like dissolved oxygen, nutrients are a necessary component of a healthy waterbody, helping to support the food and habitat that aquatic species rely on. However, algae, weeds, and other problems are more likely to develop due to excess nutrient levels. If water quality tests reveal that nutrients have reached undesirable concentrations, experts can apply eco-friendly products to bind with and effectively “de-activate” them. In order to choose the right product, experts will evaluate many factors, including the size, depth, and function of your waterbody. Depending on local regulations, they can also help you secure the right permits or apply for grants and funding. Healthy levels of dissolved oxygen can also help to convert excess nutrients into less bio-available forms, as well as, prevent some nutrient release from the accumulated sediments in the bottom of the pond.
Weed and algae treatments
Aquatic weeds, algae, and toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are common symptoms of imbalanced water quality conditions. While professionals strive to solve the root of the issue through water quality testing, nutrient remediation, and other strategies, they may conduct one-off treatments to eliminate existing growth.
EPA-registered herbicides and algaecides are safe and effective tools to treat nuisance growth rapidly. These products are carefully designed to target undesirable species without negatively impacting native plants and animals. They are not considered long-term solutions but are sometimes necessary at the beginning of an Annual Management Program before implementing preventative measures.
Aeration can help prevent dissolved oxygen crashes due to the decomposition of dying plant material. Healthy oxygen levels can also speed up the decomposition process to remove vegetation more quickly.
Boost Water Health with A Surface Pond Aerator
These solutions are just a few of the many options that you can pair with your surface aerator to help keep your water clean, safe, and beautiful. When it comes to an ongoing management program, every solution is tailored to your unique goals and budget, as well as the unique characteristics and needs of your waterbody. Contact us today to begin designing your custom management program and see if surface aerators are the right fit for your waterbody.
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SOLitude Lake Management is a nationwide environmental firm committed to providing sustainable solutions that improve water quality, enhance beauty and preserve natural resources.
SOLitude’s team of aquatic scientists specializes in the development and execution of customized lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management programs. Services include water quality testing and restoration, algae and aquatic weed control, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, shoreline erosion control, muck and sediment removal and invasive species management. SOLitude partners with homeowners associations, golf courses, private landowners, businesses and municipalities. SOLitude Lake Management is part of Rentokil, a leading business services company, operating across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
For more information, visit SOLitude Lake Management at solitudelakemanagement.com, and connect on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
