Fish need oxygen in the water to thrive in a pond.  Installing an Aerator in a stocked pond is always a good idea, whether you put in a passive Windmill-operated version or an electric Aerator, Fountain or Oxygen Diffuser System.  You can choose from a simple Fountain or a complex diffused oxygen aeration system, based on the needs of your pond.

A bottom diffused oxygen aeration system will circulate huge amounts of water, significantly improving the oxygen levels from top to bottom in your pond.  This will increase the beneficial bacteria and will reduce pond odor and greatly increase fish and pond health.  You need to choose the right aeration system for your pond, especially if it is odd shaped.  

Why Should You Install A Pond Aerator?
Aeration improves your pond’s water quality by adding dissolved oxygen and helping to release gases from decomposing material at the bottom.  Circulating the water in your pond with an Aerator or Diffuser will help reduce the Mosquito population, reduce algae, phosphorus and the bacteria that cause muck and foul odors.  It  will greatly increase the healthy habitat for your fingerlings and fish.

If your pond is deeper than 6′, a Fountain-type Aerator will not benefit the bottom depths.  Fountain Aerators circulate the upper 6′ of water, thereby recirculating the upper layers of water that are being oxygenated, but not lower where the gases and muck are forming.

Another consideration is that oxygen is absorbed naturally through the surface area of your pond’s water.  A still pond that is covered with plant life can only minimally exchange it’s gases at the water surface level.  A still pond will support only a small population of fish.  Beware of having the surface covered with plants and Water Lilies, which will greatly reduce the natural oxygenation rate of water.  Another consideration is that the hotter the water temperature of your pond the less oxygen it can hold.

Ponds need to absorb oxygen from the air above and to release gases from bacteria breaking down in the pond.  The bottom of your pond always has less oxygen than the higher levels of water in your pond.  Anaerobic bacteria work in the absence of oxygen.  They cause a septic-type condition in your pond at the bottom level, and the gas rises and causes stink or the foul odor in your pond.  The answer is to get increased oxygen to these lower levels.

The other thing to realize is that as your pond ages, muck accumulates on the bottom from nutrients that are decomposing.  This muck is unpleasant to see and feel between your toes, and it also can provide a habitat for leeches.  Providing aeration will increase the beneficial bacteria that consume the  nutrients that cause muck and help stop it from building up in your pond.

If it sounds like your pond needs aeration, we can help advise you on the equipment you need if you can provide your pond measurements and depths.  We also refer our customers to businesses that specialize in installing aeration systems, if you don’t want to do it yourself.