Ponds, Like People, Need Oxygen to Survive

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a the most important parameter to monitor in a pond or lake. Basically it is the amount of oxygen available in the pond water. A good rule of thumb for determining if your pond has enough DO is to measure it in ppm (parts per million). A DO level of 4 ppm to 5 ppm is typically the bottom thresh hold for most ponds.

There are numerous issues associated with low dissolved oxygen:

Fish kills – most critical
Noxious odors from anaerobic waste digestion
Stratification – oxygen deficient layer of water on the pond bottom

What are the causes of low oxygen levels? There are several factors that contribute to low DO in ponds, including:

Over abundance of algae and aquatic plants that consume oxygen at night
High organic waste load
Over population of fish

If these issues are a concern for you then a proper pond aeration system could be a solution. If you have a deep pond say 8 ft or deeper, you will most likely get more benefit from a bottom based diffuser system that pushes air to the bottom of the pond and allows it to bubble to the top. These systems allow for greater mixing of the water column and eliminates stratification.

If you have a shallower pond, a surface aerator like a fountain,would be a good option. They pull water from the top foot of the ponds surface and sprays it into the air. When the water splashes down onto the pond it creates an oxygen exchange at the surface and helps to aerate the top few feet of water.

Pond Aerators provide numerous benefits and include:

* Reduction and elimination of fish kills(due to low oxygen)
* Stimulation of beneficial aerobic bacteria
* Problematic nutrients are made unavailable
* Algae blooms are reduced due to the lack of available nutrients
* Prevention of turnovers and improved overall water quality
* Odors reduced

A good, properly sized pond aeration system is not cheap, but the costs for alternative treatments and maintenance work far outweighs the cost and long term benefits of aeration. It is highly recommended that you contact a professional to be sure you get the right system and that it is not undersized.

Visit this other pond aeration article for more details on the importance of a well oxygenated pond.

Casey Coke is a Marketing Manager for Natural Environmental Systems, LLC, a global supplier of microbial solutions for pond and lake management. The company markets their own brand of pond supplies under the registered brand name of Pond Keeper.