Aeration

[Jon Nannen]

I currently have a skippy filter, barrel filter, with a 700GPH pump on the skippy, and a larger pondmaster pump on the barrel filter, running water down the main waterfall.

I as a newbie, and inheriting the pond, do not know a ton about aeration, etc. I would like to get more aeration, so there's less temperature stratification, and also another way to keep the pond from totally icing over in winter.

What do you all do to aerate your pond? Are there cheap ways to go about doing it?

 

[Big Lou]

Welcome!

 

[dieselplower]

An air pump is the cheapest way to move the most water.

 

[Tula]

Welcome! I have water returning from filter, splash into the pond, run a water fall and an air pump with four air stones. Hope this helps

 

[bettasngoldfish]

I have an air pump and a spitter that I use to help with aeration (although the spitter isn't hooked up during the winter months I do leave the air pump running all year)

 

[JohnHuff]

What do you all do to aerate your pond? Are there cheap ways to go about doing it?

I don't have an air pump. My two pumps pulls water from near the bottom at 3 places and supply several water features. One of them is a shower filter, two more are splashy things. Most O2-water exchange is supposed to take place at the surface and breaking up the water surface tension is supposed to be the main cause of air exchange, not the actual bubbles in the water.

 

[Jon Nannen]

Alright, so anyway to disturb the surface... I'll have to check my local store.

 

[dieselplower]

I agree John but for the sake of conversation do you think adding a whole bunch of bubbles under the water would allow for gas to be exchanged there and then when the bubbles get to the top the gas is expelled? I have never used an aerator and have no idea. But I do know that if he is looking to keep the water mixed to avoid "temperature stratification", an air pump at the bottom would be a great way to do so.

 

[JohnHuff]

I agree John but for the sake of conversation do you think adding a whole bunch of bubbles under the water would allow for gas to be exchanged there and then when the bubbles get to the top the gas is expelled? I have never used an aerator and have no idea. But I do know that if he is looking to keep the water mixed to avoid "temperature stratification", an air pump at the bottom would be a great way to do so.

- Air exchange, unless you're using a bubbler hose underwater, it's just a stream of bubbles and the surface area of the pond would be much bigger.
- Temp stratification, I'm sure that pulling water from the bottom and adding it to the top does a lot more than bubbles. Bubbles might disturb it but with pumping, you're actually moving the water.

 

[Mmathis]

I have water falling from my Skippy, several air stones, and a home-made spitter.

 

[haver79]

TM would love to see your home-made spitter.

 

[JohnHuff]

TM would love to see your home-made spitter.

Home made spitter:

 

[koiguy1969]

A SKIMMER is actually more effective at aeration than most bubblers or waterfalls. it's constantly moving, and "virtually" increasing the waters surface area. this is where aeration and gas exchange takes place. wont help much with the freeze over tho.
**************************************************************
just a little info on skimmers and aeration....
The pond skimmer does more than clear the surface of the pond. Pond skimmers increase oxygen levels in ponds helping to further purify the water, and of course provide rich oxygen for your koi and pond fish. Pond skimmers can do as much or more than any sort of submerged aerator, and they do not disturb the surface of the pond, allowing for nice visibility and reflections to be enjoyed from the surface of your pond.
Did you know that most oxygenation for ponds take place by way of the ponds surface area absorbing oxygen directly from the atmosphere. Those air pumps we use that create thousands of little bubbles that rush to the surface of the pond and explode really do very little to oxygenate. For oxygenation to occur those bubble need to have contact time with the pond water so they can give off the oxygen but they move so fast that there is really minor oxygenation that takes place. It is where the bubbles break up the surface of the water that the oxygenation takes place. Well a pond skimmer is constantly and rapidly breaking up the surface of the pond too. Pond skimmers oxygenate at a much greater pace, with more oxygen being absorbed into the water because the skimmer is constantly increasing the ponds surface area.
** the preceeding was a cut and paste from an article by Mike Gannon.

 

[Dave 54]

Home made spitter:

Yah man give it up for projectile vomiting (puke)

Dave

 

[Lisaebetten]

I myself was going to put and air stone in my falls box, under the recommendation of the experts here. Is that more for the bacteria in the box then fish in the pond? I'm hoping the little fountain pump in the bottom of the pond will keep my circulation even.