Pond Aerator is Crucial During Hot Summer Days

The heat of summer can be dangerous for small ponds. This is usually the time when fish kills occur the most. It is important that owners and managers of ponds keep oxygen levels at the forefront of their mind in order to protect the fish population. Using a pond aerator can keep the water healthy and prevent damage.

During the summer months it is quite common in many places around the country to experience mini showers during the late afternoon hours. With sufficient rainfall quite a bit of water can wash over the ground and dump into ponds. The water will often bring nitrogen with it from grass and fields. Algae in ponds feed off of nitrogen and this sudden burst will lead to a surge in algae reproduction. In just a matter of days the algae can bloom and result in a big mass on the surface of the pond. As the summer progresses the algae will die off. The process of algae decomposition actually decreases the oxygen levels which can kill the fish, thus the need for pond aeration systems.

Not Just for Summer

This is not to imply that a pond aerator system should be used only in the warm months. Most aquatic experts agree that proper aeration should be a year-long concern. During the summer, the water will warm up and hold less overall oxygen than cooler water. In the winter time, even though the water is cooler, heavy cloud cover can also hurt the pond. The clouds limit the amount of sunlight that can reach water and impair the photosynthesis process.

How the Pond Is Damaged

The typical culprit in pond damage is stratification. Normally, the deeper water in the pond is cooler than the shallow water. By itself, this condition is usual and nothing to be alarmed about. However, certain conditions can intensify this process and kill numerous fish.

When the upper area of the pond is warmer than the lower area, this is called stratification. The pond is basically separated into two sections based on temperatures. If an event causes the upper part of the pond to cool, like a sudden heady down pour, then the two sections can mix. The lower section of the pond will quickly consume the oxygen out of the upper section, leaving little oxygen for the fish. Just like people, fish need oxygen to survive. A pond aerator can help fight back this phenomenon by maintaining the oxygen levels in the pond throughout the seasons to keep the fish healthy and active.

In order to implement pond aeration systems pond owners need to keep in mind their available time as well as their knowledge of aquatic ecosystems. Getting the right system that will allow the owner to enjoy the pond without spending countless hours managing the process will make the whole thing much more enjoyable.