Lawn & Garden

Why Invest in Aeration

If your pond or lake is not fed by a constantly moving spring or creek, it may require lake aeration to stay healthy. Aeration uses a motorized system to supply or fill the water in your lake with oxygen and remove noxious gasses that may be trapped within the water. Oxygen saturation determines the water quality of your pond or lake.

Water Quality

The more dissolved oxygen your lake has, the higher its water quality. Dissolved oxygen prevents the buildup of toxic gasses, such as carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, and improves the nutrient and aerobic bacteria levels within the water.

Odor

Because it releases toxic gases, your pond’s smell will improve with aeration. In addition, the beneficial aerobic bacteria will more efficiently break down organic material within the water. This directly impacts your need to dredge your pond. As the organic material breaks down, it prevents debris and sediment from settling on the bottom of your pond. This decomposition also improves the pH balance of your pond.

Healthy Ecosystem

As the nutrients are broken down through the oxygen in your pond, algae mats and blooms are prevented. In addition, ice cannot form within or on your pond during the winter, preventing low oxygen levels. Due to the balanced pH and increased oxygen levels, fish thrive in aerated waters.

Pest Control

Mosquitoes are pests. They carry viruses and diseases, such as the West Nile Virus, that infect people, pets and livestock. Mosquitoes proliferate in stagnant waters. When waters are properly aerated, the surface is disturbed, which interrupts mosquitoes breeding and egg laying processes. In addition, because the aeration produces healthy environments, healthy fish are able to eat these eggs and insects.

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Without Aeration

If a body of water has no aeration, its nutrient levels will decrease. This may result in significant harmful plant growth, including aquatic plants and blue-green algae. These plants produce toxins and rob fish and beneficial plants of nutrients and oxygen. Fish may also be affected by water temperature, which is inconsistent and may be too warm in water without aeration.

Algae may cause illness, rash and death in people and pets due to cyanobacteria. In addition, as algae dies, it reduces the oxygen level in the water further, killing fish. The color and texture of the water may change, turning brown and gray with streaks along the water’s surface.

To maintain a healthy water ecosystem, consider investing in an aeration system. Then, run it summer and winter to ensure your pond or lake stays healthy.