Used to increase overall oxygen saturation in a pond, lake or other body of water, a pond aerator is very useful for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. By ensuring that the water maintains a healthy oxygen level, aerators promote aquatic life, reduce buildup of harmful ammonia and methane, and aid in decomposition of organic matter. There are several different types to choose from, including:

• Surface Aerator: Floating on the surface, this style pumps air downward into the water. This not only agitates the surface, it moves water upward where it gathers oxygen that it released into the water. This combination of turbulence and wide surface area promotes oxygenation.
• Diffused Air Aerator: This style of aerator uses a compressor on the shore which pumps air to a diffuser at the bottom, releasing it in air bubbles that circulate and oxygenate the water, bringing low-oxygen water from the bottom to the top where it can absorb greater oxygen.
• Fountain Aerator: As beautiful as it is functional, this style sprays water into the air, where it carries back oxygen as it reenters the pond. The greater the fountain’s height, the further below the surface it can carry oxygen.
• Subsurface Aerator: Especially useful in deeper ponds or lakes where surface aerators are less effective, this aerator sits below the water’s surface and pumps air downward.
• Solar Aerator: Powered by the sun, this style of aerator is cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
• Paddlewheel Aerator: A common sight in aquacultural settings, this style of aerator uses a series of paddles arranged around a wheel to circulate water from the surface, churning in oxygen to be delivered below.
• Venturi Aerator: This style of aerator uses Bernoulli’s principle to draw atmospheric oxygen into fast-moving water, aerating it inside a venturi tube to be pumped back into the pond or lake rife with oxygen.

The health of many aquatic environments depends on proper oxygen levels. Proper aeration provides a host of benefits, including:

• Better Water Quality: The conditions that ruin a pond – high levels of ammonia or nitrates, proliferation of harmful bacteria – often stem from low dissolved oxygen in the water.
• Less Algae Growth: Algae thrives when water is stagnant, so aeration slows its growth. Not only that, but high oxygen levels encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria that draw nutrients away from algae.
• Fewer Odors: The foul smell you often find around stagnant ponds and lakes is a potent mix of gases like hydrogen sulfide. These gases are created by through anaerobic decomposition, a process that excels in low-oxygen environments.
• Greater Aquatic Life: Fish and other aquatic organisms need oxygen to breathe just like any other living thing. The more dissolved oxygen in the water, the more they can thrive and multiply.
• Less Stratification: Stratification occurs when layers of water within a pond carry different temperatures, which can trap oxygen close to the surface. Aeration encourages greater circulation, keeping an even temperature that’s easier to maintain.
• More Breakdown of Organic Matter: When organic material collects at the bottom of a pond, it can become harmful sludge over time. Greater oxygenation encourages this detritus to break down naturally, reducing harmful muck.

Fountains vs. Aerators

While both are used for the same purpose – introducing oxygen into a pond or lake – fountains and aerators accomplish this task in different ways. Because of this, they serve slightly different purposes.

Fountains: Pump water up into the air where it picks up oxygen as a spray or jet that also adds visual appeal. These droplets fall back to the pond, which generally only oxygenates the surface area surrounding the fountain. While fountains are generally chosen first for their aesthetic impact, aerating fountains have a greater impact on a pond’s oxygen level.

Aerators: Specifically designed to oxygenate water, aerators work by either creating surface disruptions that carry oxygen into the water or by diffusing air through bubbles that rise from the bottom. Both methods create elevated levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, aiding fish populations and encouraging growth of beneficial bacteria.

These two systems are not mutually exclusive, and can in fact be very beneficial when used in concert. While the fountain provides surface-level oxygenation, an aerator can work to infuse water below the surface, leading to uniform oxygen levels.

While the aerator is more efficient, the fountain contributes surface-level oxygen while adding visual appeal. If running both systems, it’s important they be managed well so each complements the other without causing excessive disturbance which can contribute to erosion. But if properly maintained, the presence of a fountain and aerator can help create cleaner water, less stagnation and an altogether healthier body of water.

Estate Management Services offers maintenance plans for both that ensure they are running at peak performance all year long.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Run My Aerator All Year?

The year-round benefits of healthy oxygen levels are numerous for maintaining a healthy body of water, from supporting aquatic life to reducing harmful gases and enhancing water quality. During the summer, an aerator helps combat the natural drop in oxygen levels that occurs during warmer weather. It may not cool the water, necessarily, but the current it creates helps prevent stratification, moderating temperature. During the winter, it ensures that fish receive adequate oxygen to live.

Those worried about operational costs of running an aerator all year should know that solar powered aerators are available that offer cost savings over time, and that maintenance should be done several times a year regardless of how often it’s run. Those worried about potential noise disturbance can look into diffused aerators, which operate much more quietly than other styles.

What Size Aerator Should I Get?

There are several factors that go into that decision, from the surface area and depth of the pond to the overall biological load (e.g. fish population, vegetation, recreational swimmers, etc.). While it is possible to over-aerate a smaller pond, causing sediment disruption and turbidity, it’s generally beneficial in ponds of all sizes. Even if a pond or lake does not support an active fish population, aerators contribute to the pond’s overall health, creating a more resilient ecosystem with a variety of aquatic life.

What Maintenance Will I Still Need to Do on My Pond or Lake?

While aerators play a vital role in maintaining a healthy pond, they are not going to replace ongoing maintenance tasks. Even optimal oxygenation levels won’t negate the need for invasive species control, population management of aquatic species, nutrient elimination and algae bloom prevention. 

Why Estate Management Services?

For more than 30 years, Estate Management Services has been at the vanguard of pond and lake management. Our team of scientists, ecologists and aquatics experts represent some of the industry’s foremost experts and thought leaders in the field. Their commitment to their craft is matched only by our commitment to you.  We offer:

Customized Monthly Plans: We tailor our service to your body of water so you only pay for what you need.

Exceptional Support: Personalized attention and support are the most important services we can offer as a local firm.

Empowering Our Customers: Your pond, your lake, your plan. We educate you to make the best decisions.

Environmental Consciousness: Our solutions go beyond simple chemical treatments, using natural processes that protect the ecosystem while creating healthy environments.

Community Engagement: We’re a part of your community, and we make sure we do our part to give back to meaningful causes.

The Best Training: Our staff undergo rigorous training and continual testing, attaining government and professional certifications that ensure their work is of the highest quality.

Schedule an inspection today to learn more about how Estate Management Services can help maintain your lake or pond.