Aerating your garden pond is essential for keeping the pond healthy.
Infusing oxygen into the pond benefits the plants, fish and beneficial bacteria that need oxygen to live.
In this article you’ll learn about the benefits of pond aeration along with the best ways to aerate your garden pond.
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How to tell if your pond needs aeration:
Foul smell coming from the pond
If your pond starts smelling like rotten eggs, it’s definitely time to aerate your pond.
The rotten smell comes from anaerobic bacteria producing hydrogen sulfide as it breaks down organic matter.
Aerating a pond boosts the numbers of beneficial aerobic bacteria which need oxygen to survive.
This type of bacteria is much more efficient at breaking down organic matter and it doesn’t cause the pond to smell.
Fish gasping at the surface of the pond
When fish are constantly gasping at the surface of the pond it’s a sure sign that the pond water is low on oxygen.
Algae overgrowth
Algae thrive in still, stagnant water so adding aeration to your pond can help to reduce algal blooms.
Benefits of aerating your pond
Keeps mosquitos away
Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, so creating water movement with a pump or fountain will make the pond inhospitable for mosquitoes to breed.
Clears the pond water
As I mentioned above, aerating your pond promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria that are beneficial for reducing built-up waste which leads to cloudy and murky water.
Stablilizes the pond temperature
If your pond is deep, it’s likely that the surface water is much warmer than the deeper water, which can get quite cold.
Aeration moves the water around so that there isn’t a significant difference in temperature from the top to the bottom of the pond.
Reduces fish kills
It’s important to run your aeration pump all day and night, 7 days a week to ensure that your pond is properly aerated.
Pond plants with foliage above the water level consume oxygen at night, which makes aeration essential at night time.
The lowest level of oxygen in a pond is from midnight to 6:oo am and this is the time that aeration is absolutely necessary for healthy fish.
How to aerate your pond
Pond Aerator
Pond aeration pumps move water throughout the pond and provide circulation and oxygen to the pond.
Water Fountain
Water fountains
A small pump is used to propel the water upwards which brings lots of oxygen into the pond water.
Water Features
There are many attractive water features such
as spillover bowls
Waterfall
Adding a waterfall to your pond is another great way to improve the pond’s oxygen levels.
There are many different waterfall kits
Underwater Pond Plants
Pond plants that have foliage above the water level release oxygen into the air so they’re not helpful for aeration.
The best plants for increasing aeration are submerged plants like eelgrass
Common questions
How can I aerate a pond without electricity?
There are many solar powered pumps
Does aeration make pond water crystal clear?
Aeration will
definitely help to keep the water clear but it’s also necessary to install a pond filter
Can you aerate a pond too much?
Using a high powered pump in a small pond can create a lot of turbulence which isn’t good for fish.
Too much water movement and bubbles means that there aren’t many calm areas of the pond for the fish to hide or relax, which can cause the fish to become stressed.
A small pump and water fountain is all you need for a garden pond.
So there are my tips for increasing the oxygen level in your backyard pond.
RELATED ARTICLES
- 7 Pond Edging Ideas
- 10 Ways To Decorate Your Pond
- Best Location For A Garden Pond
- Creating A Pond Waterfall
- Winter Pond Maintenance
Do you have any questions about pond aeration? Let me know in the comments below.
Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Garden Ponds and Water Gardens that you may enjoy.
