Pond Aerators

Why does my lake or pond water smell unpleasant and or look unhealthy?

Many lakes and ponds tend to stratify, that is they separate into different layers.  Though lakes vary in many dimensions they are actually highly structured, similar to a forest ecosystem where for example a variety of physical variables (light, temperature, moisture) vary from the soil up through the canopy.  It is useful to visualize a more extreme example of stratification: Imagine a bottle of salad dressing containing vegetable oil and vinegar.  The oil is lighter (more buoyant) than the vinegar which is mostly water.  When you shake it up you are supplying energy to overcome the buoyant force, so the two fluids can be uniformly mixed together.  However, if allowed to stand undisturbed, the more buoyant (less dense) oil will float to the top and a two-layer system will develop.  In lake and pond water this prevents atmospheric oxygen from reaching the lower water areas.  Lakes that circulate poorly result in water that remains stagnant.

Why does my lake or pond water have so much algae?

 Stagnant water, water with no inward or outward flow, or artificial aeration, is ideal for algae growth. While algae occurs naturally in all types of systems, an overabundance of algae can dangerously reduce oxygen levels in the water.  A decrease in oxygen causes hypoxia (low oxygen) or anoxia (no oxygen) and the other organisms in the water that need oxygen to survive, such as fish, become stressed and die.  Other blooms may release toxins that can be harmful to animals. With no fish to eat the algae, the bloom becomes even worse.

The Solution – Lake Aeration

Lake fountain aeration action oxygenates and stirs the water layers and can create conditions to shift from toxic to an algae population that is not as dense or as toxic to other organisms in the water.  In addition to plant-generated oxygen, the earth’s atmospheric pressure is constantly pushing tiny molecules of dissolved oxygen gas into the surface water of our lakes, ponds, oceans, swimming pools – even the glass of water on your kitchen counter!

The process is known as diffusion and it’s a never-ending cycle.  As oxygen gas is being pushed into water, excess oxygen from the water is simultaneously being released back into the air.

Wind and wave action, or man-made fountains can accelerate diffusion by creating more surface area for oxygen to enter the water.  Aerators and fountains add oxygen to lake water in order to reduce fish kills, and algae blooms.  Pond aerators and fountains can be used as an aid for aquatic plant and invasive plant control.  Fountains and pond aerators can accelerate diffusion by creating more surface area for oxygen to enter the water.  They also help de-stratify stagnant water layers.

Lake aeration keeps residents happy, ponds healthy, and in some areas, fulfills ordinances regarding water quality.