All organisms in an Outdoor Ponds depend on oxygen to drive their metabolisms. This oxygen enters the water through the surface. A lack of oxygen will prevent the water cleaning organisms at the bottom of the pond from working, resulting in muck, sediment, and debris accumulation. This can kill fish, and allow for the rampant growth of weeds, and the blooming of algae.

However, a pond does not have flowing water, and as a result, the water’s physical properties ensure that, during the day, the sun warms the water and makes its top layer lighter and less dense and able to float on top of the cold layer below. This creates a line that does not allow the hot and cold layers to mix. This prevents the oxygen from entering the lower layers, which then allows the buildup of toxic gases, and upsets the pond’s ecosystem. Aeration can help to mix the two layers and ensure that oxygen reaches all levels.

Aeration is a process that helps in the mixing of air with any liquid. It ensures that the hot and cold layers mix, and this prevents any stratification that can stop the oxygen from reaching the lower layers. This allows all the living organisms, plants, and fish to receive the nutrients and oxygen, that they need for their survival and growth. It also allows the fish in a pond to access all areas of the pond.

Another benefit that can come from aeration is that it improves the quality of water and its clarity. Most debris and muck that will accumulate in a pond, as a result of dust, falling leaves, and others, release gases that are often obnoxious. Carbon dioxide released can be converted to carbonic acid thus affecting the pH value of the water. Acidic water is detrimental to most plants, fishes and organisms. Aeration can, however, help to remove high levels of carbon dioxide from the water. It also reduces the concentration of phosphorus in the ponds, which is a supporter of green water and algae.

The best way of ensutring that your pond is aerated and brings you all the benefits of this process is to have aerators that inject volumes of air into the water, creating tiny bubbles. These aerators are installed below the surface of the water at its deepest point, so that every layer of water can benefit. Another simpler method is to create a waterfall at on end of the pond, but this may not be very effective in large or deeper ponds. These waterfalls work from the top and the falling water brings in well aerated water into the pond. That is why, if your pond depth is more than 48 inches, it is best to go in for subsurface aeration. Other solutions can be fountains, splitters and bubblers. Excahanging the water through these devices ensures that the water exchange results in oxygenation of the water, and is similar to what happens in flowing water, where you will not have this problem of lack of oxygen.

Another method of ensuring that a pond is properly aerated is to grow aquatic plants in them. These plants will produce oxygen during the day,and also ensure shade for its inhabitants. Covering half the area of a pond with these plants can ensure that it gets proper levels of oxygen. Cleaning of the pond and removing any leaves, grass clippings can also help in its oxygen levels, as these are not allowed to go to the bottom to rot and produce gases.

Aeration can provide a pond with many benefits to its ecosystem. Your fish will stay healthy, plants will thrive, and make your pond a delight for you and visitors to your garden.