Pond & Lake Aeration Explained (4 seasons)

This shows the difference between Aerated ponds and Dugouts vs non-aerated ponds in the different seasons of the year.
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Summer:
Aerated: The sun heats the surface water but the aeration system keeps the dugout well mixed and the temperature uniform.
Small supply of plant nutrients limits algae growth.
The aeration system and wind keeps the dugout well-mixed.
The limited amount of algae floating in the water allows the light to reach the bottom of the dugout. this encourages the growth of rooted weeds at the bottom of the dugout.
The aeration system and the wind combine to maintain high concentrations of oxygen throughout the dugout. A small amount of algae dies and falls to the bottom of the dugout.
The dead algae decomposed and consume oxygen BUT the aeration system keeps oxygen concentrations high and the dugout well mixed.
Water quality remains good.
Unaerated: The sun heats the surface water which floats on the colder deeper water.
This reduces the ability of the wind to mix the water at the bottom of the dugout.
Conditions are suitable for algae growth.
The sun continues to heat the surface water limiting the mixing to the top few feet.
The surface algae bloom becomes thick restricting light penetration to the top level of the dugout. Rooted weed growth is limited to the edges of the dugout.
Green algae consume all the available nitrogen, die and fall to the bottom, where they docompose using oxygen which is not replaced.
The absence of oxygen in the water allows plant nutrients (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus) and metals (e.g. iron, manganese) which are trapped in the sediment to dissolve into the water
water quality deteriorates at the bottom.
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Autumn:
Aerated:
The water temperature cools, all algae die and fall to the bottom of the dugout
The aeration system and wind continue to maintain high concentrations of oxygen throughout the dugout
water quality remains good.
Unaerated:
The surface water temperature cools and creates a uniform temperature throughout the dugout.
all algae decompose and fall to the bottom, consuming oxygen at the bottom of the dugout.
The uniform temperature allows the wind to mix the dugout increasing oxygen concentrations throughout the dugout and temporarily improves the water quality.
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Winter:
Aerated:
Oxygen is carried to the bottom of the dugout by the circulating water.
Dead organic material decays aerobically at the bottom of the dugout
water quality remains good.
Oxygen is supplied to the dugout from the aeration system and the atmosphere.
The oxygen is carried to the bottom of the dugout by the circulating water.
Dead organic materials decays aerobically at the bottom of the dugout.
water quality remains good.
Unaerated
Very little oxygen diffuses through the ice
water quality near the surface remains good.
Algae decay quickly consumes available oxygen, and becomes anaerobic
Water quality begines to deteriorate at the bottom of the dugout
Under anaerobic conditions, the layer of poor quality water quickly grows and moves upwards
Nitrogen and phosphorus move from the sediment into the water.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) forms and produces a "rotten egg" smell
Water quality continues to deteriorate.
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Spring
Aerated:
Dugout water becomes a constant temperature as the heat of the sun melts the ice.
Oxygen diffuses into the water from the atmosphere and is carried to the bottom of the dugout by the circulating water.
Nutrients remain trapped in the sediment.
Unaerated
Dugout water becomes a constant temperature as the heat of the sun melts the ice.
wind blowing over the dugout surface casuses the turn-over of the water, mixing poor quality water throughout the dugout.
Nutrients rise to the surface.

[@iaintoms7071]

The rising bubbles induce an entrainment plume which begins some distance above the source of the bubbles, and entrainment increases as the plume expands. Therefore it is often best if the source of aeration is in a trench along the bed of the lake or pond. If you look at the plume when it reaches the surface, you will see it expanding outwards and begins to sink (the mixed water is cooler than the surface water and there is an area of downwelling (called the "near field"). It is nowhere as simple as you make out, and far more interesting. Be careful as you take a boat over the rising plume - that aerated water is less dense than the surrounded water, and you will feel the boat sink a bit. Enough of the lecture I used to give - based on some interesting work by Dutch limnologists. It is the renewal of the surface film by the spreading plume which brings about the most oxygen transfer. If you want more info, email me.

[@AnujChamara]

Superb explanation.Sir ,Please update more videos.Thanks.

[@darylhaaland1174]

How much compressor power do you need to get air below 18 feet? would a sump pump with a venturi effect air hose drawing air from the surface work?

[@ekilix2522]

Hi, thank you for the informative video. I have a 5ft deep pond with fish and plants and I live in Canada where it gets snowy and cold. I want to know, based on your explanation, where should I place the aerator in the winter months? Should they be placed at the deepest area of the pond or in the shallow?

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

With an initial quality lake / pond design , maintenance will be much easier and less expensive. Think before you excavate.... or even purchase property with existing water.

[@adamUDavies]

I watched a video of a man that installed an aerator in his pond and within 3 days , killed all of the fish in his pond ? Why did that happen ?

[@sz8558]

How often does a body of water need to be aerated?

[@CampFreedom1776]

Is it OK to start this process in the summer time?

[@seaboa3218]

yes

[@CampFreedom1776]

What are your credentials for your answer Sea Boa?

[@coryrichmond4651]

Yes, but you need to do a slow start up to avoid a quick pond turnover and thus an oxygen crash and impending fill kill. Run your aerator 15 minutes the first day, 30 minutes the second day, 1 hour the third and continue to double the hours every day until you reach 24. Call AQUA DOC Lake and Pond Management for more information 614-506-4166

[@Chiquitita5935]

You should have this in spanish, it would be useful for many too.