Faq – About Water Aerators Ponds
Joseph asks…
Why must fish farmers run aerators all night long?
Why must fish farmers run large aerators all night long during the hot summer months, especially when there are a lot of algae in the pond? Aerators agitate (splash) the water increasing the surface area allowing more oxygen to diffuse into the water and more carbon dioxide to diffuse out. They generally don’t have to do this in the winter or in the daytime, just summer nights. Part of the reason has to do with warm water holding less oxygen than cold water. …has to do with the algae and photosynthesis.
Staff answers:
Simple reason is becouse while alge like all plants creats oxagin during the day, at night all plants actule revirse and consum oxygen. That and with the face that the ponds are largly over populated they need to get as much oxygen back in the water.
Richard asks…
will goldfish survive in the bottom of my frozen pond if there is still a little unfrozen water?
my pond is about a foot deep. I have an aerator, do I also need a heater?
Staff answers:
Your pond is a bit shallow for the fish to make it through the winter, however it could still happen.
One of the things you need to do is break the ice so that you will get gas exchange. There are a few who say that a pressure differential will kill your fish, but that is not true.
Adding a heater wouldnt be a bad idea. I would imagine that your pond is only a few hundred gallons and not very large. You could get a good heater for about 60 bucks. Marineland makes a line that is encased in plastic rather than glass so it wont shatter.
Nancy asks…
my koi have started to all swim very tight together in the moving current of my water fill pipe of my.5ac pond
my pond is natural 1.5 acres. these fish were brought up to al. from fl. 6 months ago and are doing fine. They are so tight together with the lead fish nose IN the fill pipe from the well. water is cooler but not cold. I have 2 aerators going always, and have had these fish for many yrs. they range from 12-36 inches and otherwise are really healthy, just never seen em do this before water at fill is 3-4 ft deep, and deepest end is 10-12 ft. any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.. thanks
Staff answers:
I have seen this type of fish behaviour in some man made ponds in my area. I have concluded the following possible issues that may be causing this.
A high growth spurt in algae may be the issue, if it is the blue-green algae, which I am told uses oxygen, rather than produce oxygen. This growth in algae is usually related to higher water temperatures or an abundance of oxygen, or a combination of both. The water coming into your pond is where the oxygen levels are at its highest, causing the fish to nose in and get as much oxygen as possible.
If it is warm where you are, and you are also running 2 aerators, you need to cool the water (the colder the water, the more oxygen it contains, and talk to some local biologists on the best way to decrease or eliminate this algae all together. Good Luck, it sounds like you may have a pretty bad problem there.
Courtesy of Y!Answers