AF, if your thermoclin is inatact and you have the "stench", the chances are pretty high it is devoid of oxygen at this point. That is why I suggested starting the slow aeration of the deep water. I should have added "only at night" to keep the pond cooler.
The diffuser at 6-7 feet has probably left the thermocline intact, albeit a bit deeper than normal...this is just a swag though.
The main reason I suggested aerating the bottom water is to ensure it has oxygen since we don't KNOW that it does now. With fall coming, if you gry a quick turnover and mixing with a cold rain, all the fish could be killed...Aerating the bottom now would prevent that danger.
It's all a risk and a guess, I just wanted to throw out another idea and why.
