Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Aeration reasons for

Pond Bosses, The main reason for aeration is to increase dissolve oxygen to deeper levels of your pond/lake correct. Once again I live on a 60 acre spring fed 55foot deep gravel pit. What are the chances that there is oxygen at 20-40 feet of water already? I guess using a submersible oxygen meter is only way to know, correct, what is minimum level of O2 needed for fish, thanks.

You are correct. Using an O2 meter is the preferred way.

5 ppm is what you don't want to dip below for any length of time.

The cabled probes get pretty pricey for long lengths. You can get a collection container from Pentair/Aquatic Ecosystems and use a shorter probe once it's in the boat.

An easy way to tell where it drops ()2 levels that is) is figuring out where the thermocline sets up. Typically above it the O2 levels are much higher.

The water above the thermocline in 60 acres can/will grow a lot of pounds of fish. Maybe more fish than can be properly harvested and the fishery correctly managed. I'm not sure that aerating a deep 60 ac gravel pit would be advantageous or cost effective. If you provide secchi disk measurements I can, within a few feet, tell you how deep oxygen is being naturally produced in your quarry.

What do you hope to accomplish by aerating a 60 ac lake; more production? Do you know where the thermocline is located in your gravel pit during mid summer?? Do you have temperature profiles of the gravel pit?