New pond to be dug in next couple weeks, clay bottom, 6.5 feet deep in middle, about 50' x 150' in size. Couple things I'm thinking about adding ahead of filling it with water:
1. an aerator in middle (close to deep center hole) that would run all year. I plan on burying the tube and have it pop up next to solar panel and battery mounted on North side of pond.
2. a pump to add a small current around the pond. I would also like this to be DC so I can hook right up to solar and battery. This current will help keep from stagnent.
3. good to know I will have to add some supplemental water via sprinkler in summer. I plan to have that on edge of pond which will also help a little bit with stagnent water.
I plan to add sunfish and bass at some point and when digging is complete will lay a log or two anchored in bottom for structure. If no good DC options for aerator or current pump, I could always use inverter to convert of battery to "normal" plug in power (you just lose some power during that process). Any suggestions if think this will work and type of aerator or pump to use, please let me know. thank you
Welcome aboard! #1, run when water temp is 55 and above, do NOT run in winter, it will super-cool the water in below freezing events, you want the most 39 deg water in the bottom of the pond. Ice over is a good thing when temps get really cold. An alternative is move diffuser into 3' water when temp drops below 50-55. #2, stagnation will occur without aeration if conditions are right, if aerating, you won't have that issue. #3, if you are supplementing water during summer, run it into pond direct, don't atomize it with a sprinkler. 30-40% will be lost to evaporation. the aerator is keeping your water from becoming anoxic. If for fishing, add all types of structure/habitat, deep, shallow and everything in-between.
