Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? Placing diffusers prior to pond filling?

My new Vertex aerator arrived today from Ted Lea with Forever Green. I have an Air 1 Plus package which has two air stations. I am almost ready to start pumping water into a mostly dry (new) recently completed pond. I assume it is fine to place them in ideal locations now. Any pointers on anything I need to do prior to starting to fill?

Now is a great time to place them.. Better than when full.

Agreed!

So esshup, kinda having the same probs as you with trout this steaming summer. Sue tells me to place air I'n 8ft I'n thoughts do2 air will drop to the depths. The weeks trout died i had surface temp of 77, 8 to 10 ft at 70, and 12 ft at 55-57. And the 18 ft hole at 54... So with that said i believe not enough o2 I'n 12-18 ft. As you my trout headed for cool water where spring enters pond. Wasn't enough cool 02 water to keep them. Do you believe i would have a better chance putting defuser I'n 12 or 18 ft range? any input from other experts would be great !

Jamie:

I fired up my diffuser 2 years ago in 18' deep water, just running it when ambient temps were below 70°F. What I didn't realize was that the air temp didn't matter that much, what I was doing was mixing the lower colder low O2 water with the warmer higher O2 water. The warm water won, and the trout died. That's what a bottom diffuser does, mixes bottom water with top water, making it the same temp.

I'm working on trying an idea on how to put O2 in the lower reaches of the pond water without increasing the temp over what trout can survive. I'll know more in a month or so if it works or not.

Let me know the results!

I believe the DO will diffuse into the deeper cooler water by circulating the shallower water. Scott, let me know if you need anything for your experiment.

Thanks Sue, Know where I can get some time? It's in short supply.........

Esshup, what were your temps two years ago when you were running air ? Top, mid, and 18 before and after air.. I may have a little hope yet, seen 4 trout I'n tiny spring creek that feeds my pond today, they jumped a small log to get further up the creek. It's only about 3 to 6 inches deep.the smart ones made it up there anyways.

Top was in the upper 70's, I could only measure 10' down, and those were in the mid 60's.

As of 2 days ago I had 3 trout where the well water was entering the pond. Then a thunderstorm came thru, dropping 3/4" hail and 2 3/4" rain. I haven't seen those trout since.

A hail storm is one way to cool down a pond i guess,,, good luck.

Sounds pretty interesting esshup.

A sure-fire way to do this is -via- side streaming. (that's what they call it)

A simple explanation, would be to circulate the colder water with a pump. On the pressure side, inject O2. There needs to be a retention time, and of course pressure for the O2 to supersaturate. Then, introduce this supersaturated DO back to the bottom of the pond. I would think horizontally would be best, like a 4 or 6 way manifold.

You should not have any air bubbles to create lift, and the supersaturated DO will quickly find a home in the low DO water.

Not sure how compressed air will work for an O2 source tho.