Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? Solar Aeration???

Hi Sue thanks for taking a look. Here is a layout. I didnt have a scale so I drew it and labled it, measuring it from my survay. The spillway is in the far upper right hand corner in the new part. The pond is spring fed. I have been told seven springs but its not confirmed. I do know I have about 4 to 7 gpm out the spillway pip depending on season. Summer I had days of 0 and days of a trickle now its picked up again. Just a quick note, I didnt have any aeration this year and things went OK. I worried about it but it all worked out. I have a few types of fish. Hybrid stripers, Large mouth, Channel cats, 3 types of sun fish, and a few things I want to get rid of. I did not fertilize this year but did start a feeding program. I was thinking I would like to do things gradual, like fertilizer but just easy not to much and the aeration from what everyone says is a good improvement. What can I expect by aeration? More fish? Better water? etc. Thanks I am new to ponding but I am hooked. Excuse the drawing I did it with a mouse...

Hmm I dont recall downsizing that picture? Thats one of my favorites.There we go I inlarged the photo for you Sue.

These are the numbers I came up with based on your map (I measured it out on graph paper according to your dimensions)
The CFM is based on the compressor you are considering and our coActive AirStation is basically like 2 of the separate discs sold by Aquatic Eco. My calculations show that that compressor and 2 discs would not be adequate. I recomend atleast one 'turn over' per day and with this set up you would be under that at .88.
I recomend you go with a compressor that puts out atleast 2 cfm and something comparable to two dual diffuser disc AirStations.


Surface Acres: 1.26
Perimeter Feet: 966
Slope Ratio Relative to 1 2.0
Average Center Depth: 6.0
Average Depth 5.4
Circulation Constraint Percentage 0.0
Total Acre Feet 6.8
Lake Volume (Gallons) 2,203,274
Monthly Influent Volume (Gallons) 302,400
Total Volume Requiring Aeration (Gallons) 2,505,674
Gallons Pumped / Hr 91,552
Gallons Pumped / Day 2,197,238
System Working Pressure (PSI) 3.9
Air Delivery Per AirStation at Depth(CFM) 1.5
Number of CoActive AirStations Specified: 1
Complete Turnovers / Day 0.88

"What can I expect by aeration? More fish? Better water? etc."

An effective aeration system brings oxygen into the water, eliminates stratification and increases circulation. This makes the water at all levels able to support animal and plant life, control algae growth by limiting its food source, and aid decomposition of suspended organic material and muck on the bottom of the lake.

Joey - where are you in NC? If you are close to the mountains at a higher altitude your cfm and psi will need to be adjusted.

Joey and Sue,see hows this fit, Vertex Air 1 Mini with additional (2nd) diffuser (Air2 Mini), 2.5 cfm total which would allow for a minimum of 1 cfm per station and the ability to turn more and (different) gallons than any single diffuser.The lift on one Flex Air would be approx 1/4 that of two discs working side by side or "CoActive" thus taking advantage of the "synergism"Sorry about getting brand specific but is the only 2.5 cfm piston pump that I know of,Rotary vanes do well when starting with 4.2 cfm open flow,which may be a lot of cfm for your situation Ted

Yes, that would work.


Surface Acres: 1.26
Perimeter Feet: 966
Slope Ratio Relative to 1 2.0
Average Center Depth: 6.0
Average Depth 5.4
Circulation Constraint Percentage 0.0
Total Acre Feet 6.8
Lake Volume (Gallons) 2,203,274
Monthly Influent Volume (Gallons) 302,400
Total Volume Requiring Aeration (Gallons) 2,505,674
Gallons Pumped / Hr 154,555
Gallons Pumped / Day 3,709,311
System Working Pressure (PSI) 3.9 **Dependant on altitude
Air Delivery Per AirStation at Depth(CFM) 1.2
Number of CoActive AirStations Specified: 2
Complete Turnovers / Day 1.48

Measuring according to the map you would need approximately 300 feet of weighted tubing and 150 feet of the non weighted.

Wow 1.26, some how I calculated about 3/4 of a acre. I thought I was closer to 1 but I found a pond size calculater and figured it around 3/4 with approx 1 mil gallons. I better do my homework... I know you guys have great systems and I would love to get one that really kicks butt, but I cant spend 1000 bucks or more by the time I am done with this. I was hoping a few hunderd and I would have something at least good.

Sue I am between Hickory and Charollet, not really mountains here.

Thank you Ted, I will browse around on your and Sue's web sight to see what you all have there to.

Joey, I figure .657 acres with an average depth of 4-5 ft would put you in the million gallon range, you can get a central diffuser to turn that many gallons one time easy enough but you will find a lot of the gallons being turned much more and many in the shallows considerbly less than that, This is where sizing comes in, and thus the reasoning to stretch out the diffusers, A deeper pond with the same gallons (less surface acraege) would turn more with fewer diffusers because there will be more gallons lifted by the vertical current as it entrains more gallons on the way to the surface. The deeper the more effecient but you have to work with the depths you have.

Hey Ted, where have you been and how are you?

Joey, I agree with Ted about the 0.657 acres putting you in the million gallon range. I am located in Burnsville, just west of Marion. If you need any on-site help, please do not hesitate to contact us, we would be more than happy to run out to your site.

Hi DD1 been OK and thanks for asking. Have been very busy this season which starts in March and goes hectic until about now.Hope to have some more time for "The Boss " for next several months. Also hope to see you and and all our pond friends in Austin, thanks again Ted

Uh, that's Arlington Ted. But, seeing you again will be a high point.

I new it was one with an "A" good thing no flight booked yet,would of been a lonely few days

Closer than Amarillo.

or Abilene, glad we were not in the "B's" as Brownsville looks close to the "edge" to me