Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Aeration schedule

I have a 4 acre pond that I renovated in 2012. It filled in the spring of 2013. By summer I had a weed and algae problem. I called in a pro to spray the pond and put in grass carp. This year, I added aeration with two 1/2 hp. compressors and 6 diffusers. I also deepened the shore line and added rip-rap to prevent erosion from the wave action. I am running the compressors 24/7 and the pond looks great. My question is what is the right way to run the aeration system. Do I run it in the fall? I read the article in Pond Boss about winter aeration and plan to run 1 diffuser in the shallow end of the pond(6 ft.). When is the right time to start the system up in the spring? Thanks for any help!

Welcome to the forum.

The answer to your question all depends on your goal for aerating the pond.

1) If its to prevent a fish kill, the short answer is whenever there is the potential for a low oxygen level in the pond. You have to make sure to go through the correct start-up procedure if there is anoxic water in the pond.

2) If it's to prevent muck/sediment build up, I just take the easy way out and run it 24/7/365, just varying the diffusers that are in operation.

It's hard to do #1 without a secchi disc, an O2 meter and experience in managing your pond, i.e. letting your pond tell you what it needs. With enough experience, and visually monitoring the pond, you can get by without having the O2 meter and secchi disc.

After winter restart all diffusers anytime when the surface water temp reaches 45-54F.

Thanks for the feedback. Is there any rule of thumb on fall operation? After the water temp goes down, does aeration do any good. I can see that aeration would continue to work on the muck and sediment buildup, but probably at a slower and less efficient rate than summer aeration. Do people just shut off their aeration when the surface water temp drops to a certain point. I still plan to run a diffuser when ice starts forming in the winter. Thanks again for any info on this subject.