Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Aeration Question for new 5 acre pond

We are in the middle of building a new 5 acre pond in South Texas. The depth will be around 10 to 12', with spawning beds ranging from 3 to 4 and 4 to 5 feet. The basic shape is an oval, but it does have a couple peninsulas.

I read the last PB which had a great review of all of the systems but now all of the ideas made it more difficult to decide. We do have electric close to the pond and will be running electric out to a fishing pier.

My basic reading of all of the systems is that you either select one that provides o2 to the top of the water - like a foundtain or a bottom diffuser which prevents stratification and that the best system is to combine a bottom with a top system.


My first thought was to put in a Lake Life Pump, but that seems to be a little over kill. My second thought was to put in a couple of 3 hp Kasco fountains (i have one in a 3/4 pond next to ranch house and it does a great job on that size pond), but then i don't think i will get the areation that i need. My third idea is to install a vertex system. I know that will help de-stratisfy the water but will it provide the o2 that a fountain would provide.

Goals of the new pond is for big LMB.


PS - an idea i had for the PB Mag to have another issue on aeration but this time give 10 examples of different ponds -- IE. You have a 1 acre pond in the South that is 5' deep (best aeration), then 2 you have a 10 acre pond in the midwest, etc. Thanks for all the help.

CB, if it were me I'd use a diffuser system designed by one of the aeration pros specifically for your 5 acre BOW, run on a schedule I'd have them design as well. Given the light on a couple of recent low O2 concerns, I'd also have an emergency surface aerator around for a worst case scenario. If I was aesthetically concerned, this would probably be a nice fountain that might be kept running all the time.

CB Sent ya a PM

For a pond with depths up to 12 ft, you will be better served going with a diffuser system. The surface aerators juts cannot oxygenate the lower depths of the water column. Typically, we recommend anyone with a pond over 6 ft deep or so to consider a diffuser system.