I made an home aid aerator out of a Thomas air pump and some garden hose. I used a soaker hose approx 10 feet long that I weighted to sink to the bottom. (by the way a soaker hose makes millions of bubbles.) I turned on the system for about 15 minutes the first day. (Thursday July 3rd) Friday morning I got up at dawn and went to the pond to see hundreds of fish gulping at the surface. I then turned the system back on for about 30 mins. Friday evening I returned to the pond to find hundreds of dead fish floating. WHAT HAPPENED?
Let me set the stage.
30 year old pond
25 feet deep in the center
Approx 1 acre
100 deg F in the middle of the day
I have been feeding the fish for 2 years (fish chow)
Moss approx 15 feet out from the bank (all the way around)
3 feet below normal water level
15 Bass, 25 Cats, 100 Copper nosed BG (all dead)
Did I stir up the bottom that caused the water to turn? Did I release massive amount of methane gas from the bottom? Did I release oil from the decaying matter that coated the gill plates?
