Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? Windmill Aeration & Geothermal Pond Loops

It's my understanding you have a probe for measuring underwater temps. I would check the calibration on the probe/gauge setup and assuming it's safe to go out on the ice, go and take some measurements.

You can use an ice bath with some ice cubes and a little water in a bowl to get a single point verification @ 32f.

Plot a profile of temp vs depth with and without aeration.

I would think the pond would start to stratify after a week or two after removing the source if aeration were actually causing the pond to mix.

You posted a few weeks ago that you had a 35F bottom temp. Assuming that was an accurate measurement, something caused that. It should be 39F. Perhaps you were right up against a loop or perhaps they had already floated.

I don't think the single digit temps could have anything to do with that assuming you had ice coverage insulating the pond and protecting it from wind.

Jist of things. Opinions?
Bottomline - loops have to come out of pond. Looking at horizontal pipe & trenches in yard.
Loop installer doesn't want to chance, nor the HVAC who hired him, the chance of loops floating up again even if we moved the windmill aeration to the low side and used is sporatically in the winter. He feels there is a 60/40 chance they will float again. As is now, probably will kink when sinks and has to be redone even if left inplace. ITO: NO aeration. IMO: I will aerate for fish and healthy pond.
ITO: We share fault (1/3). IMO: I hired professional to design/install this system.
I was just another homeowner, wanting geo vs my large LP bills, having talked to a couple of HVAC and because the one I choose didn't realize the windmill right by edge the pond that was aerating was bad. If you look at the Carrier paperwork they sent me last week and I also was given at the geoexchange site, clearly states "In the north, an ice cover is required during the heating season to allow the pond to reach an average 39F (39C) just below the ice cap. Winter aeration or excessive wave action can lower the pond temperature preventing ice caps from forming and freezing, adversely affecting operation of the geothermal loop."
IMO: They should have caught that and had they told me in the beginning, we would have put it in the ground (we just didn't want to tear up the yard back when).
To make things worse, I got my electric bill last week, $650.

Wow, sorry to hear that you are having all of these problems.