Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond bottom raking. alternative for deep water

The stated or intended goal is to aerate and mix the muck which is an important feature of having healthy bottom sediments. Resulting currents from bottom aeration typically do not mix and aerate the upper layers of bottom muck. If that is occurring then the aeration will contribute to water turbidity. Aeration currents do not mix sediment muck even gently and especially not anyway near like mild or moderate wave action mixes beach or shoreline sediments. Diffused aeration originating at the bottom circulates water currents in the overlying water layers above the sediment and curents do not percolate into the sediment. Examination of deep water bottom sediments in aerated ponds indicate lack of mud - water inferface mixing into the benthic interstitial areas. To get water above the sediment mixed down into the sediments one needs to do something similar to what s-montgomery suggests; an actual physical mixing action. Mixing of the organic sediments would have to be done on a fairly regular basis to keep the sediments aerobic (oxygenated) in the upper layers (surface to 3"-6" deep). Exact needed mixing frequency is unknown. Organic sediments without constant or frequent mixing will rapidly loose the dissolved oxygen in the surrounding water among the sediments due to the high oxygen demand of the dense organic materials; I would think DO loss would be within probably hours not days. If the upper surface of the sediments can remain oxygenated due to bottom aeration then sediment dwelling invertebraes can live there and their constant activities can do a lot of mixing and consuming of the upper surface layers providing the currents from the bottom aeration are adequate.