Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations gas generator

Does anyone use a gas generator system for winter time pond aeration?I have a 1/2 acre pond in remote area Im thinking running a tank once a week would help with fish survival we get snow and cold Any help would be appreciated.

Don't know about the generator. Have you looked into a windmill?
I have windmills and they work very well. I also have designed and built a direct powered solar aerator(no batteries)for one of my remote in the trees pond. It has been running for 3 seasons now and has kept my 1/4 acre pond alive and well. If you or anybody else is interested let me know and I will post my design, component list, pics, and costs.

I would definatly be intrested in your solar set up Please keep in mind we are about 1/2 acre and totaly wooded windmill option is out.Also I am not a dummy know zero about any of this.I do know we have a beautiful pond and would like to keep it that way water levels have fallen about 3 feet which is a player in this problem.

Is there any electric near the pond other than the generator? Reason for asking, is that the solar aerators are very expensive. While running the aerator once a week during the winter is better than not running it at all, it isn't optimum.

Are you just concerned about running it during the winter, or during the ice-free months as well?

Essup is right about the expense of solar. The setup I'm using will run you between $1,000 and $1,200. It also has limitations on the size of the water before becoming much more expensive. I used it as a last resort, no windmill and too expensive to run power

Let me state I have pretty healthy pond about 8' deep, other end between 2'&4'It has had no problem with fish die off until the drop in water levels.My thoughts are and they may be off base but lack of oxygen has caused the die off My neighbor said he drills a hole once a week with his ice auger and improved his situation.I believe alittle effort would go along way.I already have a 5000 watt generator which is why my thoughts turned that way (along with ethenol junk gas and running it would be a good thing).I havent had an issue during the summer although Im sure year round wouldnt hurt.
Keep the info coming as I stated I know zero about this

I would like information on your setup. Being in Michigan I get a lot of cloud cover from Lake Michigan during the winter. How is your winter cloud cover where your at in MN?

I'm beginning to understand now. You want to help the pond during the winter.

O.K. I'd look into an aeration system that has multiple diffusers, and place them about 30' apart in water that is roughly 1/4 to 1/3 the total pond depth, in an area that will allow anything that might get into the open water access to shore to get out. I almost lost my 2 dogs a few years ago because of that. If you want to DIY, look into the system that RC51 made. The generator should be able to run it. There are other suppliers here (i.e. Vertex) that make plug 'n play systems too.

To help with O2 during the winter, there are 2 things to do:
1) shovel off the snow from the ice to allow more sunlight in to the water, which allows more photoplankton to grow, who produce O2 during the day (but use it during the night).

2) Have open water during the winter, which will also do what's in #1 above, but will also allow gas exchange between water and air (out with the bad, in with the good).

I've heard of solar systems running almost $10K too.......

NonTypical,
Not sure how cloud cover here in MN during the winter compares to MI. I have gotten a few PM's as well about sharing my very simple desgin. So, I will be taking pic's of my setup this weekend and post under the aeration section.

Disclaimer, I know enough about solar power and aeration to be dangerous. There are others here that know volumes more than I do on both subjects. I am just a garage inventor who likes to share his experiences.

I have posted my crude solar setup under the aeration section. Titled: DIY Solar Aerator