When the ice melted this spring I was horrified to find that our well stocked bass pond had become a scene from a Stephen King novel. All of our fish had died. In previous years I had noted no more than one visible fatality.
The pond is about 18 years old and spring fed. Bullrush occupy the two far corners and I usually keep the three sides facing the house trimmed so the kids can fish. In the winter I usually clear the snow to allow for pond hockey; however, this past winter was really sucky and I didn't blow off the snow. The pond is teaming with life - frogs of many species, snappers, blue herron, creepy muskrat, and hundreds of Canada geese in the wetlands behind our home.
I am buidling a system to aerate the pond which is about two thirds the size of a hockey rink and up to 25' deep. Estimated at 425,000 gallons. I have a Gast 1/4hp rotary vane compressor and a T-tube style diffuser that is 2 1/2" in diameter and 24" long with a 3/4" MNPT stainless steel inlet. Also, I have 5/8" heavy tubing AND I am going to build an array of four 9" FlexAir disc difussers. Overkill? Maybe, from what I have read.
The bottom has seen an increase of weed growth and has become steadily murkier over the past few years. There is no foul odour; however, when I rake the weeds the black muck does smell pretty bad. In additon there is a large release of gasses as I rake the bottom.
Do you guys think the WHOLE system will be overkill, or am I on the right track.
OH! Almost forgot, I restocked the pond with 100 rainbow trout. They are ellusive though, I hardly ever see them and I have only tried to catch them with a yellow jig (barbless). They are REALLY well fed with the abundance of tadpoles and whistling frogs.
Cheers!
