Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Winter prep for aeration system

I'm working on restoring my small (under 1/2 acre)pond. I started by adding an aeration system last spring. Something happened to the summer and that was all I accomplished (I was going to remove the cattails that are taking over). I just shut the system off yesterday. Should I use a shut-down schedule like the recommended spring start-up? How about any pump/line or bubbler maintenance now?

Thanks,
Barry

Hi Barry -
You can just shut off the system, but when you restart it in the spring you should repeat the start up procedure. The process of gradually starting the aeration system is to prevent mixing the anoxic water from the bottom of the pond with the good water on the surface, which could bring oxygen levels way down throughout the water column if your pond is statified. You could loose your fish if your water is in bad shape when you first start an aeration system. There really is no reason to do any maintenace at this time either. The time for that would be in the spring before start up. At that time clean out or replace the filter and depending on your compressor type you may or may not need to do any maitenance so soon.

Perfect! I can cross that off my list of things to do. Thanks for the help.

Barry

Sue, in the past I have winterized my pump by sealing all ports and placing in dry storage. I believe that I recall Bill Cody�s comment that �moisture is the enemy�.

I would like to leave the system intact to save the bother, but don�t want to damage my pump.

What do you think � maybe just turn on the system occasionly for insurance?

George,

Bill is correct. Since we are compressing air from the atmospere and not completely dry oxygen, you are guaranteed to have some water in your compressor.

This is not such a problem with the piston compressors as it might be with the rotary vane compressors. The rotary vane heads and rotor are so close together (the spacing of a piece of paper) that rust could easily fill that gap over the winter season and you would have some trouble starting it in the spring.

For those of you with rotary vane compressors that turn them off, I would recommend as George does, remove them, seal the ports and place in storage. Turning it on occasionaly will also prevent the rust from forming too.