Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? Success but what about winter?

Natureboy-

First and foremost, welcome to the forum page. If your goals for the pond are to reduce muck and aquatic weed problems, then no. Everything slows down in the winter.

Most who aerate in the winter do so to prevent winter fish kills from occuring. With the ice build up and snow cover, the pond's abilty to produce oxygen is greatly reduced. Using the aerator to keep a hole open will allow the sun to penetrate and aid in oxygen production through photosynthesis. Secondly it will aid in the release of the gases that have the potential of killing fish like hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.

The only limiting factor in your pond is the shallow depths. With no deeper areas for the fish to hide from cooler water, winter aeration may not be the best choice for your pond.

There are many discussions on this and I hope ewest will be able to post those links for your benefit. Secondly, Ted Lea with Forevergreen has a great deal of experience in winter aeration and he may chime in as well.

Again, good luck and welcome.