Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? what to do, what to do?

Hello, Forum

Im so excited, it's been a few weeks sent I sent the pics of my pond construction project http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000248 and the drag-line should be there on Monday. This forum has been the best construction tool of all. Anyway, my question is this. I can have the deep side of the pond down to 20' rising to 3' at the head, but should I? I plan to aerate, so if i put the diffusers at 20' would this make that depth useable? would it be better to make the pond shallower say 12' and if so what is the optimum depth? I plan to stock TFshad, tilapia, FM, LMB. My pond is in deep South Texas so no snow mild winters, hot summers. And for those who are cost concious, it cost the same for me to excavate from 1' to 50' so what to do, what to do?

Please help before this thread dies,I want to install an aerator from the beginning and thay say construction should only take a week.

Yes, absolutely install a bottom diffuser to ensure dissolved oxygen at the bottom. Otherwise it will stratify. An aerated pond can support a larger and healthier fish population. I think 20 feet sounds like a good depth. I'm not an expert on pond construction, but I deal with water quality issues every day resulting from poorly designed ponds. Too shallow and you could have excessive weed growth problems. 3:1 slope will prevent too much growth around the edges.

Yes, an aerated pond can support more fish.

Yes, 20 feet of depth, if all aerated, or usable, by fish would be really nice.

Yes, Good slopes help to "manage" rooted plant growth.

I've got 2:1 slopes around my favorite little pond, and the rooted vegetation only grows out about six feet. I know that's a severe slope, but it's working great for me.

Correct me, Sue, or any other aeration experts, but the twenty foot depth would likely require a significantly bigger pump, than one that would be appropriate for twelve feet of depth.

Hi there Bruce!
A small piston or diaphragm that can operate at higher pressures can go plenty deep. 6.2 psi is required for 12', 9.6 psi is needed for 20' depth. Our small pistons can operate up to 35 psi. Most vanes and linear compressors are restricted to lower psi operations.

What will determine the size of the compressor is the size of the pond and the number of diffusers and required cfm needed to turn over the pond adequately.

Keep in mind with the depth the friction loss needs to be added to arrive at the total psi needed. In 1/2" line the friction loss to add is o.16 psi per 100'.

Sue and Cary. You guys are really something.

This forum would be severely lacking without your contributions.

Bruce...? Expound on that please.

Thanks for the info Sue & Cary. I'll keep you posted

I'm sorry Bruce. You as well

You guys are always so willing to jump in and provide great information free of charge. Without that kind of generosity a lot of us would just be guessing when it comes to aeration questions. It's very comforting to know that I could ask an aeration question and get such high quality advice.

Thank you.

Bruce

I think I speak for Sue and Ted Lea as well...there is just too much mis-information out there and I think we all have been trying our best to turn that around.

It makes our jobs much easier when everyone is on the same page. Don't count yourself out either Bruce...your post have been right on the money more than once. You just must type faster than I do and by the time I am ready to "add reply" you have just wrote out exactly what I wanted to say.

Your welcome.