Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Product sources Surface aeration?

This question might sound silly, but what is the purpose or need for a surface aerator? We have a Vertex bottom diffused aeration system. I have been reading different threads where others have a surface aerator also.

queenkat, I'm going to take a stab at this as I've been researching the archives on DO, adding O2 and distribution of O2 as well, and I too have a Vertex system. Bottom diffusers aren't necessarily there to add O2, but to distribute it (probably not the right terminology).

The surface aerators do a much better job of adding oxygen than the bottom diffusers. As the warm water holds more oxygen than cold, your Vertex diffusers are evenly distributing the O2 by bringing up the cooler (less DO) water to the surface, mixing it with the warmer (higher levels of DO) so you have a more even amount of DO throughout the BOW, thus eliminating the thermocline (warm on top, cooler on bottom).

My understanding would be that the surface aerator only, would introduce O2 yet it would remain in the upper levels of the BOW.

A combination of both would seem to be the best of both worlds where you're adding O2 with the surface aerator and your diffusers would distribute it evenly.

I'm now in hopes the experts will chime in with a more accurate assessment, and let me know how far off I am.

Warmer water doesn't hold more dissolved O2, colder water does.

The bottom diffusers bring up the water at the bottom of the pond, that has less DO in it due to no plants producing O2 down there. When it comes to the surface, it contacts the air, which then transferrs O2 to the water. Surface agitators do a very good job of adding O2 to a pond, but at the surface. If you want to mix the whole water column, and distribute the O2 evenly thru the water column, use bottom diffusers. Best of both worlds is using both at the same time.

But, just throwing a bottom diffuser aeration system in without doing your homework, might do more harm than good if the system isn't sized correctly.

Thank you for the correction Esshup, I'll stop "stabbing"

Funny how I can read that so many times (DO in cold water vs warm) and still screw it up

Can I use the excuse I became a Grandpa at 2:30 this afternoon?

Congrats Lovnlivin on becoming a Grandpa!

Thanks esshup & Lovnlivin for clarifying the purpose of the surface aerator. Makes sense to me now. I was confused, because I saw it posted in a thread, they should only be used in an emergency, which did not make sense to me. But, in other threads, I saw pictures of both aerators & was reading where others use both simultaneously, then others are using either or. Every circumstance is different, but it seems using both together would be ideal.

Esshup,

you mentioned causing more harm then good if you dont do your homework... been doing homework but still nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs about this aeration situation. Vertex is designing a system for me but my depths are estimated. Are you saying to much or to little aeration can do harm? Now I am wondering if I should go map this thing out with dr. depth or something similar...

Thanks

Mapping would be good, but not really necessary if you can drop a line and get a rough idea how deep it is, and where the deep spots are.

Even if you can't get a boat on it, and can cast to the majority of the pond, use a slip bobber and a large enough weight that will sink the bobber. Keep adjusting the knot so the bobber just floats when cast to the same spot. Measure and repeat in different areas of the pond.

But, if Dr. Depth is an option, I'd use that. Not only will it give you depth, but it can calculate volume of water too, which is nice to know if you ever have to do any aquatic weed control in the future.