It is not the aeration that keeps the mosquitoes away, it is the water movement caused by the aerator. Mosquitoes will only lay eggs in stagnate water. In most cases just an aerator will not move enough water. It is suggested a NSP have four water changes per day so water pumps are needed. Also the frogs, salamanders, dragonflies, birds and other wildlife that will be attracted to the NSP help control the mosquitoes (and other bugs that fall into the water).
As for fish, it depends on who you talk to. One company says it�s OK as long as it�s not too many. Another says �No, fish add an undesirable amount of nutrients to the system which will deteriorate water quality and cause algae blooms. Fish also consume beneficial microorganisms that the system needs to stay clean and clear.� I myself will have minnows which will be trapped and put in the big pond if they start to over populate. I�m also toying with the idea of putting in tilapia to overwinter then move them to the big pond each spring. If fish become an issue, I'll just remove them.
We had planned to have started on our NSP a few months ago but decided to install the hot tub first, (installed last week). May not have been a good choice because we now sit in the tub and look at the stuff we should be working on. I�ll start posting pictures of our progress once we make some. Unlike Dimon�s (very nice), we�re converting an existing pool which has its own challenges. We are hoping to finish the NSP by June, 2014. (Too many projects not enough time.)
