Randy,
If desired & needed you can fertilize to get a bloom. Some folks don't need to fertilize. If max production of fish from the pond is your goal then you should try to aquire & maintain 18" to 24" vis. in your pond.
Again I say as shallow as your pond is I don't think you need to aeration. I don't think you will get stagnet low oxygen water in that shallow a pond.
The bloom makes oxygen, & will produce more than is needed as long as there is sunlight. The only time one has to worry is when vis. in the pond drops too much, say below 12" & there are several days of cloud cover. In such a case the dieing algae will consume more oxygen than the remaining algae can produce causing oxygen depletion & fish kill. The same can be true if vis drops below 12" .... the algae will consume more oxygen at night than it produces during the day again causing oxygen depletion.
Unless you have nutrient rich runoff entering the pond causing too much bloom I don't think you will benefit from an aerator. You don't need it to add oxygen which will alow bacteria to eat sludge because it's very unlikely you have any oxygen depleted water. However it won't hurt to have one, if you prefer.
With a shallow pond I would expect to have a weed problem. Sounds like you have it under control, but the minnows & small b/g will benifit from some weeds.

Pond Boss Subscriber & Books Owner


If you can read this ... thank a teacher. Since it's in english ... thank our military!
Ric