Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? Some winter O2 and temp readings

O2 and temp readings were taken with a YSI ODO meter. The probe was left at that depth and slightly moved until the readings stabilized.

This pond is approximately 5/8 to � surface acre at this time, and the winter diffuser is placed in 9 to 10 feet of water but the actual diffuser is only 2 to 3 feet below the water surface. The open water hole is approximately 40 feet in diameter. The deepest part of the pond at this time is 14 feet.

The diffuser was turned on and off during the last cold spell to keep an open area. The last time the diffuser was on was from 48 to 36 hours ago. Since then the temps have climbed from 10�F to the mid 40's. During the past 24 hr our cloud cover has been pretty heavy with 75%-80% of our 8" of snow cover melting since yesterday morning. There was approximately 8� of snow on top of 2� of cloudy ice and there is 3�-4� of clear ice under that for a total of 6� ice.

Reading #1, is approximately 40'-50' from the diffuser. There was 4" to 5" of ice there and since it was approximately 20' from the diffuser open water I didn't want to chance getting any closer. The total water column depth at this location is 9 feet at this time.
Water depth Temp DO (in mg/l)
2 feet 34.7�F 9.15
4 feet 34.9�F 9.03
6 feet 35.2�F 8.58
8 feet 35.6�F 8.02

Reading #2, in the deepest part of the pond, This location approximately 180 feet from the diffuser and 160 feet from the open water.
Water Depth Temp Do (in mg/l)
2 feet 34.8�F 9.01
4 feet 34.9�F 8.77
6 feet 35.3�F 8.55
8 feet 35.9�F 7.40
10 feet 37.1�F 5.63
12 feet 37.1�F 5.60
13 feet 37.1� 5.60

So, the further away from the winter diffuser, the less O2 there is. That�s why I recommend a minimum of 5% of the total pond surface be exposed to the air for the winter to prevent a winterkill.

Good stuff here esshup. Thanks for this info. I've wondered how far from the hole in the ice the aerated water spreads. Certainly, different situations will all be different. It depends.

And, Welcome Back to posting on the forum. Some of us have wondered when we'd hear from you again. Two posts in 7 months, and now 3 in 10 minutes!! Glad to have you here Scott. I mean it.

Thanks for posting the data! I wish we could get more folks with ice/aeration posting more often!

EDIT: What are the specs on the pump you are running? I am assuming just a single Vertex diffuser??

Great read Esshup, thanks for sharing!,

It would appear that you are more concered with the O2 levels, rightfully so, but what are the concerns for actual lower temperatures caused by the aeartion system?

I can not help to think the the water temps are lowered by the fact that the ice is being melted by the movemnet of water across is...ice warms up, water cools down.

Correct, single Vertex diffuser, pumping WAY more air than it was designed for, in excess of 5 cfm. I figure the guy that owns the pond can't get mad at me.

Yes, I'm more concerned with O2 levels than temps *to a point*, as I have RES in the pond. But, the RES I have seem to be doing OK with these temps.