I'm also in Georgia. I'm currently draining my pond for renovation. I've never used an aerator but am considering it after cleaning out the pond. I've looked at various sump pumps as aerators and other "substitutes" given the prices of actual aerators. I irrigate out of my pond for farming with a 2HP Goulds pump. I think I am going to make a bypass valve to put water back into the pond in a homemade fountain. I can't justify buying another pump for aeration when I have the irrigation pump right next to the pond with a 220 outlet. The only time I've had any algae problems is during this pull down where the pond has NO turnover and is half it's full size.