Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Springtime pond maintenance startup

OK forum members, I'm in Michigan and I need recommendations on when to start up the pond maintenance activity. Our winter was pretty cold, and as of today, snow is still on the ground, but in Michigan, that can charge quickly. Specifically, when to start up the aeration pumps, I usually use Aquashade, when? I also want to do the bioaugmentation. I started in the middle of last season, and I really saw so remarkable improvements with aeration. So what's the time table for us northern boys?

Thanks

Unless your pond was in pretty bad shape you may never see "remarkable imporvements" from using aeration. A lot of the benefits of bottom aeration occur in deep water below the water visibility depth. I usually recommend the aerator be turned on whenever the surface water temperatures are between 50F - 58F. You can initiate running sooner but until the pond starts to stratify thermally the wind mixes it for you esp during early spring when nights still have cool temps below 50F.

If you use Aquashade, your last application should have been before ice formation last fall and the first application should be soon after the ice goes off. Applications should be made about every 4 to 6 weeks during open water season, with each dosage consisting of equal portions or aliquots that equally divide the full amount required to tint the whole pond at the 1 part per milion rate. Example a 1/3 -1/2 acre pond should get abt 8oz of dye every month the water is not frozen. The dye begins to slowly evaporate, fade, dilute, and deteriorates when in the pond. thus the color intensity should be refreshed on a regular basis to get full benefit of the light limiting affects of the dye mixture.

Not all microbes in bioaugnentation products are the same. Each manufacturer has their own blend and proportion of bacterial strains. Many of the bacteria do not rapidly multiply and digest organics opimally until the water gets near 55F-60F. Usually the warmer the better the action. Some specialized brands are designed to work marginally in water at 50F-55F.

Country,

I aerate year round (Northern Oklahoma)where the ice never really gets thick enough for a fat man to skate on.

My aeration system is a windmill/air pump and the literature stated it is best to move the aeration stones to shallow water in the winter and then move them to deeper water in the late spring. This keeps the deeper water warmer in winter. The literature recommended year round aeration.

Good luck.
Dennis