Dragging an old thread of mine up since I finally got the nerve to NOT run the aeration system this year.
Coincidence or related, I'm not sure, but...
Every year since the pond was 1 year old with aeration run, the pond would go through at least a few phases of substantial surface scum in the heat of the summer. This year I have left the air off and no sign of it getting out of hand. I have seen very mild surface yuck start this year. Twice, it has started, but does not amount to anything...maybe a couple hundred square feet of very mild light brownish-green surface film and it lasts a day, maybe. What little breeze the pond sees must be taking care of these minor accumulations of floaties.
We have been in a drought most of this year so disrupting any surface films has been at a minimum since rains would typically knock the worst of outbreaks down for a few days. The pond is about 10 inches low and the water clarity is at 18"...best it's ever been this time of year. I've not been checking water conditions or temps, but the fish (HSB, BG, HBG, & CC) have been feeding better than ever. Feeding time is finally a consistent joy. I even saw an 8" CC last night vacuuming up pellets, only one, but the CC I stocked in early '21 were at least 12 inches long, most over a pound, and are now in the 20 inch range and 3-4 pounds ...at least one pair of CC have managed to reproduce.
Pond seems to be the healthiest it's ever been!
The only thing I can think of that would relate aeration to my previous scum problems is that aeration was keeping the pond turned over, keeping the water column the same temp throughout (like you would expect), which may have promoted the scum types to thrive in much higher concentrations than without all the turnover and constant temps.
Coincidence or related to aeration???
If it's related to aeration...so much for aeration being better for my pond. The worst of summer is still to come, but I have always seen severe breakouts by this time of year.
Either way, it's been great being able to see my fish feed, feed extremely consistently, and be able to ID them with a clearer pond.
Thoughts???
Last edited by Quarter Acre; 07/23/23 07:50 AM.
