Congrats on your beautiful newish pond!

I see a lot of bare areas around the pond. I suspect the first few rains washed in some silt and clay. This can feel and look similar to "organic muck".

The first step to reduce muck is always to address the source as much as possible. Do everything you can to keep leaves, pine needles, grass cuttings, etc. from entering your pond.

Yes, our aeration experts say that adding oxygen and turning over the pond helps in the breakdown of the organic materials that do enter your pond. Further, there are many other benefits to adding aeration.

If you are worried about your diffusers putting a lot of muck into suspense in the water column, you can always start gently and not right on the bottom. I don't think they will raise a ton of muck, but I am NOT an expert.