Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Aeration

I need help. The lake temperature is 54 degrees on the top and 52 degrees on the bottom. This is in a 25.4 acre lake 20 foot depth with and average of 10 feet. Oxygen is good from top to bottom. I normally turn the 6 pumps on when the water temperature is 60 degrees at the top. I now have members wanting me to leave them off untill the oxygen is in just the top 6 feet of water. I think this is the wrong approach. What do you guys think?

For non-cold water species, I agree with you. You've got good O2 top to bottom with essentially no thermocline; now's the time to start mixing and keep that O2 distributed throughout all depths. If you let the bottom layer get oxygen starved, it will be deleterious to useful invertebrates and single celled organisms on the bottom, resulting in less food for the fish later plus anaerobic decomp by-products (like H2S) being built up to emerge later when the pumps are started.

If you are managing for cold water species like trout, this may not be the right advice. There are several folks here to give good info if that is the case.

I agree with Theo. Allowing the bottom mud-water interface zone to drop below 1ppm (mg/L) dissolved oxygen will reduce, impair or kill numerous beneficial, benthic dwelling species. Why allow this to happen if it can be prevented. I do not understand this rationale. Can it be explained?

I absolutely agree with Theo and Bill - don't wait until your lake is stratified, start them up now!

Sue and Bill, you have made my day. It's like getting the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval twice!

Thanks guys for the response. I thought I was right with my thoughts now I have to convince the board of directors.