Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations More Air?

Members,
As you all know, we're a little short on water here in North Texas. And, I'm getting down to a critical water level with my small pond. 1/4 acre when full, approaching swimming pool status now. I have an aerator, but I've typically run it from ~midnight to 6am. I'm asking whether I should run it more??? When the water is higher, I don't want to add temp, but now, I'm concerned about oxygen level. I'm still pitching feed at sundown and the fish are active...I'm guessing that I've went from 20' to 8'right now. I could also back off on the feed, but they are active, so I'm hesitant to slow them down. I'd rather have them full of feed and O2 and shoulder to shoulder than ......

Any comments welcome......tough times on the water front down here.
thanks guys.

#1, lay off the feed, at the least drop to a very small amount.
I don't know what you have for aeration but 9-9:30pm to 9am.
Adding a few hrs will be good and if running 9 to 9 you are adding 6 more hrs and probably rolling another 200,000 gals of water.
Adding nutrients means more oxygen needed to process in 2 ways-by the fish and the breakdown of waste created.

Thanks much! I appreciate the quick response....I'll change it today and back off the feed.

Danbob, I'd think hard about harvesting a bunch of fish, and throw them in the freezer. That will help reduce the BOD in the pond. My pond went from 1 ac to a hair under 1/2 ac and I pulled out 60# of fish before winter hit last year.

That couldn't be a bad idea at all, I think Id rather have fewer healthy fish then a pond over full of stressed ones. and they good to eat.

If you get the proper dose, you can add diatom promoter to create a controlled diatom bloom, boosting your oxygen and diatoms being the bottom of the food chain will feed your fish too.