Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Airstone question...

Opinion. Placing the airstone 2 to 3 ft under the surface will not provide as big of an ice free area as placing the stone deeper in the water. Deeper the stone placement the larger the ice free area will be. BUT, when the stone is only 2 to 3 ft below the surface the deep water near the bottom remains undisturbed and better for the fish because the deep warm water zone close to the pond bottom is undisturbed (depending on max depth) and the fish have a winter "warm water refuge". A fairly large ice free area will allow light penetration and oxygen production from microalgae photosynthesis during snow cover. Air stone action will help distribute the dissolved oxygen.