Aeration Suggestions

[barryian]

Hello -
Been busy but still here and observing! Anyone who recalls my pond, the Savio skimmer with pump converges with the AlphaOne bio-filter with it's outside pump and has one good splash of a waterfall. They both meet at the fall as the return.
For years, I've ran a Hakko air pump with just one line and a 3" ball which resides in the skimmer.

Does anyone really think that is necessary? Fish are never oxygen deprived, not on the warmest days as the pond has
a European Beech above it shaped as an umbrella providing partial shade on those 90F days. Just thought I'd consolidate, free
up a receptacle. I can always pop it back out of the shed should it appear to be needed. I measured my o2 level last year and don't completely recall but a 6 -7, maybe 8 rings a bell during the heated summer.

Just wondering how much of a difference that really makes. I know, remove it and find out ... lol ...
Thanks

 

[addy1]

I don't run one, there is enough water flow to keep the water o2 levels good. From what you describe I think you would be fine without.

 

[Tula]

I run one year round, smaller in the winter and larger in the summer. I think it's helped with algae reduction and my koi love swimming through the stream of bubbles

 

[cas]

I put my air stone on the bottom of the pond to help with water circulation. The waterfall and skimmer weren't creating enough circulation. Like Tula, I believe it has helped keep my algae accumulation down.

 

[Waterbug]

Gas exchange happens across the entire surface of the pond. Waterfalls and fountains do very little themselves, it's more about if they create circulation as others have said. Generally you get better gas exchange using a pump to move water inside the pond rather than pumping it higher which moves less water. Even air stones main gas exchange is in how the bubbles move water from bottom to top than it is about the bubbles. Very efficient at that. But in most Water Gardens none of this really matters. Most ponds are fine even with no pump.

Seeing bubbles and water falls does feel good though. Invisible stuff, not so much.

 

[barryian]

I don't run one, there is enough water flow to keep the water o2 levels good. From what you describe I think you would be fine without.

I think so too and might just put on the shelf and test the o2 when the temps are higher. Thx Addy!

 

[barryian]

I run one year round, smaller in the winter and larger in the summer. I think it's helped with algae reduction and my koi love swimming through the stream of bubbles

My koi love going through the falls. Algae is not a problem for me but I think I'm going to give the o2 a break for a while.

 

[barryian]

Gas exchange happens across the entire surface of the pond. Waterfalls and fountains do very little themselves, it's more about if they create circulation as others have said. Generally you get better gas exchange using a pump to move water inside the pond rather than pumping it higher which moves less water. Even air stones main gas exchange is in how the bubbles move water from bottom to top than it is about the bubbles. Very efficient at that. But in most Water Gardens none of this really matters. Most ponds are fine even with no pump.

Seeing bubbles and water falls does feel good though. Invisible stuff, not so much.

I have a Savio skimmer and bottom drain so that water is constantly on the move. I've always thought the water is oxygenated via the falls to a fair degree from everything I've read over the years. In a backyard pond, it usually wouldn't suffice should you have a very low oxygen level but should help a certain percentage.

Interesting ... Wikipedia! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_aeration

 

[Waterbug]

Small point...the Wiki article is about aeration. That's about increasing gas exchange artificially. Gas exchange between the air-water surface is a separate thing, not really considered aeration.

One small point from the Wiki that's a bit misleading is that plants do put O2 into water but only when the sun is out. At night plants consume O2 from the water. Since fish require O2 24/7 plants in this case aren't normally considered an O2 source.