Pond Talk

Pond Advice For Small And Large Ponds

Q & A Of The Day

What Size Of Aerator Do I Need For My Pond?

Large Ponds, Q & A Of The Day

Today’s question comes from John in Indianapolis. He writes, “I have a 1/2 acre pond with no aeration, but I want to add some to help my fish. What size of pond aerator do I need?

Thanks for the question John!

Sizing a pond aerator to a pond or lake is a pretty straightforward process. Most pond aeration systems are tested or analyzed by the manufacturers for their ability to mix and oxygenate a certain volume of water in a set period of time. Usually every 24 hours. The surface area of the pond is a consideration of course, but the depth (both max and average) of the pond, is a greater determinant of an aerators coverage. In essence, the deeper you place a diffuser in a pond, the more pond area it will affect. You can use this knowledge to easily choose the right pond aerator for your particular pond.

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Why Aren’t My Fish Eating?

Q & A Of The Day

A common question we get in the fall or winter months, and this is particularly from new pond owners…but they wonder why their fish stopped eating as the weather cooled down.

And the answer, is very simple.  Many fish simply go into a type of dormancy in cold weather…their digestion slows way down as does the transport of food through their digestive system.  So you really want to stop feeding your fish once the water temps drop down to about 50 degrees…at that point feeding your fish regularly could be problematic for them.  

What’s Better, A Pond Aerator Or A Pond Heater?

Q & A Of The Day, Small Ponds

Tammy from Iowa wrote to us recently and asked, “We have a small pond, maybe 800-900 gallons. Is it possible to have to strong of a bubbler going? We have about 15 fish and its about 40 inches deep in one spot. We live in Iowa and it will be soon be freezing. Just wondering if too much bubbling can hurt the fish?”

Answer: Tammy thanks for the question! I like to use a small aerator in garden ponds during the winter months, but I would suggest either providing a way to float the air stone or diffuser off the bottom and near the surface of the water, or moving it over to an end of the pond, or even a shelf if you have one. [Read more…] about What’s Better, A Pond Aerator Or A Pond Heater?

Should I Run My Aerator In The Winter?

Large Ponds, Q & A Of The Day

Tom from Wisconsin, a traditionally cold state in the winter time, wrote in and asked if it’s a good idea to use a pond aerator even in the cold months of winter? In addition, his pond is very shallow (around 4 feet deep and about 1/3 of an acre in size) so the particular aerator that would be used might be a bit different than a typical farm pond.

Answer: Tom, thank you for your timely question and it’s one that many people wonder about. The base answer is yes, it’s a good idea to aerate a pond all year round.

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I Have A UV Light In My Pond But Still Have Green Water

Q & A Of The Day, Small Ponds

John writes, “I have a 1500 gallon backyard pond and have installed a uv light in it which was supposed to help with green water problems. It doesn’t seem to be helping very much, and I wondered if I did something wrong?”

Answer: Hi John and thanks for the question. Your plan to use a uv sterilizer in your pond to combat green water is a good idea. In truth, when you hear companies talk about fighting pond algae problems with a uv filter, it’s single cell, or green water algae that they are talking about specifically. [Read more…] about I Have A UV Light In My Pond But Still Have Green Water

Can I Use Pool Products In My Pond?

Q & A Of The Day, Small Ponds

Janine wrote in recently with a very common question. She asked, “Can I use swimming pool products in my pond?” She went on to mention that she’s had some algae problems in her pond and had tried chlorine for a time but wondered if something else might help the situation.

Answer: Thanks for the question Janine! I’m glad you asked because you are surely not the only person wondering about this. Here’s my take on this topic. I have always taken a very conservative approach to treating my pond or water garden. Which basically means that in a general sense I don’t ever suggest using a pool product in a pond. [Read more…] about Can I Use Pool Products In My Pond?