Pond Aeration Advice

Morning!

Pond is approximately 1-1/2 acres 10-12 ft deep located in Mt Pleasant. Creek bed enters the pond and provides water during a rain but dry most of the time. Bass seem to live shallow all year possibly due to lack of oxygen?

What time of year would you introduce oxygen.

Recommendations for a company to install a solar system.

Any other thoughts are appreciated.

The bass could be shallow year round due to low dissolved oxygen deep, lack of habitat deep, maybe just preference; some bass stay shallow year-round regardless of temperature/weather.

My aeration timing recommendation depends on the type of aerator used. Diffused aeration systems (compressor that pushes air to a diffuser located at the pond bottom) aerate, but also, more importantly, circulate the water vertically near the diffuser. Diffusers can help keep the pond from stratifying, therefore reducing or eliminating the risk of turnovers, and they keep aerobic bacteria breaking down organic junk at the bottom of the pond which helps manage nutrient loads and slows siltation. You can make a reasonable case for running diffused aeration systems 24/7, 12 months of the year, but I think if you want to save electricity they can be turned off during winter. You absolutely should not initiate diffused aeration during the hottest parts of summer, because it WILL cause a turnover that could result in fish kill. You may also notice a denser algae bloom, murkier water for weeks to months after starting a diffused aerator from increased nutrient circulation and plankton growth; this is less likely in a newer pond or those with less organic accumulation on the bottom.

Surface aerators, like vertical pumps, fountains, paddlewheels, are very good at aeration but do little to no circulation. I usually only recommend these in shallower ponds (diffused aeration becomes less efficient in less than about 6-8 feet). Since these only aerate the surface, and do not disturb stratification, I only recommend running these during the warm months (roughly March/April-September/October) only at night, or 24 hours during turnovers and after 2 or more days of solid cloudy weather. It's a waste of electricity/wear to run them during the day because aquatic plants and algae will produce enough oxygen to saturate the surface (the same level the aerator would be aerating) on warm sunny days.

Some considerations on solar powered aeration. Unless there is a battery storage option for the aerator to continue operating at night or during periods of heavy cloudy weather, I don't think solar aeration does much good. The periods when aeration is needed most, at night and during dark cloudy weather, are the same periods a traditional solar powered aerator would shut off. Same goes of wind-powered aerators. Just something to consider.

If there are updates to solar aerator tech, hopefully some of the other forum experts will straighten me out.

Here are some of the companies I'm aware of that offer surface, diffused aeration, and solar powered options:

https://airolator.com/ MO
https://easypro.com/ MI
https://kascomarine.com/ WI
https://www.nashvillepond.com/ TN
https://www.outdoorwatersolutions.com/ AR
http://thepondboss.net/ FL
https://www.scottaerator.com/ MI

Most, if not all, of the pond management companies in the state sell and install aerators too.

Like Outdoordude says low DO will determine the area your bass, bluegill, and other forage will be located. As the Temperature of the water increases the affinity for the DO decrease. The maximum amount of DO is when water is at 35 degrees, so here's the conundrum. How do I keep my do levels optimum for my fishery**

Bottom diffused aeration whether on-demand solar, battery backup solar, or electrical are your most effective ways of increasing your do levels. Now the surface aeration systems can do this in shallow waters, but not as effective in deeper water bodies. The key is amount of turnover to keep your water mixing and releasing gases.

Keeton makes you battery backup solar and electrical systems, Outdoorwater Solutions does electric and on demand systems, Kasco does electrical and believe a solar type system, and the other ones electrical but not sure on solar. I prefer to stay away from windmill aeration systems unless your in west Texas-or flatland areas. Trees, rolling hills, and hot dry days play with windmill aeration.

I have installed the above systems and be glad to talk more with you on them. I will send a pm to you.

I put a bottom diffuser driven by windmill ( almost always a breeze here and less costly than a solar powered system) in my pond a couple of years ago. Been happy with the system