Pond aeration is important for oxygenating our water and releasing Co2, but too much of it can have negative consequences. An excessive amount of air bubbles will cause surface waves to dissipate and may even decrease the level of dissolved oxygen in your pond. It’s best to find a balance between not enough and too much when it comes to aeration.
Pond owners are often concerned about how much oxygen their pond gets. A lack of oxygen can result in serious fish loss, so it’s understandable that people want to make sure their ponds get enough air.
But is there such a thing as too much? In recent years, some pond enthusiasts have been experimenting with over-aerating ponds and the results seem promising. The idea behind this technique is that more bubbles mean more surface area for gas exchange which means the water will be able to absorb more oxygen than usual.
This blog post will explore the benefits and drawbacks of over-aeration for your pond, as well as provide step-by-step instructions on how to set up your own experiment.
How to aerate a pond with no electrical power?
One of the perks of this technique is that it doesn’t require any electricity. You can do it with your pond pump if you don’t have an air compressor, or without either device, if you want to make a more extreme test.
To begin, visit your local pet store and buy a hand-held aquarium bubbler (powered by batteries). These are typically used to aerate fish tanks but they also work perfectly well for small ponds. They cost less than $3 and come equipped with a fine-toothed bubble diffuser that attaches right onto your pond’s air line.
To set up your aeration system without electrical power:
- Attach the diffuser of your aquarium bubbler to your air line.
- Lower it into the pond and allow it to sit at the bottom of the pond.
- Make sure you have a way to check oxygen levels, such as a floating hydrometer or an oxygen meter.
- You can leave it running overnight (but make sure your air line is hidden in the water at night so it doesn’t freeze). Or if you have a timer, set it up to run for 4-8 hours per day for several days.
The longer the bubbler runs, the more oxygen you will introduce into your pond.
What are the results of over-aerating your pond?
So what are the results of over-aerating? Experimenters have reported a number of positive and negative effects on their ponds:
- Pond temperature increased by several degrees, even in cold weather (over-aeration can increase temperatures by about 1 degree per hour).
- The algae grew much more vigorously, which is great for aquatic plants as well.
- The water became cloudier, but it was still clear enough to see fish and plants.
- Plant growth increased significantly (there was more green algae, duckweed, and other underwater plants).
- Water oxygen levels were at least 3 times higher than normal (from 5ppm to about 15ppm).
The results depend on the size of your pond and how long you run your bubbler, so make sure to monitor the changes.
Do I need a special air pump for over-aerating?
You can over-aerate with any air pump that is capable of outputting at least 50 cubic feet per minute (cfm). You can buy compressor pumps or pond pumps with air compressors for this purpose, but they are expensive (over $100).
A better option is to use a low-cost diaphragm air pump, which will cost you about $25. If you don’t have an air compressor at home, buy one from your local hardware store and connect your diaphragm air pump to it.
How can I tell if there is enough oxygen in the pond?
There are two ways you can check the oxygen levels of your pond. The first is with a floating hydrometer, which will measure the oxygen level in mg/L.
Another option is to purchase an underwater oxygen meter (costs about $100-150), which measures dissolved oxygen directly from the water and displays it in PPM.
How to over aerate a pond without an air pump?
If you don’t have an air pump at home, you can still conduct your own experiment of over-aerating. You will need two buckets (or containers) of different sizes with holes drilled in the bottom. Fill the smaller bucket 3/4 full with water from your pond.
Insert the aquarium bubbler into the smaller bucket and fill it with water from your pond.
Run a hose from a hole in your small bucket to an empty larger bucket (using cap or cover) which will collect bubbles and allow them to rise into the air.
Bubble aeration can be conducted without electricity for up to 24 hours.
Does a waterfall oxygenate the water in a pond?
A waterfall is an overflow of water, typically from a higher elevation to a lower one. The overflow and resulting circulation of the water may help oxygenate the top portions of the water, but it does not reach all parts of the pond. Organic debris can over accumulate in these areas for this reason.
The circulation of water in a pond improves oxygenation but it is certainly not enough to eliminate the need for manual aeration.
If you find that your waterfall fails to oxygenate water effectively then you could consider installing an air-lift pump. An air-lift consists of a powerhead and tubing, which allow the influx of air into the system. You place the air-lift pump in an area of high water volume which will help ensure that the oxygen is circulated throughout the pond.
Is it harmful to my fish and plants if I add too much aeration to the pond?
Yes, It will lower the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water, which could result in fish kills. Lower dissolved oxygen concentrations could also allow fish parasites and diseases to spread more rapidly because the host fish will get weaker when the water’s dissolved oxygen is low.
We all want our fish and plants to have the best care available, so it is important that we understand the effects of too much oxygen in a pond on our fish and plants. Air is an element that is necessary for life, but an excess of air can be deadly to your fish.
How can I determine if a pond has too much oxygen?
Certain species of aquatic organisms will become very active when there is a high concentration of oxygen in the water.
An excess of oxygen in a pond can cause fish to become hyperactive, and some fish will actually die as a result of this activity because they are simply too exhausted to swim. The following day, these fish may float to the surface of the pond or lie at the bottom with their gills flared and mouths open.
Can an excess of oxygen in a pond cause other problems?
Yes. If you have ever had to put a small amount of gas into your vehicle’s fuel tank, then you are familiar with the problem of over-filling the tank.
Gasoline has to be maintained at a certain level and if it is overfilled, then you will not be able to put the cap back on the tank because of all the air that is trapped in it.
In a similar manner, if you over aerate your pond for an extended period of time, then too much oxygen can get trapped under the water’s surface and your fish will suffocate from having no access to oxygen. This is a process known as de-oxygenation or anoxia and can become very serious for your fish and plants if it is not handled properly.
Can an excess of oxygen be harmful to my pond plants?
Yes, an excess of air can cause root damage as well as leaf yellowing or blacken on plants located in the pond’s main basin. Leaf yellowing or blackening is generally due to prolonged periods of oxygen depletion caused by excessive aeration.
Can I tell if there is too much oxygen in a pond by looking at the fish?
In most cases, the answer to this question is no. Some fish will show signs of distress when the levels of dissolved oxygen are lowered while others will appear to be doing just fine. It is important to understand that there are some species of fish that show stress simply from being moved into a new environment, so you cannot always tell if the fish are suffering from deoxygenation or merely adjusting to their new surroundings.
Summary
Can you over aerate a pond? The answer is, yes. You can over-aerate a pond by using too much air during the process of partial water changes. If your goal is to add oxygen into the water then it’s best to use a small airstone so that there are only gentle bubbles being released and not violent waves created by an air pump.
As with many things in life, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Over-aerating your pond will lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen saturation which may cause fish death or make it difficult for plants to survive underwater.
If you have any questions about how over-aeration affects ponds or want help installing air stone pumps in your own backyard pond then you can contact us.
References:
Water aeration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_aeration
