You may have heard the word “aeration” a few times while doing your research for buying and installing a backyard pond. As Wikipedia elegantly puts it, the term denotes “the process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dissolved in a liquid.” This knowledge has many applications, including ceramics, sewage treatment, and even wine tasting. When it comes to ponds, however, aeration has a more specific meaning: the maintenance of an ideal concentration of oxygen in the water.
Designing a pond is an at-times delicate balance between creating an appealing appearance and filling certain needs. Your pond ecosystem requires aeration, and there is nothing you can do about that. Luckily, you do not need to put up with a clunky, noisy machine taking up space in front of the flowers and rock formations. There are a few different forms of aeration that can be unintrusive or even add beauty to the whole fixture. Here is some information on three common methods.
Why is Aeration Important?
Do you like fish? Do you like the idea of seeing a few fish swimming in your backyard pond? One more question: would you prefer to see them swimming instead of floating belly-up? These critters may not breathe air the way that surface-dwellers do, but they still need oxygen to survive. Ponds, whether natural or artificial, require some method of aeration to sustain and preserve life. Otherwise, the water is still, stale, and uninhabitable, bringing a swift end to your piscine pets. The same goes for any plant life you may want to grow on or beneath the water.
Even if you do not plan to populate your pond, you will still need aeration to sustain life within its waters. Your pond will be home to aerobic bacteria, whether you want them or not — and you will want them. These organisms feed on organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead bugs, aiding in their decomposition. Their diet will require you to clean a little less, or at least worry a little less about a dirty pond. If you like the sound of that, then you better make sure that their environment has enough oxygen, because aerobic bacteria need it to survive.
Diffuser Aeration
One more reason for the importance of aeration is water quality. Various gases can get into the water, and too much of them will render the pond not just toxic but also unsightly. One way to get them out is funneling oxygen to the bottom of the pond. Over time, it will naturally rise to the surface, pushing those other gases with it. Both will leak out, though the oxygen will last longer and spread throughout the pond.
You can speed the process along by installing a diffuser on the pond’s floor. This device consists of a few different components. The compressor unit, which is located on the land (you can find ways to conceal it), sucks air into a tube that worms its way underground. The other end is underwater, held by a plate or some other weight at the bottom of the pond. The air from outside gets pumped out from this end as a steady flow of tiny bubbles. Just like that, your pond has proper aeration.
Fountain Aeration
Some forms of aeration are much more noticeable than the out-of-sight diffuser, and that is not always a bad thing. One example you might not expect is the fountain fixture. Many installation professionals would actually recommend it, and not just because it can add atmosphere and beauty. make heavy use of fountains for a reason beyond their visual appeal. They can provide much-needed aeration to your pond. This is the reason you often see them in the lakes of gated communities, fancy golf courses, and amusement parks
Fountains and diffusers both operate on the principle of vacuuming oxygen through one end and spreading it out the other. However, fountains go in the reverse direction, taking in water from the pond and shooting droplets into the air. It still works: due to the nature of H20, the water molecules absorb fresh oxygen on the way down. They may require a little more power than diffusers — water is heavier than air, and therefore harder to pump. Still, they can do the job while also offering a soothing and even whimsical visual.
Waterfall Aeration
As you can see from the example of the fountain, quite a few common elements of backyard ponds serve purposes beyond decoration. The subtlety and effectiveness of these measures speak volumes about the brilliance of pond equipment engineers. You can find another example in another form of aeration that is even more ostentatious. If you are the type who likes to go big, why not take a real swing and put in a waterfall?
Cascades chunnel water and expose it to the air, where it can get more oxygen. Artificial ones, like the kind you can install in your pond, recycle the water. We should clarify that waterfalls only really aerate the area around its splash zone, or as far as the suction tube can reach. You may want to use it in tandem with another form of aeration to maintain the entire pond. With that said, it can still help a lot, and you may be glad to know that they are not purely decorative.
Ordering Diffusers, Aerators, and Air Pumps Online
Aeration is vital to keeping your water garden clean, inhabitable, and pretty. Every pond needs at least one method for a sustainable rate of oxygen replenishment. You can find a variety of aerators and air pumps right here at Aquatic Ponds, home of a large selection of high-quality pond equipment and accessories. Our store includes a wide range of excellent products from some of the top manufacturers in the industry. We would not sell anything that we would not use in our own backyard. If you want to install equipment that will protect your pond for a long time, visit us today and place an order right away.