The Importance of Water Aeration

A beautiful pond or lake is always a beautiful feature to have present in your landscape. A fact of those bodies of water that people often forget is that they are living, breathing ecosystems of their own. If you have a pond or lake on your property, it is your responsibility to maintain the health of that ecosystem. The main thing you must do for your water is to maintain a healthy level of oxygen through a process called aeration. This process introduces necessary oxygen from the atmosphere into the water.

The Benefits of Aeration

In nature, the motion from the wind creates waves and introduces oxygen to the water at the surface, while the photosynthesis of the plants and algae underwater release oxygen from below. But, with the unpredictability of nature, it is easy for water to become stagnant or to be deprived of a healthy amount of sunlight. This leads to unwanted algae, dirty water, and unpleasant odors. Aerating your water is also necessary for keeping it fresh and healthy for your fish and other organisms.

Methods of Aeration

Aerating Fountains

One of the most popular choices for water aeration are floating decorative lake fountains. These devices allow you to keep your water fresh and to improve the look and feel of your landscape. They accomplish the process of aeration by pulling water from the surface of the water and shooting it up into the air in various patterns. The oxygen mixes with the water as it lands, agitating the surface.

Pond Aerators

For people who would like to put on less of a show, there are options that are not as commanding. One of these options is the floating pond aerator. This device uses the same method as decorative fountains for introducing oxygen into the water without shooting the water up to such great heights.

Diffusers

Decorative fountains and aerators are useful for many applications, but they aren’t quite capable enough once the water reaches certain depths. If a body of water is greater than 8 feet deep, diffused aeration is sure to be more beneficial. This method occurs by releasing compressed air into the bottom of the water and creating motion that affects more than just the top few feet of water.

No matter your method for aeration, it is a necessary process for maintaining the health of your pond or lake. If you have fish or other organisms in your water, this process can not be overlooked. Create a new scene with a floating decorative fountain, or maintain a peaceful scene with a pond aerator of diffuser.