Aeration: Choosing between a Fountain Aerator and a Simple Aerator for you Pond

Simply defined, aeration is adding oxygen to your pond. As laid out by aquatic biologists at Kasco, aeration has these benefits. Introducing oxygen can:

Allow for greater densities of fish,Eliminate the potential for Spring and Fall turnover, Prevent winter kills caused by low oxygen levels,Improve overall water quality,Speed up the rate of organic decomposition,Reduce the amount of phosphorus, which would otherwise be available for plant growth,Thermally and chemically destratify the water, Cause circulation currents that might create favorable conditions for more desirable algae to out-compete blue-green algae,Decrease the severity of algae blooms and algae die-offs, and Shift the level of carbon dioxide by venting it into the air, which could limit the amount available for plants (from Got Algae?)

Kinds of aeration

There are many kinds of aerators: windmills, paddlewheels, diffused air, horizontal prop units (at Kasco these are called circulators), man-made waterfalls, and a few others. The two most common aerators used are the vertical pump surface agitators (known by Kasco as aerators) and the fountain aerator (also known as decorative aerators).

When to Use a Fountain-Aerator (Decorative Aerator)

A fountain-aerator is used when the pond owner wishes to combine beauty with aeration. These units add oxygen and at the same time a fountain display, which can typically be illuminated at night to create a "Bellagio" effect, though of course on a smaller scale. The advantage is aesthetic; the disadvantage is that these do not provide the oxygen transfer that a pure aerator does.

Surface (Prop) Aerator

A surface aerator produces a much higher oxygen transfer rate, is quite portable and lightweight, and inexpensive for the water movement provided. These are not for decoration, however. Though quite efficient, they do not have any "WOW" factor associated with them.

Combining a Fountain Aerator and Surface Aerator

Many pond owners combine a surface aerator with a fountain aerator so that they get the visual display desired and still properly oxygenate their ponds. The surface aerator provides an inexpensive way to oxygenate and agitate the water, while the fountain adds beauty to the pond.

How to Make a Decision

Here are some important things to consider:

How much maintenance will my unit require? How safe is the equipment and does it have UL, CSA, or ETL approval? How simple is it to install and maintain? What are the costs to run this unit?

We can not overestimate the importance of this last question. It is essential to find out the electrical usage of the unit you are looking into purchasing. There is no use buying a unit that will be too expensive to operate. Find out the electrical power required and call your electric company to find out what that will mean on your bill. It is a good idea to compare a few units before making your final decision.

Good suppliers of Kasco fountains and aerators can be found online or at you local distributor. Kasco Marine pond products can be bought throughout the United States and parts of Europe.