Diffused Oxygenation From Top to Bottom
One of the great tools in an aquatic management professional’s toolbox is lake and pond aeration. Aeration is the mixing of water in a lake or pond to increase exposure to the atmosphere and decrease harmful gases within the aquatic ecosystem. While pond aeration systems like floating fountains are highly effective at oxygenating the surface of a waterbody, submersed diffused aeration systems help oxygenate the lower depths.
Submersible aeration systems utilize a weather-protected on-shore compressor to pump air through a subsurface tube to submerged bubble diffusers. As the bubbles rise, they carry the low oxygen water from the bottom towards the surface, where it mixes with the oxygen-rich surface water and atmospheric oxygen before sinking back to the bottom. The continuous vertical mixing helps to increase dissolved oxygen concentration throughout the entire waterbody.
Submersed Aeration Benefits
Submerged diffused aeration systems provide an array of benefits. They can help prevent fish kills and impede the growth of algae by moving water and creating a non-stagnant environment. Increased oxygen levels at the bottom of a waterbody also help improve the natural decomposition of organic material. In the winter, diffusers can be used to prevent freezing and maintain open water for fishing, wildlife access, and safety purposes.
The positive effects of submersible aeration can be reinforced when paired with other proactive strategies:
System Installation and Placement
Properly sized and placed submerged aeration systems are critical to achieve sufficient oxygenation. If your aeration system is not specifically-sized for your pond, water will not be properly circulated. Inadequately-sized aeration systems could, instead, push unhealthy water into healthy areas and making the whole waterbody worse.
A lake and pond management professional will take in to account the shape, various depths and overall volume of the lake or pond to determine a customized submersed aeration plan. It’s also not uncommon for a professional to utilize depth-sensing technology, like bathymetry, to create a three-dimensional model of the waterbody and ensure you reap the full benefits of your submerged aeration system.
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Customized Aeration Solutions for a Balanced Aquatic Ecosystem
