Aeration
Using an Aerator in Winter
At Cool Ponds, we preach the use of aerators in ponds. Not only will it keep your water clean and clear during the heat of summer, but it will also keep a hole in the ice in winter. However, you need to change how you are using your aerator in winter... for the health of your fish.
In the summer, the air stones should drop to the bottom of your pond. The goal is to keep oxygen in the deeper levels for your fish and to give the beneficial bacteria a boost. For winter, it's completely different. You don't want to stir up the water at the bottom of your pond -- it's the warmest and we want to keep it warm for your fish.
To prepare for winter, move the air stones up to just below the water surface. Not only will this prevent disturbing the warm water, but the agitation of the water surface will prevent the water from freezing. Don't worry about getting the stones to the middle of the pond. Dangling on the pond edge is fine. The unfrozen area can be anywhere. As a matter of fact, if you have a skimmer and your pump is running this winter, place the stones close to the skimmer opening to keep the water flowing into it. Only in the very coldest parts of the winter will the pond freeze over. For those days, we recommend having a deicer to use temporarily.
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| A hole in the pond ice created by an aerator. |
At Cool Ponds, we preach the use of aerators in ponds. Not only will it keep your water clean and clear during the heat of summer, but it will also keep a hole in the ice in winter. However, you need to change how you are using your aerator in winter... for the health of your fish.
In the summer, the air stones should drop to the bottom of your pond. The goal is to keep oxygen in the deeper levels for your fish and to give the beneficial bacteria a boost. For winter, it's completely different. You don't want to stir up the water at the bottom of your pond -- it's the warmest and we want to keep it warm for your fish.
To prepare for winter, move the air stones up to just below the water surface. Not only will this prevent disturbing the warm water, but the agitation of the water surface will prevent the water from freezing. Don't worry about getting the stones to the middle of the pond. Dangling on the pond edge is fine. The unfrozen area can be anywhere. As a matter of fact, if you have a skimmer and your pump is running this winter, place the stones close to the skimmer opening to keep the water flowing into it. Only in the very coldest parts of the winter will the pond freeze over. For those days, we recommend having a deicer to use temporarily.
Many people who use aerators, bury their air lines so there isn't messy tubing lying around. This is a great idea. Most of us want our features to look as natural as possible. If you are in this situation, get a second set of air lines and air stones that you use just for winter. Leave the others where they are buried but disconnect them. Connect the winter lines to the aerator and you're ready to go!
Written by Cool Ponds Staff Member Staci
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