Pond Aerator for Fish Kill Prevention

Fish kill is a common occurrence in many northern states during the harsh, cold winters. 

As the temperature falls, ice can form across the entire pond and stay for months. 

This sets off a chain of events that can deplete oxygen levels and ultimately suffocate fish. Let’s dive into the science behind the reduction in dissolved oxygen levels and provide a simple solution to keep your fish alive and healthy.

Subsurface aeration: a quick and easy solution

Subsurface aeration – or bottom diffused aeration – is an energy efficient, quiet, and highly effective process of increasing dissolved oxygen levels and circulating water throughout the pond.

Creates an opening in the ice

One of the advantages of subsurface aeration in any season is that it mixes the pond from the bottom up – evenly distributing oxygen and helping the pond turn over.

As the pond turns over, water reaches the surface and absorbs oxygen. In the winter, water circulation helps create a hole in the ice. This allows for the deadly gases to escape, for sunlight to reach aquatic plants, and for water to reach the surface and receive oxygen from the atmosphere.

Adds dissolved oxygen

The tiny bubbles that are diffused with subsurface aeration infuse oxygen into the water column from the bottom up. This not only provides dissolved oxygen for fish, but it feeds aerobic (beneficial) bacteria, which can continue to consume the organic matter throughout winter. This should make for less cleanup and a clearer pond in the spring.

Read the full article on a pond aerator for fish kill prevention during winter on our website!

You asked... we listened!

Coming in late summer/early fall, all HP Series pumps will be available for distributors with the pre-2016 style “screw type” safety switch.

Rest assured that at HIBLOW USA we value your feedback – good or bad. Over the past couple of years, we have had some complaints about the “slide” safety switch assembly. After careful consideration – and weighing the benefits of each option – we have decided to revert to the old style “screw type” safety switch for all HP Series pumps.

Learn more on our site!

Our goal at HIBLOW USA is to service you and to ensure that we have the highest quality products on the market. Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or success stories. Thank you for your business!

Selecting a reliable and effective diffuser for your pond aeration system

The main reason bottom aeration is beneficial – as opposed to a surface aerator or a fountain – is that it mixes the pond from the bottom up, while transferring oxygen into the water.  

Many industry professionals believe that the mixing is more important than the oxygen transfer itself.  Mixing evens out the dissolved oxygen (DO) at all depths and prevents thermal stratification – a barrier that separates cold water at the bottom from the warmer water at the surface.  Surface water naturally receives oxygen from the atmosphere and through photosynthesis of algae/ aquatic plants.  

If a pond has stratified, the bottom can become depleted of oxygen which prevents “muck” from decomposing and therefore can produce a smell and impact water clarity.  Also, fish will not get the oxygen they need to thrive and survive when they seek refuge from the warmer surface water during the warmer months.    

Read more!

• If you are buying a fine bubble diffuser, make sure to clean the diffuser frequently to prevent clogging. This will provide greater life for your HIBLOW pump and maximize the benefits of aeration.
• Always ask the manufacturer the PSI that the diffuser adds to the system. The lower the PSI level, the more air flows into the pond and the longer the aerator will last. Under 0.25 PSI is best.
• Be careful when considering diffusers with multiple discs or multiple sticks as PSI levels can reach 2 PSI or more depending on diffuser type. Some diffusers include up to 4 sticks or membranes.

If you have any questions about your pond aeration system, please give us a call, or send an email! Phone: 734-944-5032, Email: info@hiblow-usa.com

Checking Electrical Continuity - Video

If your septic aerator or pond air pump stopped running and you've already watched one of our repair videos about swapping in new diaphragms, check out this video for tips on finding possible electrical connection issues.

 

Is it Important to Aerate a Pond in the Winter?

Why aeration in the winter is critical to the health of a pond:
 

When a pond owner buys a linear air pump, it is often in the spring or summer when they are looking to beautify the water and/ or enhance fish growth.  Yet the most important season for aeration may be the winter.  Sub-surface aeration is essential for cleaning up autumn debris, preventing winter fish kill, and disrupting the formation of ice.
 

What is happening under the ice?
 

In autumn as the leaves begin to fall and other matter starts to die off, ponds collect a significant amount of organic material.  Aerobic bacteria in the water – fueled by an oxygen rich environment – eat away at the organic matter.  As a bi-product, harmful gasses such as methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere.  As winter approaches and the pond becomes completely iced over, the gasses are trapped and begin to replace dissolved oxygen.  The loss of oxygen slows the digestion of organic matter which can make for a big clean up job in the spring.  
 

If a pond is covered by ice, there is also a possibility of a fish kill.  In addition to the reduction in dissolved oxygen from gas displacement, the lack of sunlight reduces the amount of oxygen produced by aquatic plants through photosynthesis.  The combination of these two factors could result in your fish floating belly up come springtime.

Read more on our website!