Pond & Lake Aeration Systems
Although a landscape water feature such as a pond or a lake consists mainly of water, oxygen is also a necessary component of any water feature. Ponds and lakes that do not contain enough oxygen can become overrun by algae, or even worse, anaerobic bacteria. Various aeration systems ensure that water is oxygenated enough to stay clean and clear.
Perhaps the most visible way to maintain an aerated pond or lake, fountains force streams of water up into the air and bring them crashing into the rest of the water feature. This creates agitation on the water’s surface and as a result, folds oxygen into the pond or lake. The pump of the fountain also circulates water from deeper underneath the surface, ensuring that even water not affected by surface agitation is oxygenated.
While fountains push water up into the air, bubblers push air into the water. Sitting at the bottom of the pond or lake, bubblers feature pipes or tubes that run to the surface and an air compressor. This compressor forces air from the surface through small holes in a diffuser apparatus that create bubbles in the water, oxygenating the water as the bubbles burst.
Pump and Cascade
While fountains circulate water, they also make a great deal of noise and produce a spectacle that is not suitable for all water features. A quieter and less conspicuous way to oxygenate water is through a pump and cascade system. Pumps pull water from the bottom of a pond or lake and push it out at the top, allowing otherwise stagnant water a chance to receive oxygen from the surface.
Axial Flow Pump
The axial flow pump system consists of a large propeller that spins on top of the water, forcing it down and forcing the water surrounding it up to the surface. Axial flow pumps can reach up to 15 feet in diameter and rest on a floating platform making them suitable for medium and large sized ponds and lakes.
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