Pond aerators are necessary to keep the water in a pond or lake from stagnating. Stagnant water breeds algae and bacteria and causes a number of other problems, including odor and water stratification. A properly aerated pond is also much more aesthetically pleasing. There are a number of different types of aerators to choose from, and each has its own unique benefits.
The different types generally belong to one of two broad categories, which are the floating or surface models and the bottom-based diffusers. Beyond these two types, the different kinds of aerator can be further categorized by the way they are powered. There are electric, windmill, and solar models.
A surface aerator, or floating aerator, works best for shallow waters. The main type of surface aerator floats on top of the water, circulating the water below. There are also floating fountains which agitate the water while providing a lovely fountain display.
Bottom-based diffusers make use of on-shore air compressors that pump air to the bottom of a lake. Air bubbles then rise upwards, churning the water as they go. This is ideal for water that is too deep for a floating model to thoroughly aerate.
A couple of different alternative energy sources are usually used for powering an aerator. Wind is one of them. Windmill models utilize this source of energy, and they are best for ponds that regularly get at least 3-5 mph winds. The other type of energy used is solar power. Solar aeration units include solar panels that gather the sun's energy to charge the battery which powers the aerator. When these batteries are at full charge, they can usually last for two or three weeks without direct light from the sun, so they will operate even during long periods of cloud cover. Both wind and solar models are great for ponds and lakes that are lacking nearby sources of electricity.
On the other hand, there are ponds for which wind and solar power might not be ideal. In these cases, electricity can be used. The downside here is that the installation process is more complex, and there are higher operating costs as well. The upside is that this is sometimes a more consistent source of energy, and perhaps the only option in some cases.
If you are in the market to purchase a new aeration system, then you obviously have a number of options to consider. In order to choose, simply consider what benefits you need from an aeration system. Hopefully you have found some helpful information here.
pond aerators
The different types generally belong to one of two broad categories, which are the floating or surface models and the bottom-based diffusers. Beyond these two types, the different kinds of aerator can be further categorized by the way they are powered. There are electric, windmill, and solar models.
A surface aerator, or floating aerator, works best for shallow waters. The main type of surface aerator floats on top of the water, circulating the water below. There are also floating fountains which agitate the water while providing a lovely fountain display.
Bottom-based diffusers make use of on-shore air compressors that pump air to the bottom of a lake. Air bubbles then rise upwards, churning the water as they go. This is ideal for water that is too deep for a floating model to thoroughly aerate.
A couple of different alternative energy sources are usually used for powering an aerator. Wind is one of them. Windmill models utilize this source of energy, and they are best for ponds that regularly get at least 3-5 mph winds. The other type of energy used is solar power. Solar aeration units include solar panels that gather the sun's energy to charge the battery which powers the aerator. When these batteries are at full charge, they can usually last for two or three weeks without direct light from the sun, so they will operate even during long periods of cloud cover. Both wind and solar models are great for ponds and lakes that are lacking nearby sources of electricity.
On the other hand, there are ponds for which wind and solar power might not be ideal. In these cases, electricity can be used. The downside here is that the installation process is more complex, and there are higher operating costs as well. The upside is that this is sometimes a more consistent source of energy, and perhaps the only option in some cases.
If you are in the market to purchase a new aeration system, then you obviously have a number of options to consider. In order to choose, simply consider what benefits you need from an aeration system. Hopefully you have found some helpful information here.
pond aerators
