Q: How would I know if my pond has sufficient aeration? What
would happen if my pond was “under” aerated? - Joe of Michigan
A: The best way to test to see if your pond is sufficiently
aerated is by taking the temperature of the water one foot below
the pond’s surface as well as the bottom. If there is a
difference of more than 3 degrees Fahrenheit, then the pond is
not sufficiently aerated and you may need to add additional
diffusers or relocate the diffuser that you have. Next, to
answer the, “What would happen if my pond was “under” aerated?”
question, lets compare a pond with no aeration, a pond that is
under aerated and a pond with sufficient aeration. A Pond with
No Aeration: With no aeration present, the water is stratified
(aka has a thermocline). Meaning that the water at the top is
warmer and full of oxygen while on the bottom the water is
cooler, nutrient rich and contains no oxygen. This causes the
fish to habitat towards the surface of the pond. As the seasons
change from the hot summer to cold wi