Established 1995
aeration
 

Aeration is pivotal to the success of your pond. One could argue more important than filtration because fish will succumb faster without oxygen then they will in water with high ammonia or nitrite levels

The ultimate success of your filter is based on adequate oxygen levels in the water. The filters aerobic bacteria require oxygen to carry out the Nitrogen Cycle effectively

In a fish pond, just having a waterfall will likely not be enough to keep the water at peak oxygen saturation points at all times
   How Water is Aerated
There are 2 main ways of getting O2 into the water. Water to air contact is one, the other is oxygenating plants

A given area of pond surface will absorb a certain amount of oxygen based upon air pressure, temperature and other factors. A waterfall for example, will encourage oxygen into the water by not only the splash, but also by the waves created throughout the pond which increase its total surface area by up to 3 to 4 times

In addition, plants will also release oxygen into the water as a byproduct of photosynthesis. In simple terms they absorb CO2 and output O2. There is a major caveat however. because plants can't be relied upon to oxygenate your pond 24/7 as they they consume oxygen at night . So the irony of "oxygenating plants" (really a misnomer) is that if you have a many, it's even more important to have a good aeration system in place to deal with potential O2 depletion at night

Right - this bottom drain affixed with a dome aerator. This both aerates and creates water currents which increase make the drain more effective although the air column can hamper fish viewing


   Equipment for Aeration
All serious Koi keepers have a dedicated aeration system running in their ponds and often in the bio chambers of their filters. There are basically 4 ways to aerate, each with their advantages and disadvantages

Aquarium Air Pump: You should always have one of these on hand, especially a battery operated unit. They are  inexpensive, good for small ponds and great in emergencies. They are limited with lowe air output - although some fairly hefty units are available to aerate medium sized ponds

Compressor: These units are a worthwhile investment. They put out quite a bit of air with good pressure which means they can be used for deep water aeration, a bottom drain for example. Most are diaphragm driven so eventually the rubber membrane splits. This generally takes a couple of years

Air Blower: Blowers provide the most volume of air and are great for aerating a lot of tanks. The downside is that they are expensive and can't pump to the depths of compressors. Mechanically, airblowers by design will last longer than diaphragm compressors

Venturi: Venturis are probably the most efficient form of aeration. They run off of your existing pump utilizing a physics trick in which air is drawn in through an airline by the restriction of flowing water. They are inexpensive and great to augment and backup your main aeration system. Remember, you still need to have a separate aeration system because when your pump fails, the venturi will cease functioning

With airstones look for good diffusion of air because the smaller the bubbles created, the better the aerating effect. Aquacultural grade airstones are therefore preferred and speced at an amount of air they can diffuse per minute (C.F.M. rating). For maximum efficiency, try to match this rating to your compressors output

Battery Air Pump - for a small cost this can save your fish
Compressors - a great investment for your pond
Venturi - Very efficient aeration at only a slight head loss penalty


   Benefits of Aeration
By providing optimum aeration levels, the environment for your koi is one that will allow for good health and growth. It also creates currents which mix the water and exercise the fish. Additionally, it discourages algae by expelling Carbon Dioxide and preventing stagnation

Surface tension is also dramatically reduced thereby facilitating the absorption of oxygen through surface to air contact. The bottom line is that aeration, along with a good filter system, are both equally integral in providing a excellent environment for your fish

Never run your pond without an air system - besides all the benefits it is a great backup to your pond when your pump fails (note: not "if your pump fails")





This Air Assembly (for an earthen pond) utilizes a large piece of flagstone to both anchor and prevent soil erosion and subsequent turbidity
   Nitrification
As already mentioned, Oxygen is key for the conversion of Ammonia to Nitrite. Ammonia, NH3 is oxidized to Nitrite, NO2. As you can see, this reaction requires 2 oxygen molecules as Hydrogen is replaced by Oxygen

In a pond with low oxygen levels it is obvious that this process is crippled

 

    Signs of Low Oxygen
In extreme cases of Low D.O. levels, fish will gasp at the surface and if not corrected, they will asphyxiate and die

In more subtle circumstances, Koi may start gasping near day break after a night of both fish and plants depleting the O2 in the pond

Home | About Us | Contact Info | Store | Services | Koi for Sale | Email | Download Catalogue | Site Map | Return Policy



Last Modified : March 29, 2007
Optimized for 1280x1024+ with