Aerators- The Easiest, quickest way to improve your water quality

The shocking truth about why you should add an aerator to your pond. How it will help you and your fish enjoy your pond much more. 

Aeration in a pond almost seems like it’s just a pretty addition, like roses in a vegetable garden. While they certainly do contribute to the beauty of your pond, with their unique method of moving water, they will also help greatly with water clarity and quality, in a way you may never have realized. 

Aerators don’t actually add oxygen to the pond the way most people think. The bubbles under the water don’t add oxygen to the water at all. Once the bubbles reach the pond’s surface is the first time they are affecting the oxygen level in your pond. 

Sound weird?  If you think so, you are not alone. Most people believe the bubbles are adding the oxygen, but I’m about to blow that myth wide open. Oxygen actually gets in the pond when the water surface gets turbulent. The bubbles break the surface of the pond, creating turbulence.  If the water is smooth, there is something keeping the oxygen from getting in the water. 

Water has surface tension. This means that the individual cells of water at the very surface of your pond, sort of stick together, and create a barrier that keeps oxygen out of the pond. Imagine, it’s like a piece of Saran Wrap across the entire surface of your pond. The way oxygen really gets in the water is, the bubbles rise to the surface and break the surface tension, or Saran Wrap. Once that is broken, the air molecules from the atmosphere, mix with the water molecules in the pond, and now, there is finally, oxygen in your pond. 

This oxygen does some amazing things for your pond. First and foremost, it gives your fish oxygen to breathe. The secret added benefit that you didn’t know about, is what really makes me happy! The oxygen is going to help clean up your water by breaking down the decaying material in your pond. 

Oxygen, at a molecular level is composed of hydrogen and oxygen bonded together. This bond has a positive ionic charge. Now, don’t get all crazy, I know this sounds very technical, but it’s going to be very simple. 

All the decaying debris in your pond, like old leaves, fish poop, and rotting fish food have a negative ionic charge. This is where it gets super cool, hang on!  

The positive charge in the oxygen molecules is drawn to the negative charge in the decaying debris. The chemical reaction you get is that the rotting debris gets broken down by the oxygen, and this helps to clean up your pond. 

Isn’t this the best reason EVER to put an aerator on your pond?!?!?! It’s sort of like a Roomba in your house. Always working to keep hints a little bit cleaner, while you do something you really want to do, like have a glass of wine by your pond!

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