A pond should be a beautiful place for peace and reflection. As penned by poet Joe Inca, “Corner of the pond, Myriad vegetation, Angler’s paradise.”
But if your pond is murky, covered in algae, or emitting an unpleasant odor, what can you do to fix it?
These problems can all be caused by displacement of oxygen.
When circulation decreases in your pond, an imbalance in oxygen levels occur. Oxygen is essential to a pond. Fish, plants, and good bacteria all use it! A suitable oxygen level in your pond must be maintained.
You might have oxygen-rich water in the upper levels of your pond, and oxygen-starved water settling towards the bottom. This striation can be caused by a variety of factors depending on the season. Sometimes oxygen is used faster than it is replenished. Sometimes a weather event stirs up sediment in the pond and upsets the balance between oxygen and nutrients.
Poor pond circulation can cause a host of problems. Fish steer clear of lower-oxygen environments, thus slowing down the normal breakdown of organic matter, leading to a buildup of slime and muck. Furthermore, gases can build up, which aid in the growth of algae and bad bacteria and give the pond an unpleasant odor.
Sometimes, an aeration system will solve these issues. A fountain could work as an aeration system; or your pond might need a diffusion aerator, which sits on the pond’s floor. These systems work to maintain healthy levels of oxygen in ponds by sending a vertical blast of oxygen up through the water. This keeps a constant current going to churn and mix the levels of your pond together. Use of an aeration system will prevent stratification and allow the oxygen level to remain more consistent throughout the entire pond.
Although all ponds can benefit from 
oxygen circulation, not every pond needs an aerator. The need depends roughly on your pond diameter and depth. If the ratio is high, you could have a section of water at the bottom with low oxygen content. Pond life can’t be supported in this type of water. Aquascape’s staff can evaluate your pond to determine its oxygen turnover. If need be, they can design and install a system that perfectly fits your needs.
