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Re: aeration for ponds in winter
Regarding the aeration of ponds in the winter in colder regions. IMHO:
01. Aeration would destratify the pond water and allow air temperatures to
determine the water temperature of the pond because:
a. Water gets heavier until it reaches 4 degrees F. and
therefore sinks.
b. At 4 degrees it gets lighter and rises to the top of the
pond(lake etc.) and
may then freeze putting an insulating coat over it.
c. Water unlike most liquids freezes from the top-not the bottom.
d. Fish and plants reduce metabolism greatly when they cool off.
e. Eating and digestion often stop or greatly reduce in colder
situations.
f. Energy and oxygen needs are greatly reduced due to the colder
stratified
conditions.
g. Aeration can upset this balance and result in fish deaths and
possibly the
plants too due to intermittent air temp changes. Water temp.
stratification
disappears.
02. Of course there is always the chance that ponds will run out of oxygen
during
the winter, but in my humble opinion, this is less than the problems
created by
destratification when the fish are not feeding and adequate light is
lacking for
the plants.
03. The greater the depth of the pond, the greater the chances of
fish/plants
surviving the winter months outside.
04. Tropical plants definitely need to go inside during the winter.
05. Cold weather plants should be in pots and sunk to the lower reaches of
the pond
during the winter.
Elmer Morehouse-Michigan-where the winter weather is harsh.