Does Aeration Heat Up a Pond?

Practical Information

Does Aeration Heat Up a Pond?

We often hear that aeration will warm up the pond in the hot days of summer. The warming up of the water will eventually make trout stop feeding and eventually can kill them. Sometimes oxygen is not the only limiting factor, maintaining cool temperature is as important for trout species.

Contrary to what many believe it is not the warm air coming from the compressor that warms up the water;
it's the sun heating the bottom water that is circulated to the surface, making the entire body of water warmer. On hot days, with a bottom mounted aeration system operating, the cool waters are brought to the surface where heat transfer from the warm atmosphere increases water temperature. As the circulation continues warmer waters replace cooler waters at the bottom of the pond.

Use a thermostat to control your aeration system

If trout or other species of temperature sensitive fish are present this warming of the pond can be unwanted. How can you prevent this warming effect, yet keep oxygen levels high at all times? The best way is to operate your aerator only when the outdoor air temperature is below a certain temperature to minimize heat transfer from the warm air.

Here is a guideline for each species of Trout

Speckled trout
Start aeration when temperature drops bellow 19 Celsius or 66 Fahrenheit and make it stop when temperature goes above 21 Celsius or 70 Fahrenheit.
Rainbow Trout
Start aeration when temperature drops bellow 22 Celsius or 72 Fahrenheit and make it stop when temperature goes above 25 Celsius or 77 Fahrenheit.

Plug-and-Play; No additional wiring needed!
Use also for de-icers in winter.

This Thermostat is designed to save you money on your electricity bill and insure your water is kept at a lowest temperature at all times. Your current aerator plugs directly into the unit which controls when your aerator turns on based on ambient air temperature.

Set you thermostat to cooling control on your pond aerator and when temperature will exceed a predetermined temperature, the aerator will stop which will actively stop the circulation of water, keeping the cool temperature at the bottom.

Nighttime is normally cooler; as soon as the temperature threshold is crossed the aerator will resume the important effect of circulation in the pond water cooling it off and raising its oxygen content.

In typical situations when using the thermostat control unit your aerator will turn-on in the evenings and on cooler days only, thus allowing natural temperatures to be established at the pond bottom.

This unit comes with an 8' power cord, simply plug the thermostat into a standard 110/120 volt outlet. Then plug your aerator into the outlet of the plug of the thermostat.

Temperature range is -1.1 Celsius or 30 Fahrenheit up to 43 Celsius or 110 Fahrenheit (with a differential of 1 Celsius or 3 Fahrenheit). This device is for appliances operating at a maximum of 16amp/120v.

Benefits of pond aeration:

- Increased dissolved oxygen and limits thermal stratification
- Stops oxygen related fish kills
- Reduces nutrient levels associated with algae growth
- Improves fisheries production by expanding oxygenated habitat
- Reduces mosquito insect hatches (west nile virus)
- Eliminates foul odors from undesirable dissolved gases read more
- Pre-wired Thermostat Control