How to Oxygenate a Pond

Maintaining the oxygen levels in your pond is incredibly important. Many people don't realise this and a pond which suffers from oxygen depletion could actually end up killing the fish, or at the very least decreasing their life expectancy. Let's take a little look at a few methods that you can use to oxygenate your pond.

One of the most common reasons as to why the oxygen levels in the pond deplete is as a result of an algae build up. This algae depletes the oxygen in order to grow, and this quickly kills off the fish. If the algae dies then the decomposition process still consumes oxygen, thus leaving less for the fish to breathe. This is why you should always keep up to date with removing algae from the pond. I won't go into too much depth on this process however. Instead we are going to be concerned with how we can get oxygen back into your pond.

One of the most popular ways in which to oxygenate a pond is through fountains. I tend not to favour this method however. The reason for that is that the fountain does not work quick enough to restore oxygen into the pond, particularly during the warmer month. Whilst it is adequate for the cold months other methods will need to be used to help restore oxygen to the pond.

Air Pumps, sometimes known as pond pumps are another effective method for increasing oxygen levels in the pond. There are a lot of different pond pumps on the market so make sure that you choose the one which is going to be best for your needs. Generally they work by forcing a stream of air into the pond at regular interviews. You can purchase a powered one which would need to be housed in a secure location out of the weather in order to keep them functioning. Alternatively you could purchase a solar powered one which doesn't need any external power source and runs with very little upkeep, although these units of pond pump tend to be a little more expensive.

Many people also look into diffusers to help oxygenate their pond. This method is generally chosen for aesthetic reasons but it does a good job as well. The diffuser releases air bubbles into the bond which release oxygen. There are two types of unit on the market, some people prefer a large bubble diffuser for aesthetic reasons, however small bubble diffusers are much more effective at aerating the water.

The final method I want to discuss are Oxygenator Plants. These are plants, similar to algae, which are placed into the water. The generally stay submerged but from time to time they may flower. They inject a lot of oxygen into the system. The downside however is they consume a lot of oxygen at night and if you have too many of these plants in your pond however it could suffer from negative effects. This is why many people prefer diffusers or pond pumps.

Hopefully this has given you a few ideas about how you can oxygenate your pond quickly and easily. Remember, always consult reviews to ensure that you are going to end up with a product that is going to work for a long time to come.