RESEARCH

So you are considering aerating your pond with a windmill...

Things to consider:                                                                         Before and After Photographs

1. Why Aerate? (Specific to Windmill Powered Aerators)

2. What is the size and depth of your pond?

3. What are you going to be using the pond for? (Such as swimming or fishing.)

4. How high are nearby structures and tree groups? ("What impact will trees have on my windmill?")

5. Are there high levels of nutrients in the water? (Such as nitrogen and ammonia runoff from nearby farmland or heavily fertilized grass.) 

6. What type of foundation is needed for my new windmill aeration system?

7. What happens to an Aerated pond over winter?

 

Windmill Pond Aeration:  

The first step to creating a clean and beautiful pond.

The windmill powers a pump that pushes oxygen down into the pond.  When a  pond is stagnant, oxygen levels in the water remain low.  Dead zones exist at the bottom of the pond where decaying plants and organic matter make the water toxic to fish.

Oxygenation encourages plant and animal life.   The air bubbles rising from the bottom of the pond move the water; creating circulation vital to a healthy pond.  The movement of the water evens out the temperature of the pond and maintains an environment that fish can survive in throughout the winter.

    For more information about pond aeration using Windmill Pond Aerators.

See also:

How Aeration Works (Animated version)

How Aeration Works (Print version)

Texas Agriculture Service article on Aeration

Agriculture Canada - search of "Aeration"

Low Oxygen and Pond Aeration (World Aquaculture)

How to build a quality dugout (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development)

What is the size and depth of your pond?

Each Windmill is capable of handling a pond up to two acres in size.  The American Eagle Aerator can push air down to 15 feet, so the diffuser stone must be attached to a float if the pond is deeper than 15 feet.  Outdoor Water Solutions can pump down to 40 feet and Koenders can pump beyond 40 feet.

What are you going to be using the pond for? (Such as swimming or fishing.)

If your pond is to be used for more something other than decoration then your pond will need as much oxygen as possible.  The more oxygen in the pond, the healthier the fish, and the cleaner the water.  American Eagle delivers the highest volume of air, next is Outdoor Water Solutions, then Koenders.

What is the impact of trees and nearby structures on my windmill?

Trees in front of and behind the windmill will have an impact on the force of the wind that reaches your windmill.  It is important to be above surrounding structures as much as possible.  In the following pictures you can see that there is at least 150 feet between the trees and the windmill.  If the wind is coming from directly behind the trees I often find the windmill is not turning at all.  The windmill is 20' tall and the trees are approximately 40' tall.   I have also found that Evergreens/Firs directly behind the windmill disrupt the force of the wind so much that the windmill will not turn as easily.

Below are are some pictures of a 20' Outdoor Water Solutions Aerator that I was having some trouble with.  Even on windy days it wasn't spinning much.  I ended up moving the windmill back about 25 feet and up 2 feet (not much really).  The result was pretty amazing.  The windmill went from spinning about 40% of the time to 80%!  So if don't be afraid to experiment.

Here again, the more oxygen (American Eagle, Koenders Dual Diaphragm or Electric Aeration) you can get into the water the better.  The pressure output of the windmill is not as important as the volume of air.  So consider the bellows pump of the American Eagle, or if that is out of your budget, look to the Outdoor Water Solutions Windmill with the diaphragm compressor.

Winter Conditions:

The Aeration unit, if left connected over winter, will prevent the pond from freezing over entirely.  This will allow for continued oxygen diffusion throughout winter.  This is also helpful for livestock owners using the windmills to pump water to drinking troughs.  (You will no longer have to cut holes in the ice and start a generator up.)

Please note that if you live in Manitoba and the weather consistently remains below minus 20 and 30, the surface of your pond will freeze over, but oxygen is still getting into the water.  Additionally, the ice is thinner where the bubbles reach the surface, so BE CAREFUL!!!

Windmill Foundations:

All three brands I currently offer contain 4' steel ground stakes to be used for the windmill's foundation.  These stakes are not enough here in Manitoba, Canada as well as in most of the prairie states.  You MUST supplement this in some way.  I have seen and used several techniques to provide a more stable foundation.  

Cement Pad Foundation -   The owner had steel angles custom made to attach to the windmill base.

Ground Stakes in combination with Guy Wires -    

Earth Anchors combined with large concrete weights -    

    (Earth Anchors can be found at hardware or gardening stores, I have found the 4' lengths to be best suited for this application. One thing to note here is that you will have to find an alternative way to attach the anchor to the windmill base as the stake clamps that come with all windmills are made to accommodate a 1" diameter stake and not a 1/4 to 1/2 inch anchor shaft.)

Ground Stakes combined with Earth Anchors -

  Windmills, Fountains, Aerators, Pumps, Parts, and Pond Cleaning Bacteria

Maya Aeration Resources      -      Box 402,   Elie,   MB   R0H 0H0     -     phone: 204-254-2840     -     MayaWindmills.com