There are many problems that waterways can face if they do not have proper circulation. One of the most common is thermal stratification, where your lake separates into layers of water, each with a different temperature. This is most common during the summer when the hot air and extended sunlight warms your lake’s surface. Meanwhile, the bottom of your lake remains untouched by the sun and is noticeably cooler. Additionally, the cooler regions have less circulation, which means there is not enough oxygen. In other words, this area can become toxic to fish. A third, middle region often separates these two layers. This acts as a barrier that prevents the warm and cold air from mixing. Aerators are machines that circulate the water in your lake or pond. The surface and submersed diffused aerators are the primary ways that people aerate their bodies of water.
Surface Aerators
Surface aerators operate at the top of your lake and circulate the surface water. The machine has a pump that takes in water from the uppermost strata and spits it out and away from the unit. They are similar to fountains, except their primary focus is on circulating water rather than offering an esthetic appeal.
Submersed Diffused Aerators
Submersed diffused aerators are located at the bottom of a pond and perform lake aeration by sucking in air from the surface and dispersing it at the bottom in tiny bubbles. The result is that these bubbles bring oxygen into the water, which is then pushed away from the device. Typically, these bubbles rise to the top, so more water gets circulated than with surface aerators. Additionally, submersed diffused aerators are available as whole-lake systems.
These are the two primary ways to aerate your lake or pond. These both provide oxygen and circulation to your water, which offers many benefits, such as prevent thermal stratification.