Oxygen is very important for the health of ponds, even if there are no fish living in it.
However, it is a big ask to hook up electrical appliances in order to oxygenate your pond if it is secluded or you simply prefer the idea of going down a more natural route – here is how you can oxygenate your pond without electrical pumps.
Why You Need To Oxygenate Your Pond
Whether or whether a pond contains fish or other sorts of creatures, it is critical to maintain a sufficient amount of oxygen in the water.
This is because the natural beneficial bacteria present in ponds require this, as well as nitrogen, to grow.
If you have a pond (see also article on pond water wheels) with fish, oxygenation is a life-saving process for these creatures.
While they breathe underwater, there is still oxygen present, and the fish, like humans and other terrestrial creatures, require this gas to thrive.
If the pond is not oxygenated, the fish will die from lack of oxygen.
How Much Oxygen Should Your Pond Have?
Ponds (see also article on pond spitters) have naturally low oxygen concentrations. A pond’s water seldom has dissolved oxygen concentrations more than 10ppm (parts per million).
In comparison to an average oxygen content of 200,000ppm in the air we breathe on a daily basis.
However, pond oxygen levels of 2 to 3ppm are where concentrations become extremely dangerous to pond life.
Making fish more vulnerable to stress and sickness. When oxygen levels fall below 3ppm, most fish become stressed, and concentrations below 2ppm are lethal to some species.
One of the most typical symptoms of stress to watch for is fish gasping for oxygen near the pond’s surface.
Although it is desirable to have at least 6mg per liter of dissolved oxygen in each pond, it typically relies on the state and size of any particular pond.
This will ensure that the pond oxygen levels are above dangerously low ppm levels.
Measuring Your Pond’s Oxygen Levels
Fortunately, there are several simple techniques to battle oxygen depletion or infuse extra oxygen into a pond to prevent low oxygen levels.
First, it’s good to understand how oxygen dissolves in water.
Simply coming into touch with water causes oxygen particles to disintegrate.
To bring more oxygen into a pond, more water must come into touch with the oxygen in the atmosphere.
Because the surface of pond water is continually in touch with the atmosphere, it has the maximum oxygen content.
This explains why fish move near the surface of a pond when there is a lack of oxygen (see also ‘Oxygen Tablets For Ponds & Lakes (Are They Safe?)’).
This, however, demonstrates that the bulk of the water deeper inside the pond is not exposed to oxygen particles.
Boost the surface area that comes into touch with oxygen to increase the oxygen levels throughout the volume of pond water.
Signs That Your Pond Does Not Have Enough Oxygen
Luckily, the symptoms that your pond is deficient in oxygen are obvious.
Your pond will emit an unpleasant stench. If your pond lacks oxygen, excess fish excrement and rotting plants and other organic substances will emit a pungent stench.
The scent will be comparable to that of natural lakes.
You may also notice that the fish will rise to the surface in order to breathe.
You’ll observe the fish on the pond’s surface, gasping for oxygen, or near any water features. They’ll appear agitated.
On the pond’s surface, you’ll see a thick layer of algae forming. Excessive algal growth indicates that there is too much carbon dioxide in the water and not enough oxygen.
Oxygenation And Aeration – What’s The Difference?
Aeration and oxygenation are two parts of the same jigsaw, with oxygenation occurring naturally as part of the overall aeration process.
Aeration is the flow of water that helps nutrients and oxygen circulate throughout the pond while also increasing gas exchange on the top of the water.
When you aerate a pond, oxygenation occurs naturally, with water flow allowing oxygen content to parts of water that may have been lower prior to aeration.
In terms of pond equipment, an aerator is something that offers both water movement and oxygenation, whereas an oxygenator is primarily meant to give pure oxygen content with little to no water flow.
Fountains and waterfalls, for example, are typical aerators that provide wonderful water flow for nutrition, gas exchange, and oxygenation.
Air pumps, on the other hand, provide little water flow while giving enormous volumes of pure oxygen directly to pond water.
How To Oxygenate A Pond Without Electrical Pumps
Aeration circulates the water in your pond to boost the oxygen levels. It can help to improve water quality, reduce algae, and provide a safe environment for fish.
There are several natural and mechanical methods for oxygenating a pond.
Pond Plants
Plants are the major source of oxygen in our environment, and this is a universal reality.
As a result, pond plants provide a natural approach to promoting aeration within the pond.
Water violet, hornwort, crowfoot, eelgrass, arrowhead, and water wisteria are other aquatic plants to consider.
Plants also filter the water and assist to keep it clean.
However, if you have koi or other fish in your pond, plants may not be enough. The fish uproot and even consume the plants.
Windmill Aerator
The windmill aerator is an efficient method of aerating water that does not require energy.
It requires a minimum of three to five mph of wind to operate. When the wing spins rapidly, it creates electricity, catches air, and pumps it into the pond.
Windmill aerators are difficult to set up, especially for novices, and they are rather costly.
However, if you want to use it for a long time, it might be a worthwhile investment.
Solar Powered Aerator Pumps
Similar to solar-powered fountain pumps, except this one adds direct oxygen to the pond water!
Solar aerators do not require water to work and must be put above the water on the pond’s edges.
The pump is often supplied with diffuser stones, which are then put beneath the water’s surface so that the air pump may directly force oxygen into the pond.
Solar aerators are not the best technique to produce water movement, but they are excellent as solo oxygenators or as a complement to a pump that is solar powered.
They are also useful in ponds with fish where you might want to supplement the oxygen content with a filtration system and mains-powered pump.
In the case of wildlife ponds without fish, the increased oxygen provided by an air pump helps beneficial bacteria work more efficiently while also attracting species such as frogs and newts to the water.
Because these pumps are solar powered, they do not require mains energy and may be positioned anywhere around the pond.
When shopping, seek a large solar panel, a battery pack if you want to use it at night, and a huge air stone diffuser for optimal oxygenation.
Solar powered air pumps are available in both floating and ground-standing types, and while both are excellent for getting water oxygenated, the higher panel capacity of ground-standing devices offers far more oxygen than floating models.
Solar Powered Fountain Pumps
Fountains are an excellent natural aerator, and you won’t need a power outlet if you go solar!
Solar fountain pumps are a fantastic alternative if you have a lot of sunshine in your garden, and most come with rechargeable batteries for when it’s cloudy.
Although they cannot power large water displays, competent solar pumps (see also ‘Best Solar Powered Pond Pump‘) may provide adequate water height and aeration for small to medium-sized ponds.
They may also be added to bigger ponds to supplement the primary aeration system with additional oxygen.
You won’t need a power outlet here, but you should pick a high-quality pump with dependable solar panel displays.
A greater GPH pump will provide you with better water flow and fountain height, and you’ll most likely be looking at pumps in the 50-400 GPH range for solar versions.
Batteries aren’t required, but they’re a terrific method to keep aeration running during cloudy days and at night.
Most battery packs will provide four to six hours of continuous function when the sun is not shining, which is what you should look for in a high-quality model.
Use A Hose
If you don’t have an air pump or a fountain and don’t want to buy one, or if there is an emergency, the best and simplest approach to restore oxygen to the pond is to spray water with a hose.
You don’t have to be concerned about chlorine in the water since the more forcefully you spray the water into the pond, the more chlorine is scattered from the water, therefore a smart technique is to blast the water into the pond using a jet spray.
Looking After Your Pond Without Electricity
You do not have to use electricity to keep your pond in tip-top condition, here are ways that you can care for your pond without having to rely on electricity.
Keeping Your Pond Clean
The health of the fish in the pond is directly affected by the water quality.
If the water in your pond is of poor quality, it may result in a lack of oxygen, which may hurt your fish.
Here are some suggestions for keeping your pond water clean without the use of electricity.
Avoid Overstocking
If you have too many fish in your pond, you can put it at risk of being overcrowded which then makes it get dirty very quickly.
Harmful gases can also be released into the pond as the build-up of fish waste decomposes and therefore decreases the oxygen levels.
Koi especially suffer from what is called ‘competitive stress’ if there are too many of them sharing the same pond.
Competitive stress is caused by their feeding behavior which consists of the koi rushing up to the surface at the same time in order to reach their food.
Not only can this lead to some koi not being able to get any food, but the stress that this causes can also be deadly.
Remove Algae
At the pond’s bottom, several species of algae and undesirable phytoplankton can bloom.
These creatures use oxygen and may produce an oxygen deficit, which will harm your fish.
To assist maintain adequate oxygen levels in the pond, it’s a good idea to remove the algae on a regular basis.
Maintaining proper water circulation, clean water, and enough oxygen levels in your pond can help keep your pond and its inhabitants safe.
Things may be more difficult to do without using energy, but the result is a reduced environmental effect and cheaper electric costs.
Preventing Freeze
Unless you’ve filled your pond with fish, you probably don’t mind if it freezes. Depending on where you reside, not all ponds freeze throughout the winter.
And certain fish may live peacefully in a frozen pond where the deep and medium waters do not freeze.
Your fish will live if you can maintain a constant temperature. However, when the water freezes, fish excrement becomes extremely poisonous, potentially endangering your fish.
If the water temperature is less than 0 degrees Celsius, it may completely freeze as the temperature drops.
A pond that is entirely frozen prevents oxygen from flowing from the upper to lower levels and vice versa.
The fish will die due to a lack of oxygen. It may also be harmful to the denitrifying bacteria colony, which aids in the nitrogen cycle.
Although a heater is the most obvious solution to protect your pond from freezing (see also ‘How To Keep A Pond From Freezing Without Electricity‘), it does require energy.
However, there are a few more non-electric techniques to avoid a frozen pond.
Use A Pond Cover
In the winter, you may simply install a pond cover to assist preserve the water temperature in your pond.
A pond cover that is in the shape of a dome may absorb solar heat and keep the surface of the pond nice and warm.
The dome shape also prevents snow from accumulating on top of the cover and makes the water cold.
Pond covers are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, each addressing a unique purpose, such as giving a simple way to maintain your surface leaf free to systems that prevent water from freezing over.
Make The Pond Deep
Making your pond deeper is one of the most natural methods to maintain it healthy.
A deep pond helps manage temperature whether you live in a summer-seasoned or winter-seasoned location. A pond’s ideal depth ranges from eight to twelve feet.
Even when the upper-level water is quite warm in the summer, the intermediate depths of the water will stay cooler.
The opposite is true during the winter season. If the surface water freezes, the deeper water will continue to be warmer. The absolute minimum depth for any fish pond is 18 inches.
Summary
If there are no fish in the pond, oxygenating it may appear irrelevant. However, these ponds still include microscopic life that requires oxygen and other minerals to exist.
Without these helpful bacteria, the pond would rapidly grow stagnant and unable to enrich the wildlife around them.
There are various techniques to provide oxygen to a pond without using electric pumps, ranging from pond plants for tiny quantities of water to massive windmills for much larger ponds.
