Do any of your aerate your ponds with a windmill? I have been considering it, but haven't talked with anyone who has done it. Aside from the initial investment, it seems as though it would be a good way to create the electricity to run the pump.
pond aeration
There is a local pyhsician who is a bit of a gentleman farmer here that employs a windmill to water his stock. We are talking about a herd of maybe 10. I can't give any practical info, but it is sure neat to drive by and see that thing spinning. Winds here are not predictibly steady, so I wonder if his windmill is employed based on practicality or nostalgia (or the high cost of health care) LOL
I wouldn't trust my fish in summer to the fates of the winds. Are you very windy all summer? Water contains considerably less oxygen as it heats and it is also consumed much faster by the fish because they're more active.
I suppose I could use a windmill but I need to know that my over 5000 gallon pond has enough oxygen. On these very hot days lately I don't even count on the waterfalls. I put a large airstone on the bottom and have an air pump going 7/24.
I have had to add algaecide to the pond which makes it even more dangerous if there isn't enough oxygen.
Hey Bing try those Alge balls they sell in stead of Algaecide regards paul
For a quick knockdown of algae that actually adds oxygen, use 1 pt of Hydrogen Peroxide per 1000 gal. Be prepared to clean up the dead algae quickly, clean the filters etc. It is not a long term solution however. Peat bales give off hydrogen peroxide consistently over the long term after they have been in the water four to six weeks. Another product that works extremely well but has an extreme price tag is Aquascapes S.A.B. Extreme. S.A.B. stands for string algae buster. I have used it two years now. No green water, no string algae, no ph swings, no diminished oxygen, healthy water lillies and lotus plants. The only suffering is in the wallet.
No No No , NOT peat, BARLEY bales. OMG I can't believe I was that stupid. Can you imagine the mess? Thank you azreno.
This message was edited Aug 3, 2006 8:42 PM
Snapple meas barley bales, not peat bales, don't want anyone going out and buying peat bales for their ponds :-)
I tried S.A.B. to control string algae in my waterfalls and it did zip! The only thing it affected was my wallet! Used an entire bucket of it over about 5 applications. Mind you, my main pond is 125'x65'x8', so maybe I was expecting too much. I have 6 barley "flakes" in each of the ponds, and am hoping that across a year or so that may do the trick. But for now, nothing is even vaguely dealing with the string algae.
I have power near enough so could run an aerator electrically but it seems to me that it would be pretty spendy for one to deal with a pond that size. No?
We grow malting barley here.....do you suppose I could use that kind of barley and make my own barley balls?