Excuses are a way of life for much of the human population. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but at times it can have problematic consequences. Pond aeration is no exception to this rule. Here’s a breakdown of the top 5 reasons that you should aerate your pond today. Not tomorrow, next week, next month, or once the birds fly south so you don’t bother them. Today.
1. It takes awhile for aeration to kick in.
There are no miracle workers when it comes to getting rid of your algae and making your pond healthy. You can use chemicals, such as copper sulfate. That will certainly sterilize your pond in no time. Be advised, though, the algae will return more swiftly each time and with a fierce vengeance. Oh, and you’ll be slowly killing any sign of aquatic life in your pond. Aeration is the safest and most environmental way to make your pond look (and be) healthy. Unfortunately, it takes a little while to undo all of the bad in your pond and instill some good. So, the sooner it gets started, the better, and the longer you’ll have to sit back and enjoy the scene of aquatic bliss before you.
2. You won’t like the way your pond looks in the dog days of summer.
Buying an aerator on August 5th will do very little to clear up your pond by August 10th when you’re hosting that birthday party. Buy it on May 5th instead. Better yet, buy it on March 5th. I’ll tell you what, give it to yourself as a Christmas present and get things rolling so your pond is the talk of the town come summertime when everyone is hanging around outside. The bottom line here is that it takes time to break down the algae-forming nutrients that have been building up in your pond for years, and the greater head start you give your pond before the hot, humid, suffocating days of summer arrive, the better it will look.
3. Think of your fish!
Imagine the pain that you would feel if you were forced to walk around gasping for air all day long. What if you were struggling to breathe, and every minute was a fight for survival because there simply was no oxygen in the air? Would you want the person in charge of your ecosystem to “get around to it next week?” No. Emphatically, no. You would want to breathe today, yesterday, or even the day before that. Fish kills happen because of pond owners that put off aeration for too long and eventually it ends in catastrophe to the tune of dozens, hundreds, thousands of dead fish. All the more reason that you should aerate your pond today, yesterday, or even the day before that.
4. The right aerator will be an investment, not a burden.
It’s true, making a commitment to aerate your pond can be expensive. However, the right aerator choice will only be a noticeable entity in your bank account once—at its initial purchase. This differs from chemicals, which tend to make medium-sized dents in your pocketbook numerous times a year, adding up to one gigantic dent over multiple years. A reliable aerator that will stand by you in sickness and in health, through good times and bad is the one that you want to find. In this case, you’ll pay the initial price of the aerator and then ideally be able to watch it work its magic over the next umpteen years. Then you can join in poking fun at the dilettantes who are still pouring thousands of dollars into their pond each year in the form of chemicals.
5. It feels good.
What’s better than checking something off of your perpetually growing to-do list? Pull the trigger on your aerator, check it off the list, and feel one of the many weights on your shoulders lift. Feels great, doesn’t it?
Instead of thinking in “what ifs” or racking your brain for reasons why an aerator simply won’t work this year, try thinking of reasons why it can work. You and your pond will both be very happy.
Tags: Aeration, Algae, fish kills
