Windmills for Pond Aeration

[Monte]

Does anyone here have experience using Windmills for pond aeration? I've done a lot of research and there is a lot of conflicting testimony... Of course, it would be "neat"...



Monte

 

[Boondox]

Now that sounds interesting! Where did you find the info you've gotten so far?

Pete

 

[Monte]

The following are Northern Ohio vendors with slightly conflicting information (and businesses!)
http://www.pondaeration.com/
http://www.ibnature.com/
The following comes from Ohio State Extension Office
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/b374/b374_4.html

There are some good references from University of Texas and different vendors in North Carolina that I've seen, too (there are probably more). But arid Texas and rainy Ohio require some real differences in Pond Management (mostly due to the water source). Check out these then check with your own state extension office.

I just need to feel more comfortable that the hardware will actually do what is promised... I want /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif to spend my money... but not just for an expensive ornament!


Monte

 

[Knight9]

I too thought this might be interesting and was looking around. There is some info at:

http://www.pondaeration.com
http://www.trilliumwindmills.com/pond.html

Hope these help.
Kevin

 

[RJohnson]

Here is a California company that I have been looking at to pump water out of a lake and it can also be used to aerate a tank (we don't call em ponds in Texas /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif).
http://bowjon.net/

 

[Monte]

And we wouldn't swim in a tank /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif!! The windmill aeration starts at around $700 - depending on the wind and the size and shape of the pond...

Monte

 

[LilRhody]

Monte, I too am interested in a windmill for a pond. I got thinking about it after I read an article in Countryside & Small Stock Journal (Vol. 85 No. 1, Jan/Feb 2001). I think the cost is going to keep me away from doing it for now though.

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Monte,

<font color=blue>it would be "neat"...</font color=blue>

Windmills are way cool even if they do nothing but go round and round. As far as aeration is concerned it seems like pond chemistry is a delicate subject. Maybe "fishman" will jump in with some guidance. I put a sump aerator in my pond one spring and developed the best pond scum ever. Lots and lots of algae. Figured that it was lack of disolved oxygen so I continued to aerate.. more and more algea... Fianally stopped the aeration and by and by things returned to normal.. no algea.

I don't have a clue about why, just what. Before you commit to a windmill you might try the sump aerator and see what happens.

 

[fishman]

Monte,

I have to say up front that I don't have any direct experience with windmill aeration systems. It is possible that they could serve the purpose where electricity is not available. I do think that there is a real risk that these systems will not be available when needed. That is, a warm spring day when it is overcast, and there is no wind. When there is enough wind to run a windmill, there probably is enough mechanical aeration of the water's surface to prevent low dissolved oxygen problems. Unless the system has storage batteries to provide power, it seems to me that it could fail you when you need it most. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

I think that where electricity is readily available, it's hard to beat a good old reliable electric pump.

Thanks for the bookmarks. Hopefully I will have some time to go check them out. Then I could perhaps give a more informed opinion.

 

[fishman]

Twinkle Toes,

The sump pump probably circulated the nutrients in your pond very effectively in addition to aerating the water. So more available nutrients probably gave your algae quite a jump start. Just a guess.

 

[Monte]

We have decided to go with the guys at Inspired By Nature (http://www.ibnature.com/). Their refusal to sell me a windmill system was certainly an attention getter!!

The issue wasn't the windmills, but _my_ pond. It's "L" shaped, about an acre in total surface area and over 15 years old. IBN's refusal was based on their experience that the best match for windmill aeration is round, 1/2 acre, new ponds. Or at least something closer to that than my pond happens to be. They were very concerned that under-aeration would bring up more toxic gases from the bottom than it would able to overcome with the amount of oxygen brought down from the top.

Looks like we will go with 4 diffusers and a huge pump on a timer. The key is, they are coming down next week for an on-site evaluation and doing nutrient testing of the pond and spring water, before finalizing a setup. Definately consistent with the philosophy on their web site -- and what attracted me to them in the first place.

This is getting to be more like a big aquarium project (water analysis, aerobic microbes to consume muck, etc) -- only we can swim in it!

We bought this place last winter because of the pond (wraps around the house!) - I'm glad the weather is getting to where we can start "playing" with it!

Monte

 

[fishman]

Monte,

It sounds like you have picked a winner there! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Based on my experience with pond aeration systems, you should pay less than $2000 for materials, with the largest part of that due to the pump, followed by the diffusers. I think you will be very happy with the setup you have chosen, as it is cheaper to pump air than water. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif That is the system we are going with here in TX at a state park lake.

Having the capability to aerate opens up a lot of additional avenues for fish management. If you want to catch and eat fish, you might consider a feeder on a timer. This will result in faster growth (read: larger) catfish and panfish. If you want some more information, contact your local fisheries biologist, or I can answer most of your questions. Also see my comments under a previous thread titled "new pond", I believe. You ought to have a lot of fun with your pond.

 

[MikeBurr]

I too was thinking of adding a windmill to my ponds, but what I would like to do is pump the water up a slope- about 40ft high and maybe 500+ feet from the pond. I could then have a stream and water fall that runs down to the pond. Electric pumps would cost too much to run and the area I would use is too far from the electic box.
Anyone done anything similar?

TC33D

 

[gerard]

Are you talking about 40 foot of head (vertical lift) for the water? If so that's going to take a fair amount of energy to do any kind of volume ie BIG windmill or lots of wind. Upside is you get the sound and looks of running water WHILE aerating it at the same time. Be awful nice if you could do it. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[jonbote]

Any body still looking in to aerating a pond with wind power or a windmill here is a site that has a ton of info on buying, using , setting up etc.

(www.morganwinds.com | Wind Powered Aeration, Electronic Aerators, Pond Aerators - Home)

I highly recommend reading up on this site before you invest the money.

www.morganwinds.com | Wind Powered Aeration, Electronic Aerators, Pond Aerators - Home