Airmax Aeration Study On Water Quality Improvement

Mark Washburn

Many people wonder just how useful and powerful adding pond aeration to a body of water might be.  We say it all the time...it's the best thing you can do for your pond.  But how do we really prove that, beyond using mere words?

Well, Airmax, one of our favorite brands of aerators, has put a bit of research behind this claim and you can read a summary of that study below.  

In this study, nutrients, which normally feed algae blooms of all kinds, dropped substantially...no doubt in part to the stimulating effect that added oxygen has on good microbes in the pond.  Muck reduction will also be increased by upping the dissolved oxygen low in the pond...which is something the Airmax systems are great at.

It's a short read, but take a bit of time to look over some of the data here and we think you'll be impressed!

And to learn more about the Airmax Aeration Systems that we carry be sure to visit this page.

An independent study with Airmax® Aeration

The Pond: A ½ acre, kidney shaped, 10+ year old pond located in state of North Carolina. The pond had nearly 12” of muck buildup and required monthly chemical treatments to reduce algae blooms.

The Plan: Before the Airmax® Aeration System was introduced, water samples were taken for phosphorous, nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen and water clarity. Phosphorous and nitrogen are contributors to algae growth while dissolved oxygen and BOD help determine the potential for muck and nutrient reducing aerobic bacteria. A PS20 Airmax® Aeration System was installed and water samples were taken every 30 days. The results speak for themselves.

The Results in 90 Days: Nitrogen & Phosphorous plummeted 90%. Oxygen became saturated throughout the pond and the water clarity dramatically improved. There was also a major reduction in the amount of algae that needed to be treated. The BOS also decreased substantially while the aerobic bacterial activity increased which was responsible for almost ¼” of muck reduction in 90 days.