We all know the importance of maintaining good water practices. Most state environmental agencies are charged with the task of overseeing such things, but sometimes their zest for enforcement can lead to some unexpected, and humorous responses. Be sure to the take the time to read both the original state letter, and the dam fine reply by the landowner. Both are actual letters, validated by the state of Michigan.
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General Pond Stuff
Earth Day – Save On Our Natural Products
Each year, we celebrate Earth Day. April 22nd represents the special day when we’re reminded to care and respect this wonderful place we all call home.
Make no mistake, it’s a very good thing…a good symbolic reminder of what’s important. But one day of respectful celebration won’t do all that much in practical fact. What you and I do every day will matter a lot more.
That’s really what we’re all about, at least as far as pond care goes.
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Dangerous Ponds – Do You Have One Near You?
Last week a sad tale hit the newswire with details surrounding the death of an 80 year old Wisconsin Rapids man. He had gone out to clean some algae from a pond on his property, and when he hadn’t returned that evening his wife became concerned and went looking for him, and found him face down in the water.
It’s believed he may have slipped or fell into the water and simply couldn’t get himself out.
This story stimulated a bit of curiosity in me so I went to our friend Google and searched for more information on pond deaths and found it to be an all too common occurrence.
Take the 2012 report of an Illinois man, only 37 years old at the time, who drowned in a pond after his kayak overturned while he was investigating a local swan family. It’s thought that once in the water, the man tried to swim for shore, and was harassed by the birds, and his clothing and boots became heavy and water logged, and he didn’t make it to land. He left behind a wife and several daughters.
And in case you might be thinking that drownings and such happen only in larger ponds, the unfortunate fact is that small ponds can also turn deadly.
Small Ponds Have Risks Too
In 2014 a toddler in Ohio, accidentally fell into a backyard decorative pond. CPR was administered on the 18 month old boy, but he could not be revived after transport to a nearby hospital.
And of course, in recent years, there have been many more tragedies. And they don’t just include people. Pets as well will often inadvertently end up in the water and if they have trouble swimming or there’s no easy way out of the pond, they too can fall victim to drowning.
Winter Pond Dangers
Summer time is the most common season for drowning deaths, but we can’t forget that winter has it’s risks too. Thin ice that won’t hold the weight of a person, or animal, may be hard to gauge and once one falls through, it can be harder to extricate yourself. Once again, most reports indicate children of various ages, and pets, as the most likely to fall victim to thin ice.
Here’s a quick run down of some tips that discuss how to safely get out after a fall through the ice.
Toxic Algae Can Also Be A Problem
Every single summer reports come along announcing toxic algae blooms in ponds around the country. These are usually in mid summer or late season issues that come with ample heat and sunshine and very aggressive blooms of blue-green algae. These algae create toxins in the water that if ingested can create a number of physical issues.
Pets or livestock appear to be the most commonly affected by these blooms and this story of a hunting dog in Oleans NY came out lucky after some rapid assistance from a knowledgeable veterinarian. Many pets, as well as some wildlife, simply do not recover from the toxins.
Fortunately dangerous blooms are not all that common overall and they don’t occur throughout most of the year. As the weather cools down, these algae will rapidly drop in numbers and won’t be a problem. During the warm summer months however it’s a good idea to be on guard and watch your pets closely. Be sure to provide a source of fresh water on your walks or outings to avoid have them drink from a nearby pond.
As we’ve noted in other posts here, blue-green algae doesn’t have to be an issue in community ponds. Historically it has been readily controlled with ultrasound systems, reduced with beneficial bacteria supplementation and aeration, or outright killed with an appropriate algaecide. If a pond has shown a history of having problematic blooms, it’s one of the few occasions in my opinion that may warrant algaecide usage during the peak of the summer season.
Awareness Saves Lives
It’s unfortunate that so many people have had to suffer the loss of loved ones or beloved pets to pond related accidents. And while one can’t guard against every tragedy, the fact is that we often take for granted the threats that exist around us. Ponds are every where, and it’s likely you might have one near your home now. We see them everyday and often recreate in and around them often, mostly without giving a lot of thought to the risks related to them.
Usually there are no problems at all, but it only takes one instance to change your perspective on things forever.
If possible, it’s a good idea to not work in or around a pond alone. Have someone with you that can offer help should you find yourself or another person in a bad situation. Do not leave pets or youngsters unattended around water. Remain aware that even in a small pond, a person can slip and become injured or incapacitated, and pets can get into the water quickly and easily and may not find a clear way out.
Use common sense around winter ponds, and if possible stay off them unless you know without a doubt that the ice is thick enough to support your weight. Keep pets and children away from frozen ponds and teach them if possible to avoid this risky environment.
And when it comes to algae issues, know that you can’t always tell a toxic bloom from a harmless one. It’s a good idea overall to avoid having your pet drink or swim in a pond if you see green tinted water in particular. It may not necessarily show up visually as well so if a pet does go in the water and shows odd symptoms afterwards, be sure to get them to a vet immediately. It very well may save their life.
A pond can be a beautiful place to be around, and they don’t have to be a dangerous thing. But they do deserve and warrant a certain amount of respect and awareness in regards to safety.
Pond Aerator Pumps Are Not Indestructable
After years of being in the pond business, it could be said that we’ve sold A LOT of pond aeration systems. From small backyard koi pond aerators to mulit-acre lake packages, and just about everything in between.
In that time, we’ve learned, and observed, what it takes to keep these systems up and running for the long term and I wanted to share a bit more about that today.
This post was inspired, you might say, but a recent customer issue. The aerator had been running pretty well for about a year, and then the pump quit working. Since it had stopped completely and they had fish in their pond (and it was warming up) the customer wanted to resolve the issue quickly.
It was suggested to have this pump sent in for repair and during the inspection and repair, well, let’s just say this pump had appeared to have gone through a battle.
It was absolutely filthy with dust and dirt, and to make matters worse, we found small rocks and stones inside the motor housing. I’m not talking about inside a cabinet that normally goes around the pump, I’m talking inside the pump!
In discussions with the customer, we never did figure out how the rocks got into the pump, but they noted it was put under an open shed, on a board of plywood. And generally this should have been fine. In this particular case though, it looked like the pump may have gotten caught in a flood, or at the very least was placed in a very dusty or dirty area.
After all this, it wasn’t really such a shock to find that the pump only lasted a year.
Tender Loving Pump Care Works Best
Let’s get one thing on the table right up front. The pumps that power pond aeration systems are not necessarily cheap. Even the small compressors will cost several hundred dollars. But they are worthy of the expense in the sense that they are uniquely designed to run these air generating systems continuously. 24/7 operation is the norm, and in many cases they will run for years like this without any long down time.
If…they are cared for properly.
And caring for them adequately isn’t really all that complicated.
When you set up one of these systems, you can purchase a weather proof cabinet with the packages and most people do that. Unless they have an existing outbuilding or structure to protect the compressor from the elements. Some people use home made boxes as well, and they will work too with proper considerations.
Basically the pumps need to be kept dry and free of moisture. Second, as they run, they will heat up a good bit, especially the rocking piston type compressors, so really good cross ventilation is required to avoid over heating. All the cabinets we sell come with cooling fans in them, and even when you go without a factory cabinet it’s a good idea to have a fan on the pump at all times.
The cooler you keep them the longer they’ll last.
Air intake is critical to these devices. And clear air is a must. So be sure to keep the air filter on the intake clean and fresh. You want to minimize any dust or dirt and debris from getting inside the pump. The air will go right into the piston chamber (on rocking piston systems) and if it get’s too dirty in there it can make it harder for the pump to run smoothly. In really bad cases, like we noted above, it could jam up the pump altogether.
Most of the systems have a paper type filter (some may be foam) that can be replaced as needed. If the area where the compressor is kept is pretty dusty, changing this out every 3 months is probably about right. Some folks can go longer than this, but be sure to keep an eye on the filter cartridge. Replace it if it’s dirty.
Apart from the air filter, the only other real maintenance that may come up every few years is that the seals on the piston and piston chamber (rocking pistons again) will wear down and need to be replaced. It’s an easy process for the most part and can be done with a few simple tools. You can tell the seals are wearing down because some air output will be lost and the bubbling in the pond will not be as robust. If it it’s not producing bubbles at all, then you know a seal is probably leaking pretty badly by that point.
On linear compressors, the diaphragms are the air generating component and these too will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Again with a few minutes of time and some simple tools you can be back up and running quickly.
For Long Lasting Dependable Service, Keep Your Pump Protected And Maintained
In simple terms it really comes down to this. If you don’t have an acceptable, fairly clean, protected area to place your aerator pump, it’s probably best to just get a factory cabinet with the aeration kit. These are designed to protect and support the daily operation of the system.
If you have an existing building or structure, or a way to protect the compressor from the elements, then be sure to provide adequate ventilation and even a cooling fan at all times. Remember the cooler you can keep the pump, the longer it will likely last. Place the pump on a clean base or elevate it on a platform if necessary to keep the pump from getting exposed to dirt, dust, or moisture.
Change the air filters regularly.
Replace the seals or diaphragms as required to keep air output at adequate levels.
And probably the simplest thing of all, (except for some fella’s myself included) be sure to read the owners manual that comes with the system so you know how to care for the pump and were to get replacement parts.
Rest assured that most aeration systems on the market today are very well made. With some simple maintenance and attention, an aeration pump should run trouble free for years. They are designed, and best used, running continuously, and will do so if they are properly cared for.
Pond Aeration Questions – This Video Is The Answer
If you’re researching large pond aerators, more often than not, you end up with a lot of questions. I get them all the time.
What is an aerator actually going to do for my pond? How does it work? How do I get the right size system for my pond? What’s installation like, can I do it myself? And what about maintenance, is it hard to do?
These are questions that come up time and time again and with good reason. For an investment like this you need to know what you’re getting into.
Fortunately there are some really useful resources out there that answers most of these critical questions.
I’ve prepared a video, with the help of our friends at Airmax, that covers them very well and I think you’ll find it really helpful, even if you already have an aerator in place. But particularly for those that are looking to get an aerator up and running in their pond, this is absolutely critical information to have.
Winter Ponds Can Be Dangerous
Sometimes I find myself questioning if certain topics are worth talking about. Standing on thin ice would be one of those but in truth, it’s a very important thing to talk about.
The proof in this is the various news reports you see every winter, where people, pets, or even wildlife end up falling through the ice and either get rescued (which is a good thing, but there are risks to the rescuer’s too) or they end up freezing to death (and that’s just not a good outcome).
So with that in mind, here’s some helpful advice from the Penn State Extension service.
Always know the strength and thickness of the ice on the farm pond before doing any activity on the ice. Because ice is a complex formation no ice is completely safe. Newly frozen ice is typically stronger than old ice. Ice that has thawed and refrozen can be weak and potentially dangerous. Temperature, precipitation (e.g., snow, sleet, rain), age of ice, water depth, and water quality are all factors involved in the strength and thickness of ice. Just because ice may be several inches to a foot or more thick does not guarantee its strength.
Before attempting to cross a frozen pond, conduct an inspection to determine the ice’s thickness by drilling a hole through and chipping at the ice every 10 feet out from the shore. Examine the ice for thickness and color. High density ice is present if the ice comes off in chunks when it is being chipped. Low density and deteriorating ice is present when the ice comes off in flakes or thin layers. Inspect the ice conditions every time you go onto the ice because condition, strength, and stability of ice can change quickly depending on the temperature, weather, and sunlight. Ice that has been exposed to air temperatures above freezing (32 F) for six hours over a 24-hour period can rapidly lose strength and stability. The following table outlines the type of ice and its potential stability.
You’ll find a very useful reference table on the PSE site as well as some other safety tips (year round) that might really be helpful to you. The fact is, people and animals do drown in ponds every year, and unfortunately many of the victims are children.
But with the right mindset, training, and awareness, many of these tragedies can be avoided.
Disclaimer: No that is not me in the picture standing by the “thin ice” sign. Personally I wouldn’t do anything that crazy (or insert other word as required) and I hope this fellow remained above the water line. – MW