Air stone use?

My little 400gal pond has done wonderfully all summer long - crystal clear
water (after the spring bloom), lilies going crazy, fish thriving, including
a host of new babies. However, I was thinning the hyacinth this week and in
removing several plants noticed a subtle yet distinct odor that suggests
anaerobic activity. My little pump just causes a trickle of a waterfall, so
I don't think I'm getting the oxygenation that I should have. So, here's my
question:

I'm assuming air stones are the answer, as well as a larger pump. How and
what kind of air stones are to be used? Am I going to have to invest in
some kind of air pump as well?

TIA,

Fred
Oceanside CA

If you are going to use air stones, then you will also need to have a pump
to run the air stones. The small aquarium air pumps with the appropriate
aquarium air stone is sufficient. If you were able to smell anaerobic
odors, then I would suspect that you have a layer of debris on the bottom
that is several inches thick. If this is the case, you will need to remove
that debris with a vacuum or fine net. A larger pump or an air stone won't
do much to help with the problems associated with thick layers of debris.
Before stirring up the layer of debris and releasing the hydrogen sulfide
gas, which is very toxic to the fish, you need to add some potassium
permanganate to the pond to neutralize the H2S.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Fred" wrote in message
...
My little 400gal pond has done wonderfully all summer long - crystal clear
water (after the spring bloom), lilies going crazy, fish thriving,
including
a host of new babies. However, I was thinning the hyacinth this week and
in
removing several plants noticed a subtle yet distinct odor that suggests
anaerobic activity. My little pump just causes a trickle of a waterfall,
so
I don't think I'm getting the oxygenation that I should have. So, here's
my
question:

I'm assuming air stones are the answer, as well as a larger pump. How and
what kind of air stones are to be used? Am I going to have to invest in
some kind of air pump as well?

TIA,

Fred
Oceanside CA

On 10/26/03 9:25 AM, in article 3sTmb.26150$275.37887@attbi_s53,
"RichToyBox" wrote:

If you are going to use air stones, then you will also need to have a pump
to run the air stones. The small aquarium air pumps with the appropriate
aquarium air stone is sufficient. If you were able to smell anaerobic
odors, then I would suspect that you have a layer of debris on the bottom
that is several inches thick. If this is the case, you will need to remove
that debris with a vacuum or fine net. A larger pump or an air stone won't
do much to help with the problems associated with thick layers of debris.
Before stirring up the layer of debris and releasing the hydrogen sulfide
gas, which is very toxic to the fish, you need to add some potassium
permanganate to the pond to neutralize the H2S.

I checked but didn't find a layer of debris on the bottom - a very slight
film, but microns thick at best. What I do have is a carpet of lily roots
extending out from their baskets and exploring the pond bottom. Could these
trap the gases and cause the odor? If so, how can I "clean up" a root
system?

Mind you, the odor isn't emanating from the pond, but only when I bring
something out of the water, like the hyacinths in my original post. Anyway,
in my checking for debris I did stir up the bottom a bit - I hope I didn't
cause any toxicity problems.

Thanks for the advice,

Fred

"Fred" wrote in message
...
On 10/26/03 9:25 AM, in article 3sTmb.26150$275.37887@attbi_s53,
"RichToyBox" wrote:

If you are going to use air stones, then you will also need to have a
pump
to run the air stones. The small aquarium air pumps with the
appropriate
aquarium air stone is sufficient. If you were able to smell anaerobic
odors, then I would suspect that you have a layer of debris on the
bottom
that is several inches thick. If this is the case, you will need to
remove
that debris with a vacuum or fine net. A larger pump or an air stone
won't
do much to help with the problems associated with thick layers of
debris.
Before stirring up the layer of debris and releasing the hydrogen
sulfide
gas, which is very toxic to the fish, you need to add some potassium
permanganate to the pond to neutralize the H2S.

I checked but didn't find a layer of debris on the bottom - a very slight
film, but microns thick at best. What I do have is a carpet of lily roots
extending out from their baskets and exploring the pond bottom. Could
these
trap the gases and cause the odor? If so, how can I "clean up" a root
system?

Mind you, the odor isn't emanating from the pond, but only when I bring
something out of the water, like the hyacinths in my original post.
Anyway,
in my checking for debris I did stir up the bottom a bit - I hope I didn't
cause any toxicity problems.

That sounds normal to me. A small body of water with lots of life, will
definately have some odor when you are bent over it and stirring it up.
Certainly you should not be bowled over by stench, but some smell must be
normal.

BV.

And Air pump, yes. A cheaply made air stone can be had using drip system
parts. Tubing, connectors and leaky tubing are similar in size to aquarium
hoses, and even better suited to being outside. Also the leaking tubing is
rubber and won't vibrate a hole into your liner like an air stone could.
Thus, if using an airstone, keep it away from the sides or bottom of a
liner pond. ~ jan



On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 00:17:36 -0700, Fred wrote:

My little 400gal pond has done wonderfully all summer long - crystal clear
water (after the spring bloom), lilies going crazy, fish thriving, including
a host of new babies. However, I was thinning the hyacinth this week and in
removing several plants noticed a subtle yet distinct odor that suggests
anaerobic activity. My little pump just causes a trickle of a waterfall, so
I don't think I'm getting the oxygenation that I should have. So, here's my
question:

I'm assuming air stones are the answer, as well as a larger pump. How and
what kind of air stones are to be used? Am I going to have to invest in
some kind of air pump as well?

TIA,

Fred
Oceanside CA

See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

Jan, This is the second post where you've stated air stones
vibrating a hole in the liner! What is going on here?
I have been using air stones for 9 years. No holes in the liner.
I've never heard of such a thing .... :O)

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
And Air pump, yes. A cheaply made air stone can be had using drip system
parts. Tubing, connectors and leaky tubing are similar in size to aquarium
hoses, and even better suited to being outside. Also the leaking tubing is
rubber and won't vibrate a hole into your liner like an air stone could.
Thus, if using an airstone, keep it away from the sides or bottom of a
liner pond. ~ jan



On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 00:17:36 -0700, Fred wrote:

My little 400gal pond has done wonderfully all summer long - crystal
clear
water (after the spring bloom), lilies going crazy, fish thriving,
including
a host of new babies. However, I was thinning the hyacinth this week and
in
removing several plants noticed a subtle yet distinct odor that suggests
anaerobic activity. My little pump just causes a trickle of a waterfall,
so
I don't think I'm getting the oxygenation that I should have. So, here's
my
question:

I'm assuming air stones are the answer, as well as a larger pump. How and
what kind of air stones are to be used? Am I going to have to invest in
some kind of air pump as well?

TIA,

Fred
Oceanside CA

See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

AES sells oversized "O" rings that can be placed around an airstone that
will keep it off the bottom. My airstone "manifold" is mounted on a hard
plastic plate to keep the stones away from the liner. Personally, I've never
heard of a stone vibrating a hole in a liner, but I suppose it IS a
possibility. Then again, because of lawsuits over very frivalous things, I
think people are thinking of everything that can possisbly go wrong and
trying to find ways to circumvent them.

Lee


"Nedra" wrote in message
ink.net...
Jan, This is the second post where you've stated air stones
vibrating a hole in the liner! What is going on here?
I have been using air stones for 9 years. No holes in the liner.
I've never heard of such a thing .... :O)

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
And Air pump, yes. A cheaply made air stone can be had using drip system
parts. Tubing, connectors and leaky tubing are similar in size to
aquarium
hoses, and even better suited to being outside. Also the leaking tubing
is
rubber and won't vibrate a hole into your liner like an air stone could.
Thus, if using an airstone, keep it away from the sides or bottom of a
liner pond. ~ jan



On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 00:17:36 -0700, Fred wrote:

My little 400gal pond has done wonderfully all summer long - crystal
clear
water (after the spring bloom), lilies going crazy, fish thriving,
including
a host of new babies. However, I was thinning the hyacinth this week
and
in
removing several plants noticed a subtle yet distinct odor that
suggests
anaerobic activity. My little pump just causes a trickle of a
waterfall,
so
I don't think I'm getting the oxygenation that I should have. So,
here's
my
question:

I'm assuming air stones are the answer, as well as a larger pump. How
and
what kind of air stones are to be used? Am I going to have to invest
in
some kind of air pump as well?

TIA,

Fred
Oceanside CA

See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 00:30:40 GMT, "Nedra" wrote:

Jan, This is the second post where you've stated air stones
vibrating a hole in the liner! What is going on here?

As was reported to me, most air stones are made of an abrasive material,
add small frequent movements and you have the possibility of a sandpaper
affect. I've never had it happen, never heard of it happening, but I
suppose the possibility is there. Why O-rings have been added to some of
the larger stones.

One thing that we noted last year with our Luft pump was having the excess
cord sitting on top of where the cord came out of the pump, this caused
wear from the pump vibrating, and the pump even made a worn spot on the
side of the plastic pail it was in. ~ jan


See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

That is the first time I have heard that as well.



~ jan JJsPond.us wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 00:30:40 GMT, "Nedra" wrote:

Jan, This is the second post where you've stated air stones
vibrating a hole in the liner! What is going on here?

As was reported to me, most air stones are made of an abrasive material,
add small frequent movements and you have the possibility of a sandpaper
affect. I've never had it happen, never heard of it happening, but I
suppose the possibility is there. Why O-rings have been added to some of
the larger stones.

One thing that we noted last year with our Luft pump was having the excess
cord sitting on top of where the cord came out of the pump, this caused
wear from the pump vibrating, and the pump even made a worn spot on the
side of the plastic pail it was in. ~ jan


See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

Do you have fish? How many, you need a filter. Nothing big or expensive,
build your own. lift out your plants and wash them in a bucket of water,
just to remove any debrise sitting, but the roots out in the water are great
for the water, help to filter it.


Fred wrote in message ...
My little 400gal pond has done wonderfully all summer long - crystal clear
water (after the spring bloom), lilies going crazy, fish thriving,
including
a host of new babies. However, I was thinning the hyacinth this week and
in
removing several plants noticed a subtle yet distinct odor that suggests
anaerobic activity. My little pump just causes a trickle of a waterfall,
so
I don't think I'm getting the oxygenation that I should have. So, here's
my
question:

I'm assuming air stones are the answer, as well as a larger pump. How and
what kind of air stones are to be used? Am I going to have to invest in
some kind of air pump as well?

TIA,

Fred
Oceanside CA