Aeration 101: Choosing the Right System for Your Pond or Lake

Whether you’re a private landowner, a golf course superintendent, a property manager, an HOA board member, or overseeing a commercial property, maintaining a healthy pond or lake is essential. Aeration plays a key role in improving water quality, preventing organic buildup, and creating a balanced aquatic ecosystem. Proper aeration keeps water moving, increases oxygen levels, and helps prevent problems like fish kills, unpleasant odors and poor water quality.

Choosing the right aeration system depends on your specific waterbody, but it’s important to remember that you’re not limited to just one type. Many sites benefit from a combination of aeration methods to optimize circulation, oxygen distribution, and aesthetics. Here’s a guide to the different aeration options and how they work.

Floating Fountains:  Floating fountains are one of the most popular aeration choices because they do more than just add oxygen—they circulate water, produce the relaxing sound of splashing water, and create an eye-catching display. These systems pull water from below and spray it into the air, allowing it to absorb oxygen before returning to the pond.

Best for:

✔ Shallow to moderately deep lakes and ponds where aesthetics matter.

✔ Community ponds, golf courses, and resorts where a beautiful water feature is desired.

Benefits:

✔ Enhances water circulation and aeration at the surface.

✔ Creates a visually stunning display with customizable spray patterns.

✔ Adds the soothing sound of moving water, improving the ambiance of any property.

✔ Helps deter mosquitoes by keeping the water in motion.

Floating fountains are one of the most popular aeration choices because they do more than just add oxygen—they circulate water, produce the relaxing sound of splashing water, and create an eye-catching display

V-Shaped aerators prioritize both the aesthetic appeal and the functionality of the aeration system.

High oxygen transfer aerators are workhorses designed for function over appearance

Diffused aeration works by pushing air through diffuser plates placed at the bottom of the pond or lake. As the bubbles rise, they create vertical mixing that distributes oxygen evenly and eliminates temperature stratification.

We offer a variety of pond aeration systems in different brands, sizes, and styles—customized to fit your specific needs and budget!

Surface Aerators:  Surface aerators, also called high-volume or high oxygen aerators, are workhorses designed for function over appearance. These utilitarian systems churn the top layers of water, rapidly adding oxygen while preventing stagnation. This type of aeration is commonly used in fish production ponds and sites where high oxygen demand is required.

Best for:

✔ Shallow lakes and ponds (less than 6 feet) that need immediate oxygen boosts.

✔ Fisheries, aquaculture, and high-density fish production ponds.

Benefits:

✔ Delivers a fast, high-volume oxygen increase at the surface.

✔ Helps break up floating algae mats and surface debris.

✔ Ensures optimal oxygen conditions for fish health and growth.

Submerged (Subsurface) Aeration Systems:  Submerged aeration, also called subsurface or diffused aeration, works by pushing air through diffuser plates placed at the bottom of the pond or lake. As the bubbles rise, they create vertical mixing that distributes oxygen evenly and eliminates temperature stratification.

Best for:

✔ Deep lakes and ponds (more than 6 feet) where oxygen levels drop near the bottom.

✔ Large earthen-bottom ponds that need complete water circulation.

Benefits:

✔ Increases oxygen throughout the entire waterbody.

✔ Reduces the risk of seasonal turnover, which can lead to sudden fish kills.

✔ Encourages the breakdown of organic muck and reduces sediment buildup.

✔ Keeps the surface calm and natural-looking—ideal for golf courses and scenic landscapes.

Combining Aeration Types for Maximum Effect:  In many cases, using a single type of aeration system isn’t enough. Different parts of a waterbody have different needs, and combining multiple aeration methods can lead to better overall results.

Examples of Multi-System Solutions:

• Golf Courses & HOAs: A floating fountain for aesthetics and surface aeration, paired with subsurface aeration to improve deep water oxygen levels and reduce muck buildup.
• Commercial & Industrial Sites: Surface aerators to rapidly oxygenate fish production ponds, combined with diffused aeration in larger retention basins.
• Large Private Ponds & Fisheries: A diffused system to maintain deep water health, supplemented with surface aerators in high-activity areas like docks or fishing zones.

Not Sure What’s Best for Your Pond? Our Team Can Help!

Choosing the right aeration system (or combination of systems) can be overwhelming, but that’s where we come in. Our team of experts is here to help you design a system tailored to your pond or lake’s unique needs. Whether you need a consultation, a custom aeration plan, or installation support, we’ll work with you to find the best solution for your waterbody.

Give us a call or reach out today, and let’s discuss the best aeration strategy to keep your pond or lake healthy, functional, and beautiful for years to come!

About Jones Lake Management
Since 1949, Jones Lake Management has been a trusted leader in lake and pond management, delivering scientifically backed solutions to create and maintain healthy, balanced, and beautiful waterbodies. Our expert team offers a full range of services, including fish stocking, fisheries management, water quality monitoring, algae and aquatic weed control, aeration solutions, erosion control, invasive species management, hydraulic dredging, and more. Whether you manage a private lake, an HOA stormwater pond, a golf course water feature, or a municipal waterway, we provide customized solutions to ensure your waterbody remains healthy, functional, and thriving.