I am looking to buy the aeration kit below to put in my pond for the winter.
http://www.aqua-mart.com/lpt1630.html

My question, would this be too much for my small pond? I have no clue about aerators. I haven't even seen one in person so this is a new venture for me. I looked on how stuff works hoping that they would have a break down on how this functions but no such luck.

I had been thinking that maybe I could just leave the pump and filter in (I live in zone 8) and that would be good enough to supply the oxygen that the fish would need but now I am having second thoughts. I'm kinda attached to this little guys (or girls) and would like to see them "make it" through the winter.

TIA :)

Unfortunately the website doesn't tell much about the aerator. I wouldn't think zone 8 would even have to worry about it. Is there a reason you don't run the pumps all winter?

TLC, I just looked at your profile. I'd think the aerator you're looking would be fine for a 115 gallon pond.

Hi TLC, I have the exact same aeration pump. I think it might be a little much for a pond of your size, but the great thing about this aerator is that it is adjustable, so you could just slow it down a bit and it would work great for your purpose. I am also wondering if you would really need one in a Zone 8. But.... I am a big fan of aeration so you can't go wrong by adding it. It is a great little item though, and if you ever expanded to a bigger pond it would still work great. Hope this helps, Elaine

This is my first pond and my first winter so I am still learning.

I wanted to leave the pump and filter in. I am not worried about it freezing. My idea was to disconnect the spitter and just drop the end into the pond. Then I thought maybe with my pump (the pump pretty big for the size of my pond) and filter being in the pond and on the bottom that would keep things too stirred up due to the flow pressure from the pump circulating the water (if that makes sense). I thought that an aerator would do a better job.
I would prefer to just leave the pump in and do the aerator in the summer if it was needed. Less stuff to deal with in the pond and more room for the fish.

Thanks Johnnyboy and KK for the replies.

I am a little slow in my replies and you guys posted before I was finished so now I am catching up :)

So let me ask this question: the aerator itself sits outside the pond with some sort of hose going into the pond?

Yes, the hose going into the pond carries air to the air stone (if there's one) on the end of the line. Air stones are used to disburse tiny air bubbles.

On your other question - Why would you disconnect your spitter and lay the supply line on the bottom of your pond? No reason you couldn't, I'm just not sure why. Spitters supply oxygen for the fishies. You'd be better off (if disconnecting the spitter) to lay the spitter line on the surface and let it run naturally into the pond. That would give you more oxygen transfer (oxygenation) than on the bottom.

Your pond is 115 gallons? I think that air pump is about as strong at the Tetra Luft pump that I use in my 153 gallon pond over the winter (and in my big pond in summer for more oxygen). So, the air pump to which you linked may be ok for your smaller pond. You can always bleed off excess air pressure by putting in a gang valve.

My air pump has a little black plastic house to protect it from rain and snow. I don't think the Laguna air pump has anything like that so you might have to make a little house for it. Your pond is small so just drop the air stone all the way to the bottom which is what I do. The aerator should provide more oxygen (and less water movement) than a pump down there.

The reason that I would disconnect the spitter is b/c it would freeze and break in the winter. My supply line to the spitter would not float on top if I disconnect it but I could prop it up so it would flow out on top of the water. I installed a valve on the water line so I can adjust the flow, I guess I could turn down the flow so it doesn't squirt all over the place.

TLC, you got the idea, or lay the spitter line on the side of the pond and let the water run into the pond like a little waterfall. The more "contact" water surface makes with air the better; air and water-surface contact is where oxygenation takes place.

Yep Robyn, it's 115 gallons +/- a gallon or two. My husband bought it a the local feedstore and surprised me with it. It's a horse trough.
Anyway, I will do a little more research and have a look at the pump that you have since it has it's own house. I liked the price of the Laguna and the fact that it's a kit.
KK says that she uses the Laguna but I don't know what size her pond is. Sounds like it is quite a bit larger than mine :)

Ok now you did it. You have me thinking about a waterfall :rolleyes:
Let's see. I could prop up the line and let it flow out over some sort of rock. Hummmm. I might need to go to the rock store :)
Thanks for the idea....

KK, what type of enclosure do you have for this aerator? I am assuming here that you have this outside. I am getting ready to order but want to make sure that I have all my ducks in a row ;)

Hey T! I never used mine outdoors, only in the shop pond. You are pretty warm right? I would just maybe put it in a rubbermaid container or something. Be sure to make some small holes in the end or something to allow it to get the air it needs, but to keep the rain out. I just got a new big aerator for the new pond. I haven't installed it yet but I am going to put it in my little dogs house, since he doesn't use it! Hopefully it doesn't freeze, I am a little nervous about it! Thankfully we are having a beautiful fall and I am able to keep my pump running and the fish are still eating every second day.
P.S. You are going to love this little aerator, it is awesome :D

KK, Yep I am warmer than you. I think zone 8 nears as I can tell. I like the rubbermail container. Another great idea!! The weather here is raining and about 56 degrees. It's not getting much colder than that at night. It will start getting colder sometime next month.
I wonder if anyone has put a pump in a dog house before :D
Thanks for the input

You could put the pump in a dog house, as long as the dog wasn't using it! My Tetra Luft pump came with a black plastic house which they no longer sell with it. You could make a little house out of most any plastic storage container, just cut an opening in the end for the cord, airline tubing, and gas exchange. I think if you bought a plastic shoe box and painted it black (I don't know if that really keeps it warmer or not) and cut a hole in one end, that would most mimic the thing that I have.