Aeration Systems for Fish Farms and Fisheries
Aeration systems are one of our specialties here at Lana Springs Fish Farm. Over the last 20 or so years, we’ve tried and tested all types of lake aerators. We regularly receive calls from customers asking what type of aerator is best and where to buy them. There’s a bewildering range of equipment available, and all of them claim to be the best on the market. It’s no wonder customers struggle to decide which system is best for their lake.
We stock various surface splash aerators and also design and build diffused air aeration systems to suit each lake. Contact us with your requirements for more information, and read our story below to see the journey we’ve been on to get where we are today.
Our Story
Initially, with 20 separate lakes on site, it made sense to run all of them off one large diffused air system rather than buying 20 separate aerators and supplying power to every lake. It is much cheaper and easier to move air around than electricity. For our site back then, a diffused air system suited our daily needs best for routine aeration.
While diffused air is very beneficial for a lake, it is not ideal during an oxygen crash, which can happen at any time—especially in hot weather. At first, we had the big diffused air system feeding each lake, plus two surface splash aerators and a small backup generator on standby.
Over the years, we found that two splash aerators were not enough. Two turned into four, and so on, until eventually we had to supply power to every lake and install a surface splash aerator in each individual one. During hot spells, we ran all the splash aerators every single night just in case oxygen levels dropped. We have expensive stock on site and cannot afford to lose an entire lake’s worth of fish. Running everything every night just in case cost us a fortune.
I’ve always had a dream to install a large solar system and go off-grid, but the amount of power we were using made this impossible. The solution to the problem was to install oxygen monitors on each lake. This required more investment, but the massive reduction in electricity usage meant they would pay for themselves in just a couple of years. We bit the bullet and installed an oxygen monitor on every lake.
WOW, what a difference. We went from using 3,000 kWh per month on aeration down to just 300 kWh per month. That’s a massive saving, reducing our electric bill to a tenth of what it was!
This drop in power usage finally made my dream of going off-grid a reality. We bit the bullet again and installed a 50kW solar system with a large lithium battery store for nighttime running. We have now managed to go off-grid completely. It was a big investment, but at today’s electricity prices, it will pay for itself in just a few years. It has been a highly worthwhile investment.
Since installing our current system, we have drastically reduced our running costs for the farm. I also find myself spending far less time worrying about what could potentially happen. The oxygen monitors are set up to turn on the splash aerator automatically if the oxygen level drops below 4.5 mg/L. When the oxygen level recovers to 5 mg/L, it switches off again. On the larger lakes we have 2 surface splash aerators on each controlled by the monitor, the first comes on at 4.5mg/L, if the oxygen level continues to drop to 4mg/L the second aerator comes on, both turn off automatically at 5mg/L, It’s brilliant. I know they are on when they need to be, but they don’t waste precious battery power when they don’t. We also installed a small solar array on each lake and run our diffused air during the day direct from solar power.
You too can get the Ultimate Aeration System for Your Fishery
In my honest opinion, the system described above is the absolute ultimate setup. A scaled-down version of this system is available for your fishery. Whether you have a single pond, a large lake, or a multi-lake complex, we can design a system to suit your needs. Whether you have mains power or not, it is still achievable.
Most fishery owners think nothing of spending thousands of £££ each year on fish stocks and feed, but rarely consider investing in aeration systems to keep those fish alive should the worst happen. As our summers get warmer, the need for aeration becomes ever more essential.
Ideally, to aerate a lake properly, you require both diffused air and surface aeration:
- Diffused Air Systems: A cost-effective way to improve water quality, provide general aeration, and handle de-stratification.
- Surface Splash Aerators: The absolute best tool for dealing with sudden, dangerous low-oxygen events.
We stock, build, and sell both systems. They can be coupled with our automated oxygen monitors to ensure your splash aerators only trigger exactly when needed. Aeration is not cheap, but when you consider the value of your stock and the health of your fishery, it’s an absolute no-brainer.
How Diffused Air Works
Diffused air systems feed compressed air through pipework and special sinking hose to diffusers out in the lake. The water absorbs oxygen directly from the bubbles as they rise to the surface. Simultaneously, huge volumes of water are lifted up from the depths to the surface where it can absorb even more oxygen.
This process mixes the warmer water at the surface with the colder water from the lake bed. By constantly turning the water over in this way, we create a better overall oxygen content and a more even temperature. Another major advantage is that this system can be used to de-ice lakes in the winter, allowing noxious gases out and vital oxygen in.
No Power? No Problem.
For sites that don’t have access to mains electric, we produce solar off-grid systems with battery banks for nighttime running. There is an option to suit everyone.
Every lake is different, and what suits one may not suit another. For more details and advice, please phone Chris on 07789304942 to discuss your aeration needs.
