MY PUMP QUIT! OR MY POWER WENT OUT! WHAT DO I DO?
We HIGHLY recommend (and have been preaching this for years) that Phoenix homeowners with a pond keep a battery-operated aerator on hand in case of emergency, especially during the summer months when our nighttime temps don’t dip much below 90 degrees.
Too many people have awakened in the morning to all their large fish suffocated to death because their pump quit or they had an unknown power outage in the middle of the night. It’s a horrific sight.
YOU SHOULD HAVE AN AERATOR ON HAND
Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water. On top of that, at night, aquatic plants respirate carbon dioxide and steal oxygen from the already low-oxygenated warm water. Combined with a power or pump outage, this can create a very dangerous situation and suffocate the large fish in your pond overnight. Water movement and oxygen exchange are critical for keeping larger fish (over 6”) in your pond.
Having an aerator in your pond is a great way to help out the oxygen transfer (as well as offer some predator protection because they can’t see through the bubbles), and if your power goes out for any length of time, a battery-operated aerator could save the lives of your larger fish. Having an extra pump on hand may seem like a smart idea; however, the warranty period starts running at the time of purchase, so it’s not ideal. With the advancements in technology, a solar-powered aerator with a rechargeable battery is just the ticket!
WHICH PONDS NEED AN AERATOR?
If your pond meets any of the following standards, you should have an aerator on hand in case of emergency:
- Your pond fish are at least 6” long
- The surface area of your pond is over 20% covered by water lilies and other aquatic plant life
- The mulm on the floor of your pond is at least 1” deep
If your pond meets the guidelines listed above, you absolutely need to have an aerator on hand. A battery-powered aerator will keep your fish alive during a power outage or pump failure until you can get the power reinstated or the pump replaced.
If there is mulm on the bottom of the pond, place the aerator on a shelf or block within the pond so that it’s not stirring the mulm into the water column, which would exacerbate the situation.
WHERE TO GET AN AERATOR FOR YOUR PHOENIX POND
One of our long-time clients, Ken Sawitzke, has used and recommends a solar-powered aerator with battery storage available on Amazon (because they have everything). He confirms that if you put it out in the morning even on a stormy day, it will charge itself up and alleviate any worry about the pond pump quitting or the power going out, and will run all night, keeping your finned friends safe. There are other options; we just picked the medium-priced one to get you started on your journey. As with anything, you get what you pay for.
Don’t wait until something happens, and the emergency is upon you – prepare now! At this time, The Pond Gnome does not offer 24-hour emergency service outside of our Platinum Maintenance Program. We may not be able to get help to you as soon as we would like for a pump replacement (and we have no control over power outages or electrical failures), so please, please, PLEASE take steps to take care of your fin-babies!
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
To Learn More About Emergency Pond Maintenance: https://pondgnome.com/emergency-pond-service-phoenix-az/
