 In order to reduce the chance of algae growth it is essential to keep water circulating throughout the lake.
In an ideal situation, the lake is of perfectly circular shape with the fountain located in the middle. The water spray is forceful enough to push aerated water to the sides so that no stagnant spots remain.
In the real world however, lakes are neither round, nor is the placement of the fountain in the middle always the most aesthetically pleasing solution. Therefore the following factors should be considered when choosing the number and size of floating fountains or aerators:
Size and Shape of the Lake
A good guideline is to circulate one acre foot or 325,850 gallons of water once every 24 - 48 hours, depending on the climate. Also, it is important to keep as much water as possible in circulation from the location of the fountain all the way to the sides of the lake. This means a long or irregularly-shaped lake may be better served by two or more fountains or aerators, irrespective of the overall volume of the lake.
Nozzle Spray Pattern
Spray patterns determine the effectiveness of aeration by how well the water is moved away from the fountain to the sides of the lake (circulation) and by how fine the droplets are that travel through the air (oxygen enrichment). Spraying water into the air is the most effective way to enrich it with oxygen as the volume of air relative to the volume of water is very large. Sub-surface aeration is less effective and does not circulate water.
Climate
Warm climates with a lot of sunshine require higher performance from an aerating fountain or floating aerator. Sunshine and heat contribute to algae growth and even borderline stagnant spots may become overgrown relatively quickly. In order to effectively circulate more water, a larger unit or multiple units may be needed.
Prior Algae Problem
An existing algae infestation is often best approached by manually or chemically cleaning the pond and then running the fountain continuously in order to keep the growth under control.
Putting it all together
OASE Floating Fountains and Aerators are available in a range of horse power that offers a choice for the particular environment where the unit is going to be used. The interchangeable nozzles provide the ability to adapt the units to aeration needs or aesthetic preference.
Detemining aeration needs
Surface Area
An easy way to determine surface area - especially of irregularly-shaped lakes - is to compare the lake to a grid it will fit into. In the example below, the grid (made up of 10 sq. ft. units) has an area of 14,400 sq. ft. (90 x 160 ft.). The lake occupies 101 of the 144 grid squares. Therefore the surface area is 101 x 14,400 ft./144 = 10,100 sq. ft. This is equivalent to about 14 acre (see formula below).
Necessary Aeration
The combinations of pumps and nozzles on OASE fountains and aerators allow for the general rule, that - in normal water conditions - 1 1/2 horse power are recommended per surface acre. A lake of 3 acres could therefore be aerated by three 1 1/2 horse power units or one 5 horse power unit (depending on the shape of the lake and aesthetic preference). Multiplying the surface area with the average depth of the lake gives the volume of the lake. This number can then be used to calculate necessary flow rates in order to ensure adequate circulation over a given period.
Important Formulas:
Surface Area (sq, ft.) /43,560 sq. ft. per acre = Surface Area (acre)
Surface Area (acres) x 1 1/2 HP per acre = Total number of required horse-power Surface Area (acres) x Average Depth (ft.) x 325,800 gallons per acre fool = Lake Volume (gal)
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StrataVator Floating Fountains
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OASE StrataVator floating fountains have long been regarded as one of the foremost solutions for virtually maintenance-free ponds and lakes in small or large home and park projects.
Natural Elegance
The principle behind the StrotaVator series is destratification - the breaking up of stagnant layers of water below the surface. Without continuous and efficient water circulation, stagnant layers become depleted of oxygen by either bacterial or algae growth, eventually causing the pond to become an offense to eyes and nose.
By pulling water from lower layers and moving it to the surface, the StrataVotor series fountains break up the stratification and reduce the occurence of stagnant layers. In addition, the fountain displays of the StrataVator series are not only beautiful to behold, but also aerate the water as it is returned to the pond. The StrataVator offers an elegant and natural alternative to expensive and potentially dangerous chemical water treatments.
Everything Included
All OASE floating fountains include a Command Center specifically designed for the electrical requirements of the unit. Also, every unit comes standard with a Quick Disconnect for the electrical cable, making handling and storing the unit much easier. Nozzles are interchangeable and can be exchanged as needs or preference dictate.
Customized Illumination
The MINI model can be retro-fitted with a 3-light daisy chain with exchangeable lenses. The MIDI and MAXI models can be equipped with different colored lights and are available with Color Blender modules built into the Command Center for controlling the lighting patterns for 6- or 9-light configurations. |
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StrataFlo High Volume Aerator
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Need more aeration?
In warmer climates aeration needs approximately double. The warm environment and sunshine substantially accelerates the processes that can lead to increased occurence and growth of unsightly algae. The only way to control this stronger growth is to circulate the water more often. The OASE StrataFlo was designed to address this problem.
High-Flow Propeller and Nozzles
The StrotoFlo's feature a unique propeller design with nozzles specifically engineered for aeration and high flow. In addition, a strainer is no longer necessary. Maintenance due to strainer cleaning is dramatically reduced.
Everything Included
Just like the StrataVator, every StrotoFlo unit comes complete with float, pump, Command Center and 10 ft. motor lead with Quick Disconnect. The StrataFlo comes with three Trumpet Style interchangeable nozzles, so the unit can be adapted to any situation.
Customized Illumination
Each StrataFlo unit can be equipped with up nine lights (9x 120W, 9x 200W 9x 300W or 9x 500W) which are installed as daisy chains. Lighting can also be retro-fitted. |
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