A Winter Wake is a Disturbance in the Surface of Water that Inhibits Freezing.
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During the Warm Weather a Spray Fountain was in this Country Pond.
This is a Retention Pond. Guessing about FOUR Feet Deep in some Areas.
We Learned a Lot from our Visits with these Swans.
We Stopped Late on a Very Cold Afternoon to Drop-Off Bags of Lettuce.
Rob Walked out on the Dock.. I Came Down to the Pond for a Few Minutes.
It was not Long before Thick Clouds Covered the Sky.. Blocking the Sun.
The Air Chilled Quickly.. My Tolerance for the Cold has its Limits.
Discouraged by the Lack of Sun and my Cold Fingers, I went back to our Van.
I Always Enjoy our Pond Visits.. and Photographing the Various Swans.
The Following Series of Images were a Surprise.
While Rob Continued to Feed the Swans.. I Snapped the Following Images Sitting in the Van out of the COLD.
What I was Seeing in my View Finder.. were VERY Dark Images..
I Figured I would be Deleting these Once on my Computer.. TOO Dark !
I was Glad that I Captured these Almost Silhouette Images.
By 4:30PM.. it was OverCast with Thick Clouds and getting Dark.
When this Pair Saw our Van Pull-in.. they would Head Over for Treats.
Depending on Rain and Snow Melt.. The Pond Water Level would Vary.
Mid-March of 2014, a Fair Amount of their Pond was Still Ice Covered.
This is the Start of the Winter of 2014 – 2015..
I Tried to See what was Swirling the Water to Keep the Ice Free Area.
I Asked the Wife.. She said, it was a Sump Pump Attached to the Dock Post.
What I could See.. Reminded me of a Leaf Blower.. A Jet of Water near the Surface. * There is an Electric Cord in the Water.
Do a SEARCH for: POND Aeration SUMP PUMP >>> : POND DeIcing SUMP PUMP
Sump Pumps Draw Water TOWARD the Unit and Discharge with Force..
This Action also Pulls any nearby Debris toward the Unit. Leaves, Pine Needles, Trash, etc. can QUICKLY STOP the Water Flow. This may cause the Unit to OverHeat…. > > > > POOF !! Short Life..
Do a Search for: Clean vs. Dirty Sump Pumps. Not All Sump Pumps are Created Equal. Some are More Suited for this.
We Visited this Swan Pond for Nine Years. The Same DeIcing Pump was there each Winter.
This was a Favorite Swan Pond we would Visit over the Years.
We got to Observe the Young Pair Bond, Mature, Nest and Hatch Cygnets.
These Swans knew us Well.. Enjoyed our Salad Greens and Treats.
SUBSURFACE CIRCULATING AERATOR SYSTEMS Work by STREAMING AIR BUBBLEs.
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The Air-Bubble Streams Circulate Water from the Lower Pond and Improves the Oxygen to a Pond’s Lower & Upper Levels.
During the Winter, Movement of Circulating Water Inhibits Surface Freezing on Pond and Lakes. Waterfowl-Swans NEED an Open Water Area.
From July 2015 to May 2017, our Swans were Living on a Lovely Country Pond with an Island.
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We tried using a Submersible Pump Set-up the First Winter – 2015-2016. It Worked.. but, the Debris that Drains into this Pond meant the Pump Needed to be Cleaned Frequently. NO FUN when it is Very Cold.
And there is an Electric Cord in the Water.. I have Never been Comfortable with Electric Cords being in the Water.. Due to the Risk of Electric Leakage. The Electric Box is a GFCI.
 GFCI Receptacles are Required where a Water Source is Present. For All Locations that are Wet or Damp – Rain, Fog, Snow, Ice, etc.
This was their First Winter on this Pond.. Lots to Learn.. Our Swans found the Inflow Drain Pipe Water was Warmer.. The Pipe Runs through the Earth and Warms the Water !! Smart Swans.
By the Spring of 2016, I knew we wanted to Seek Another System. The Submersible Pump kept a Large Open Area.. in One Place. Our Swans were Confined to this One Open Water Location for Months.
In Early Summer of 2016, I Researched Bubble Aerators-Diffusers. I Read Every Website I could Find. (Several Times.)
Several of the Ponds we had Visited have Bubble Diffusers. I asked Questions about their Experiences.. Gathered Info.
The TWO Main Problems.. THE Compressors Vibrate – Hum.. Mounting them on any House Structure or Deck was Annoying.
If the Compressor was Mounted by the House.. Then the Weighted Air Hose had to be VERY LONG..and Buried.. Not Ideal. Over Time 3-5 Years the Hose may need to be Replaced.
Having a Sturdy Structure Close to the Pond to House or Mount the Compressor seemed Better. .. if Possible.
Second Common Complaint, the Hose Clamps that came with the Units did not Hold. The Air Hoses would Pop Off due to the High Air Pressure..
As I was Checking Various Things OnLine this Week.. (March 2021) I Found MANY DIY YouTube Videos.. of Folks Sharing their Installations. And Some of their Handy Tips.. LOTs of Helpful Ideas and Advise.
Air-Oxygen is Blown Through a Weighted Hose to a Diffuser Unit Positioned on the Pond or Lake Bottom.
Everytime I Looked for a More Dependable System. This KASCO Robust-Aire RA3 was the System I kept coming back to. Since the Fall of 2016.. There are Many more Brands and Styles of SubSurface Diffuser Systems.
Air Bubble Diffusers Systems Require an Air Compressor – Located on a Sturdy Structure. Or Housed InSide with Lots of Air Space.
Many Compressor have Cabinets Available to Protect the Units OutSide. They have a Key/Lock to Help Prevent Tampering..
I Liked the Idea of the Multiple Diffuser Systems. This will Gently Circulation in Several Areas of the Pond. We could Service Both Sides of the Island.
We Picked a THREE Diffuser Package with Compressor Cabinet. KASCO Marine ..Robust-Aire RA3.
I did a Google Map OverView.. ( The Three White Ovals are our Swans. 🙂 Together We Planned where the Diffuser Units would be Most Effective..
A Small Stable Pond Boat was Strongly Suggested.
I could not Order the Equipment through KASCO. (Summer 2016) I had to Work-Order through a Pond Service Company in Eastern PA. They Placed the Order.. Everything was Delivered.
In the Fall of 2016, we had the Robust-Aire RA3 System (DIY) Installed in the Lovely Pond with an Island, where our Swans were Living.
When I say “We”.. I was there. The Men who Love and Cared for our Swans DID all the Hard Work.. a “DIY” Project.
I just Snapped these Images – a Record of the Project.
The Diffuser Units and Weighted Hoses will be DOWN 4 to 8 Feet. To Weight the Diffusers.. a BAG of Landscape Pea Gravel is Needed.
The Only Thing I Changed were the Hose Clamps.. See Attached. I Heard the Ones that Come with the Units are not Dependable.
One Swan Pond had the Hoses Pop Off Repeated.. Disconnecting the Hose from a Diffuser. These had to be Located by Diving and Feeling.. ( Yep, having a Simple Location Buoy will be Added ! )
I Supplied a Dozen Stronger Hoses Clamps for all Hose Attachments.. SUBSTITUE HOSE CLAMPs ..SKU 100589 #12 Stainless Steel 1/2 Inch Band – Fits 1/2″ to 1/ 1/4 Diameter Hose
To Weight the Diffusers.. (For our Three Diffusers) We Needed ONE Bag of Garden Landscape Pea Gravel.
If you do a Search for: .>>> YouTube Pond Aeration.. You will FIND Lots of Folks who Share their Experiences and Ideas.. More Videos Every Year.
 A Simple, Almost ZERO Cost Bouy to Locate the Submersed Diffuser Units.  If you Buy Sports Drinks.. Enjoy the Product..   SAVE the Bottle..
Add the Sports Bottle Buoys just in case a Hose Comes OFF a Diffuser.. I Looked for Small Water Bouys. The Smaller Ones were 12 Inch Bright Red.. or 15 to 18 Inches – LONG White.
I did not want to see Anything on the Surface of this Peaceful Country Pond.. Just the Swans and their Busy Waterfowl Community.
The Bubble Diffusers are Weighted with Landscape Pea Gravel. If you try to use the Hose to Pull a Diffuser UP .. There is a BIG Risk it will Pull Apart…
Trying to Locate the Diffuser in the Settled Silt-Muck COULD be a Challenge..
Use the Rope Tied to a Bottle Buoy if you Need to Lift the Diffusers. Over Time the Weighted Hose will Need to be Changed.. 3 to 5 Years. Maybe. ******
A GREAT IDEA.. LOVE THIS.. MORE FUN I Wish I had Thought of this.. But a Wonderful Swan Friend did ! A POND DUCK DECOY Tied to the Diffuser Unit. This Allows Easy Location and Lifting if Necessary.. These Decoy have a Wide Range of Types and Price..Â
The Protective Case on the Compressor has been Effective. This System has Worked Flawlessly for 4+ Years.. 24/7 (As of March 2021)
Everything is READY – TIME to Put the Diffusers into the POND !
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These Gentlemen Worked Well Together.. Almost a Fun Project.
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YEAH ! ! The Diffuser C is About to be Placed.
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Diffuser B is Loaded into the Boat.. 🙂
No Need to Cut the Ropes to the Buoys Short. An Extra Length will be Available for any Adjustments Needed in the Future IF the Water Level Changes.
There was Very Little Rain in the Summer of 2016 to Fill this Pond…
The Bottles should be Under Water. Just Visible to Located the Diffusers.
Keep the Sports Bottle Buoy Rope Taunt and NO Loose Ends.. Tuck the Excess Rope Ends UP inside the Bottles. There is NO Place to Tuck any Lose Rope with the Duck Decoys..Â
So the Nosey Birds do not get Tangled with them. OR CHEW Them..
And Diffuser A is Going into the Pond.. Successful Installation !
Thanks to the Gentlemen at this Pond.. This was a “DIY Project.” These Men Worked Well Together. They did a Great Job.
The Deeper the Diffuser the Calmer the Surface will be. B is 8 Feet Deep.
The Diffuser C in about 4 Feet of Water.. More Bubbles on the Surface.
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Diffuser A – Not Sure of the Depth.. Maybe 4 Feet+.
****** VERY IMPORTANT !!! Once your Aeration Equipment is Installed.. BE SURE to Follow the Start-Up Instructions..!!!
This Winter Falling Leaves and Twigs will NOT Prevent Circulation !
Our Swans will have Several Areas of Open Water.
There is a Correlation between the Air Temperature, the Depth of the Diffusers, the Pond Circulating Water and the Size of the Opening the Bubble Duffusing Units will Keep Open..
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The COLDER the Air Temperature the Smaller the Liquid Opening.. A LONG Sustained Cold Spell will Test the Limit.
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The Moving Current did not Flow to the Bridge.. That Area Froze.
The One Side of the Pond, where Two Diffusers were Place.. GREAT Space !
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The Other Side of the Island had a Nice Size Open Area with One Diffuser.
Our Bubble Diffuser System is: >>>> KASCO Marine Robust-Aire Diffusers RA3 System
THERE is NO ELECTRIC CORDs in the Water.. Just Weighted Air Hose.
Our SWANs WOULD NOT be Able to Chew on ANYTHING.
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KASCO® DE-ICERS To View these Links >>> Copy and Paste to Browser. https://www.kasco-marine.com https://www.canadianpond.ca/de-icer.html https://www.kascomarine.com/products/aerators/
https://www.propondandlakes.com/kascomarineaerators.aspx Nice Websites with Many Options.. and ***Info
I Believe KASCO has a Service to Assist you with Planning a System. KASCO is a Very Good Product.. We have NO Complaints.
Kasco Marine is located in Prescott, Wisconsin. Contact them by Phone or Email with any Questions or Comments about Their Products. www.kascomarine.com Address: 800 Deere Road, Prescott, WI 54021 USA Phone: 1 (715) 262-4488 .. mail.sales@kascomarine.com
If you need to use Extension Cords – Run through PVC Conduit. Be SURE your Cords are Safe for OutDoor Use.
DO NOT PLACE PLUG CONNECTIONS IN THE WATER ! !
NO Loops.. Swans LOVE to Pull at Cables and Ropes. The Swans will Pick and Chew at Rope, Cords, Electric Cables, etc.
Just Streams of Bubbles to Wash their Faces and Bellies in.
In 2023-2024 there are SEVERAL BRANDs of Aeration Systems.
There are MORE Choices to Meet the Needs of Any Pond/Lake. Do Your Research.. and ASK Questions of Pond Specialists. By Next Spring this Pond will be Healthier.. AND there will be more Open Water in the Cold Winter Months. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The GI Pond does not have DuckWeed, WaterMeal, or Algae.. There are NO UnderWater Plants.. SAV – Submerged Aquatic Vegetation.
NOT Sure Why.. Maybe it is the Colorful Swams of KOI.. The Turbidity is High.. only about 9-10 inches.. on Average.
Even after Heavy Rains that Flush the Pond, the Turbidity is High. High Turbidity Prevents SunLight Penetrating to Allow Plant Growth..
We had the Pond Water Tested-Analysed.. Nothing Abnormal.
The Quality was Acceptable for Swimming.. Which was a Surprise ! There are LOTs of Wild Waterfowl that Frequent this Pond.
We were able to Visit the Swans about Once a Week.. (BIG Smile 🙂
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A High-Low Thermometer was Mounted by the Pond.
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To Date: We are into the March of 2021. The Diffusers have Worked without Anyone Needing to Do ANY Cleaning.
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It was Funny to Watch the Swans Wash their Faces in the Bubble Streams.
Everything Changed Again During the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2017.
Now there are Young Cygnets on this Pond.. January 2018 was Bitter Cold.
These Young Swans did Very Well in the Open Water.
The Young Cygnets have Grown into Beautiful Swans.
Our Swans… Too Long a Saga to Tell here. They were Moved to a New Pond. They had Developed WanderLust. We did what was Best for them..
Our Wonderful World of Swans Continues to Expand.. 🙂
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THE POND GUY.. >>> A Profile of your Pond is a FREE Service.. They have the AirMax Products. >>> https://www.thepondguy.com
https://www.thepondguy.com/contact_us TECH SUPPORT & CUSTOMER CARE: Phone: 866-POND-HELP (766-3435)
Street Address: 15425 Chets Way Street – Armada, MI 48005
******************************************************************** This Page is from our Experience with One Bubble Diffuser System. It was Installed October 2016.. and has Worked Non-Stop Flawlessly Since. Complied by SwanLover Linda M.Sweger …MARCH 2021 ********************************************************************
THE POND GUY.. thepondguy.com >> https://www.thepondguy.com They have the AirMax Products.
Street Address: 15425 Chets Way Street – Armada, MI 48005 Mail To Address: P.O. Box 38 – Romeo, MI 48065
https://www.thepondguy.com/contact_us TECH SUPPORT & CUSTOMER CARE: Phone: 866-POND-HELP (766-3435)
A Profile of your Pond is a FREE Service..
The Swans below.. were in a Flowing Stream.. their Pond was FROZEN..
These Folks will be able to Help you Design an Area in your Pond or Lake to keep an OPEN Water Area.. – A Winter Wake.
Your Swans will be Safer and Happier in a Larger Area.. Winters are LONG.
If you need to use Extension Cords – Run these through PVC Conduit. Be SURE your Cords are Safe for OutDoor Use. DO NOT PLACE PLUG CONNECTIONS IN THE WATER ! !
This Little Series of Cygnets Playing in the Aerator Current is JUST FUN !
Swan Cygnets are Silly.. They will Play Chase. Happy Little Swans.
NO Loops.. Swans LOVE to Pull at Cables and Ropes. The Swans will Pick and Chew at Rope, Cords, Electric Cables, etc.
Make Sure a Very Nosey Swan would NOT be Able to Get their Face into a Propeller..?? Check there is a Grill to Prevent that.
I hear Many Swan Folks Report their Swans Enjoy Playing in the Aerators.
Shallow Pond Aerators Doing a Little OnLine Research for DeIcing with Aerators was Fun. There are Many Companies.. You will LEARN Much about all the Benefits..
The Following Series is an Example of Swans TRYING to Keep the Water from Freezing by Moving their Legs.. I hear this Too Often.
The Shallow Water is Becoming Super Cooled.. COLD !
Moving – Paddling their Feet is all that is Keeping the Surface from Freezing.
The Swans went to the Feed Containers….
In just a Few Minutes the Water Froze Solid.. Firm Enough for the Swan to Stand on.
After Eating a Dry Feed Mixture, this Swan wanted to Drink.
********************************************************************** Information Compiled March 2021 … (c) PA SwanLover Linda M. Sweger **********************************************************************
We Always Enjoyed our Visiting with these Swans. Grateful for the Friendships that Developed.
A Winter Water Wake for WaterFowl.. Keeping Water Moving and Mixing to Prevent Freezing.
As we Traveled about Visiting Swan Ponds, we had a Chance to Observe what Other Swan Folks in our General Area were doing to Care for their Swans. (Good Memories)
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Year after Year… We Visited through All the Seasons. Pastoral Summer Days Turned to Frosty Fall Mornings to Frigid Winter Nights.
There was One Place that Kept the Shallow End of their Pond Open during the Winter with a Bubble Hose. ….It Worked Well.
The Images Range from 2009-2018.
When the Large Bird Bath Froze it was Time to Turn the Bubble Hose ON !
A Compressor Unit with Various Hoses WORKED ! The Compressor Unit is Sheltered in the Gazebo – Up Under a Table.
The Compressor MUST have GOOD Air Flow.. Do NOT ENCLOSE !
This is a Garden Hose Connected to the Compressor.
Here there is a Length of Vinyl Tubing in Shallow Water.
We were Impressed at HOW WELL this Works for this Pond.
BUBBLE HOSE… for DeICING a Shallow Water Area..
Do a Search for >>> Weighted Pond Bubble Hose
I was Surprised at the Number of Companies and Help that is Available.
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In Late April of 2008.. We Arranged a Private Property Sanctuary Home for “Handsome Fellow.” We had Rescued him in July 2007.
We had Care for him in Several Places during his LONG Months of Recovery.. “Handsome” had his Entire Left Wing Removed to Save his Life.
Thank YOU to ALL… Who Helped us with this BIG Project.. …One Day at a Time.
It was Time for a Real Pond. And No More Vet Visits.
“Handsome” was Finally Swimming Freely on a Large Pond.. but Alone.
We “Adopted” a Young Female at a LiveStock Auction.. Scared Little Thing.
“Handsome” Immediately Took Care of Little “Hannah.” We Learned SOOooo Much from this Introduction.
Spring turned to Summer.. We were Thrilled with our Arrangement.
This Private Pond was a Wonderful Place 10 Minutes from our Home.
We Visited with the Swans almost Every Day. They were Thriving.
Trust had Developed.
The Summer Days passed TOO Quickly.
The Lush Summer Green will Soon Turn to Gold.. and Leaves will Fall.
The Swans would often Come to Greet us. Of Course we were the Lunch Wagon. (With Treats)
Various Trees were Turning Colors.. Warning of the Change of Season..
We knew little about what to Expect in the Coming Winter Months
In Early November we had an Air-O-Lator Aerator/DeIcing Unit Installed.
We were Preparing for our First Winter with Swans on this Pond.
Being a Data Nerd, I Placed a High-Low Thermometer in the Electric Panel Box. I Hoped to Predict when we Needed to Turn the Air-O-Lator on.
After Chilly November Nights Various Areas of the Pond would have some Ice.
Watching “Hannah” – She was Very Annoyed with the Ice..
Several Nights we Turned the Air-O-Lator ON – Just in Case..
The Ice would Form in Different Places Depending on the Breezes.
The Golf Course Grounds were a Beautiful Place to go on Snowy Days..
We were So LUCKY to have the Privilege of Spending Time here.
We were Learning More about the Tolerance Swans have for Cold Weather.
Both Swans were OK.. No Shivering.. Well Fed they were at Home OutSide.
It was Interesting to Observed the Freezing Process of the Pond.
The Shallow End of the Pond had Surface Ice many Mornings.
The Late Fall Sun was Getting Lower – Less SunLight to Warm the Water.
During the Month of November the Pond was Always Partially Free of Ice.
Dealing with Ice is not Instinctual for Swans. In True Wild Swan Populations, the Parents will Teach their Young or take them to Warmer Areas.. Migrate.
The Local Forecast did not Suggest the Pond would Freeze OverNight.. A SURPRISE to us ALL.. ! !
We did not have the Air-O-lator Unit Turned ON.. UGH !!!
We Turned the Air-O-Lator on ASAP ! ! Within Minutes it was Thawing the Ice.
There was a Thin Skim of Ice Covering the Entire Pond..
NOW we NEEDED to FIND the SWANs.. I amTrying to Control a Feeling of Panic.
It was the First Winter for Both Swans on this Large Irrigation Pond.
They are OK !!! They were in a Small Channel of Open Water.
“Handsome” (? 10 Years Old) was Staying with Little “Hannah” ( 17 Months Old) and Keeping her Safe.
OH MY ! .. How will we get them back to the Open Water..
In a Short Time the Sun Melted the Ice at the Upper End of the Pond. YEAH !
We Decided to “Baiting” the Swans with Greens.. They are Hungry.
Rob used a Large Branch shaped like a Hockey Stick to Break a Channel along the Opposite Bank.
Little “Hannah” wanted the Lettuce and the Swans Swam over to me.
I Sprinkled Lettuce in the Broken Channel.. They Started to Munch.
“Hannah” was very Nervous with all the ICE Creeping over their Pond.
A BIG Relief..
BIG Learning Curve that Winter.. ONLY Happened that One Night.
The Days of December were Mixed with Icy and Open Water Zones.
Each Time we have Moved our Swans to a New Pond, they Needed to Learn about the Icing on their New Home Pond. The First Year is the Trickiest for Both the Swans and their CareTakers..
Each Day the Changing Icy Patterns were Beautiful.. We Enjoy this Time.
One Night they Braved Walking over the Thin Ice.. Successfully.
This Little Story of a “Freeze Out” was a Learning Experience for Us. The Swans Quickly Learned.. After this Day they Stayed in the Open Water and Spent Time on the Entire Pond on the Days the Ice would Thaw. Compiled March 2021 ..(c) Linda M.Sweger
