Aeration is simply adding oxygen to water. Oxygen is the basis for most of the natural, water cleansing activity within your dam. If you’re having problems with odour, sludge, algae, weed or dying fish, chances are you may not have enough oxygen in your water.

Why is aeration important?

Natural lakes automatically cleanse themselves during autumn and spring in line with changes in temperature. During this turnover, low-oxygen bottom waters mix with oxygen-rich surface waters, increasing the overall amount of oxygen. This increase kick starts water cleansing bacteria that process organic pollutants such as bird waste, runoff and leaves. Isn’t Mother Nature wonderful?

Conversely, man-made water bodies have more organic pollutants and less natural flushing than their natural counterparts so their need for oxygen is greater. When water lacks the oxygen to sustain biological cleansing activity, sludge, odour, algae or aquatic weeds can result. Overall, aeration is the best thing you can add to your dam for mid and long-term benefit.

For A Deeper Look At Why You Need Dam Aeration Click Here.

Which aeration system is best for my dam?

All dam aerators need to be sized according to factors such as the volume, depth and temperature of water; salinity, atmospheric pressure, amount of fish (if any) as well as factors unique to the site, such as power supply, noise requirements, maintenance, security and aesthetics.

We consider ourselves the experts on aeration for dams and other water bodies. We’ve also got quite a few happy clients who agree with this sentiment. No query is too big or too small, in fact we welcome them with open arms. Have a browse through our large range of dam aeration products and hit us with your best questions on 1300 283 387!

To learn about the pros and cons of dam aerators, click here.

To discover the main differences between surface dam aerators and sub-surface dam aeration systems, click here.

Solar Dam Aeration

A solar powered aerator will set you free from electricity companies. Power bills and service interruptions are not a concern when going green. We stock all-in-one solar systems that are powerful enough for your needs and provide long-term affordability.

Water Quality Solutions have been working with solar aeration systems for many years and our range is steadily increasing to meet demand. Our ready to go solar aeration systems can be supplied with solar panels and racking or we just supply the solar aeration equipment for you to buy your panels locally.

To learn more about the benefits of solar dam aerators click here.

Windmill Aeration for Dams

Another eco-friendly way to aerate your dam is with a windmill aeration system. Windmill aerators are a superb option if you don’t have access to mains power or if you enjoy the beautification properties of owning a windmill…picture perfect! They are carefully designed to aerate dams by pumping air instead of water and only need around 3-5 mile per hour winds to operate.

Water Quality Solutions windmills come in a kit so they are easily transported and can be assembled by anyone with basic mechanical skills. We supply complete galvanized metal kits or partial kits for you to build from locally sourced timber if you are so inclined.

To see how Windmill Aeration has helped one of our happy customers, click here.

Stop! We understand that algae is unbearable but try not to jump straight to a solution without fully assessing the situation. There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to algae control. Chemical algaecides work alright but in most cases algae is the symptom of an underlying problem so starting with a chemical solution can put you on a merry-go-round of frequent, larger doses as the algae returns and builds up a resistance. At Water Quality Solutions we investigate the cause of the algae first and foremost.

The discovery phase includes understanding what individual circumstances you face that will influence our recommendation. It doesn’t make sense to offer a chemical treatment to someone when their water overflows into a river full of platypus, nor does it make sense to suggest aeration to a client with a lakeside wedding reception in three days time! Below are some of our approaches to remove algae.

Some recommended options for algae control

Dam Aeration

Biological water treatments

Floating Wetlands

Nutrient Reduction

Algae requires temperature, food and sunlight to grow. Reducing algae’s food source is ultimately the best treatment method, tackling the underlying problem found in most dams – too much nutrients (eutrophication). The main nutrient sources for algae are nitrogen and phosphorus, decomposing leaves, animal waste and stormwater inputs. Nitrogen can be removed from water naturally by combining aeration and biological water treatments. This combo boosts beneficial bacteria that then converts nitrogen into a gas that escapes into the atmosphere. Beneficial bacteria can take care of phosphorus by locking it up in their cell structure making it unavailable for algae. This process is assisted by biological water treatments  and flocculants that can be sprayed over the surface causing the phosphorus to sink, making it less available to algae.

Sunlight reduction

Limiting the amount of sunlight can help with some types of algae control, especially filamentous species and some of the smaller types such as planktonic algae. Lake dyes turn water blue or black and reduce the amount of sunlight available to plants and algae. A treatment in late winter can be useful to prevent the first onslaught of algae as the water warms.

Ultrasonic

Many types of algae have an internal buoyancy chamber that allows them to float. These chambers can be broken with ultrasonic frequencies in a similar way that a crystal glass can be shattered by the right sound wave. With the buoyancy chamber gone, the algae sinks to the bottom.  Not all algae have buoyancy chambers and different algae is effected by different frequencies so it’s important to choose equipment with a wide range and use them in conjunction with nutrient reduction methods for best results.

Chemical water treatments

Copper is the most commonly used algaecide but copper sulphate has been replaced with safer chelated copper products that are less damaging to the aquatic environment. Copper sulphate should never be used in your dam as it is toxic to every living thing inside. Other chemical treatments to combat algae include Clearwater Flocculant that can bind and sink phosphorus removing it as a food for algae; Algae Lift, a peroxygen chemistry used to bleach the Chlorophyll-a found in algae, making it susceptible to attack from naturally occurring bacteria.  Water Quality Solutions consider chemical treatments a personal preference. If choosing a chemical path you must ensure they’re applied using appropriate equipment, by trained personnel or with professional advice. We’re here to guide you through the selection and usage process so you can make the most out of these chemicals whilst causing minimal negative impact on the environment.

Fish Stocking

Silver Perch are a native fish that are effective at grazing on filamentous algae. This however, is site specific because just like we prefer dessert over spinach, if more preferable food is available in your dam they’ll probably eat that first. Fish have tastes too, ya know! That said, why not add some friendly Perch with the chance of a little helping hand with algae control!

There are thousands of species of algae and it’s been on the planet a lot longer than we have (prehistoric!) so it’s excellent at evolving to suit the environment.  Controlling algae successfully over the long term isn’t just about the algae it’s about manipulating the environment it grows in. Water Quality Solutions will make sure you reach a decision that best suits your situation when battling the all powerful algae monster.

What are biological water treatments?

Biological Water Treatments increase the biological activity and effectiveness of beneficial microbes in your dam. These eco-loving organisms out-compete algae, weeds and odour-producing bacteria for available nutrients. They either digest the nutrients into elements such as water, hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide or take them up as part of their own cell structure. Either way, they steal the nutrients away from algae or aquatic weeds; the only kind of thieves you’ll want in your life!

Why do I need them?

These beneficial bacteria are actually naturally occurring, but in man-made waterbodies there’s too much organic waste for the indigenous bacteria to process. So the aim is to grow more beneficial bacteria and less algae/ aquatic weeds.

Biological water treatments can be either all purpose or highly specialised to target problems such as sludge reduction, odour control, ammonia reduction, clarifying water (flocculant) or even degrading rotting vegetation after an algaecide or herbicide application. Water Quality Solutions can help you better understand biological water treatments and ensure you are specified the best one(s) for your application.

To learn more about biological water treatments click here.

We offer a range of consultation options for those wishing to get the best advice possible:

On-Site Consultations:

Sometimes it’s best for one of our specialists to pay a visit to your dam. During an on-site consultation, our focus is on providing practical recommendations communicated in easy to understand terms. We’ll discover your goals, study site specific circumstances, raise awareness and provide a range of solutions to assist with your choice of action.

Specialist E-Consultations

Specialist E-Consultations carry all the same benefits as on-site ones, they are simply carried out remotely.

You can learn more here.

Phone Consultations:

While phone consultations do not allow us to provide as in-depth assistance as an On-Site Consultation or Specialist E-Consultation, they provide a good, budget, alternative if you need personally tailored advice. Ordering a phone consultation gets you a calendared booking with our head consultant, Scotty Tucker. Scott has over 20 years worth of experience and can design a water quality solution to fit any need.

Quick Chats:

Our friendly, expert team are always happy to have a chat about any problems you may be having with your dam. Give us a buzz on 1300 283 387 if you’d like to have a chat.

When the job is large, the area is hard to access or you just don’t have the time to DIY our Australia-wide network of trusted waterbody workers are here for you.

Installers have the tools and know-how to bring your dam design from concept to reality including all the trimmings such as aeration and fish.

Additionally, members of our maintenance team are highly trained and always happy to help. Managing and maintaining dams is our life blood; we love bringing our dingy out and getting our elbows dirty, rain, hail or shine! Spend more time swimming or fishing by getting one of our specialists to pop in regularly and keep your dam looking schmick!

We have plenty of options for our installation and dam maintenance plans so if you’re curious or need any help at all, give us a call on 1300 283 387 to ask any questions you may have.

If you want a healthy aquatic ecosystem, it is important to keep your dam clean.

Run off, weeds and algae, fish waste, livestock and sludge are some of the main reasons why your dam could need a clean, but they are not the only causes.

While the installation of a dam aerator and regular application of biological water treatments can greatly reduce the frequency of cleaning required, you may still need to remove weeds and perform other cleaning tasks occasionally.

If you don’t have the time, or simply don’t want to go wading around in your dam, we’re here to help.

Our maintenance superstars can remove weeds, trim aquatic plants, get rid of surface scum and more and if you’re unsure what actually needs to be done, you can tie their visit in with a specialist consultation to get easy to understand, actionable advice.

Dam cleaning services can be requested as a single visit or as part of an ongoing maintenance plan and our field technicians are fully trained to ensure the best outcome for your water body.

If you’d like to transform your dam from dirty and smelly to happy and healthy, give us a call on 1300 283 387 or fill out a contact form.

Fountains can be grouped into two overarching categories: Floating and Aerating.

Selecting the “right” type of fountain for your water body will depend on what your goals are, so it’s important to have a clear idea as to what your aim is before you go hunting.

Floating Fountains:

Popularly found in public spaces and loved by photographers hunting a background with a bit of wow factor, floating fountains are all about aesthetics and design. This style of fountain pairs an impeller with the user’s choice of nozzle to create a striking water feature.

Top Benefits of Floating Fountains:

• Creates a beautiful display with minimal effort.
• Super easy to install and maintain.
• There are enough fountain nozzle options on the market for most units that you’ll never get bored of your display.
  Important: Remember to check whether your chosen unit features interchangeable nozzles prior to purchase to avoid disappointment. While this option is standard to most manufacturers, it is not universal.
• Many floating fountains are compatible with light sets which can be fitted to add an extra layer of beauty to your after dark display.

Please Note: As floating fountains are powered by an impeller rather than a propeller, they do not provide much in the way of aeration.

Aerating Fountains:

Designed with oxygen transfer in mind, aerating fountains provide a ‘upside-down cone’ display while also improving water quality. If you’re wondering what makes them different to their floating friends, consider the difference between how much water an outboard boat motor moves compared to a swimming pool pump.

Top Benefits of Aerating Fountains:

• Have your cake and eat it too: Aerating fountains utilise a propeller driven system and nozzle which means you get aeration for your dam, lake or pond and a nice display.
• Improve overall water quality and decrease the frequency and severity of issues.

Want a fully customisable display and great oxygenation?

If you simply don’t want to compromise on your ability to change your spray pattern on a whim but also need to keep your oxygen levels high, installing a sub-surface aeration system in combination with a floating fountain could be the perfect solution for you.

This partnership provides powerful aeration thanks to the army of bubbles making their way up from the base of your dam and allows you to have any decorative elements your heart desires.

Installing a Dam Liner can combat quite a few on the most common dam issues.

Not only will the installation of a dam liner in a new dam prevent ground leakage, it will also greatly reduce the chance of soil particles from the base being sucked up into your water column. This means you’re far less likely to end up with a muddy brown dam.

Adding a Dam Liner is also the perfect way to fix a leaky dam, even if you’re exactly sure where the leak is!

Plus lining your dam means that the only sludge you’ll have to deal with is that which builds up once your dam is built (or lined) rather than trying to fix decades worth of dormant nutrient build up.

Water Quality Solutions are experienced with dam liner installation using a variety of materials such as EPDM, HDPE, LLDPE, PVC, polyethylene, GCL and Bitumen.

Each variety has its own advantages and specific uses and our friendly expert team are happy to help you work out which is best for your personal situation. We understand that the massive range of choices in this field can feel a bit overwhelming so we’re here to ensure things are easy for you as possible, from selection all the way through to installation and continued dam maintenance.

Over time, man-made waterbodies accumulate more nutrients than they can process, resulting in an excessive amount of algae or aquatic weeds. Floating wetlands (or floating islands) are an effective tool for soaking up nutrients in aquatic systems making them unavailable for algae or aquatic weeds. Floating wetland panels float on the surface of the water and are planted with selective species of wetland plants. As the plants grow, their root system penetrates the water, taking nutrients in order to survive.

Floating treatment wetlands are a low-tech (in-vogue!) tool to strip nutrients from any waterbody, and in many cases are more cost effective than traditional wetlands; no earth moving construction and no additional land space required.

Floating wetlands can:

• Clarify water
• Absorb heavy metals
• Remove dissolved organic matter
• Reduce odour
• Suppress wave action and bank erosion
• Provide a habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife
• Reduce evaporation
• Dramatically improve your aesthetics!

The modular design of our floating wetland panels mean they’re easy to ship on standard sized shipping pellets and are easy to install with no cranes or other equipment other than a small boat or kayak required. Water Quality Solutions love floating wetlands and you will too!