Pond Aeration - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a MARS 1500 Aerator?

The MARS 1500 is the safest, most effective long-term solution to managing your aquatic habitat. It works by oxygenating and mixing the water, allowing natural bacteria to break down excess, algae-forming nutrients. The MARS’s effectiveness stems from its patented Double Bubble Technology™, which gives it the ability to mix and aerate the water. This helps to clear your aquatic habitat better, faster, and for longer than any other product.

2. How does the MARS add value to my property?

No one wants to live next to a pond that is covered in algae, has dead fish, is infested with mosquitos and smells terrible. This kind of situation can lower one’s quality of life, the aesthetic value of your view, and detract from any recreational advantages that come with owning a pond. The MARS is capable of creating a sustainable pond ecosystem that abates all of these problems for the long term. This is equally as valuable as any other capital improvement on your property.

3. How does the MARS help limit mosquito breeding?

Mosquitoes love stagnant water. It is where they lay their eggs, and the more stagnant water you have, the more mosquitoes can thrive. The Patented Double Bubble Technology of the MARS disrupts their breeding environment by adding turbulence to the water via the bubbles that rise to the surface; the unique large-bubble component is especially effective in this regard. This limits mosquito reproduction and therefore the existence of mosquito’s around your pond. In addition, with well-mixed and aerated water, fish will become healthier and more active. Fish are natural predators of mosquitoes and their larvae, and will help to keep their population at bay. Consequently, not only are you limiting the nuisance but also the public health risk of mosquito borne diseases, such as West Nile Virus.

4. How does the MARS make recreation swimming safer?

We know from our wastewater treatment experience that, with 40 days of aeration and detention, we can create water with zero fecal coli-form (no harmful bacteria). As a result, we know that the same applies in a pond environment. If there is limited fecal coli-form in the water, people are less likely to get sick by swimming in or being around it. Additionally, when using the MARS we recommend ceasing any chemical use, which also makes the water safer.

5. Can I use Triplepoint Blend Pond Pro-biotic without a MARS Pond Aerator?

Bacteria require oxygen to digest the nutrients in your pond. If they are used in a pond without a MARS adding oxygen, the bacteria might use up all the oxygen in the pond and die. Not only would you be wasting Pro-Biotic by applying it to an oxygen-depleted, unmixed environment, but you also risk suffocating the fish in your pond. The Triplepoint Blend Pond Pro-biotic works in synergy with the MARS, so they should not be used separately.

6. My pond doesn’t have algae problems, should I install a MARS?

Yes. It is actually better to put MARS units into healthier ponds because, instead of treating a smelly, algae packed, ‘dead’ body of water, you are preventing it. Many ponds common to residential areas are not a naturally sustained environment. As water flows into your ponds, so do nutrients which inevitably build up over time. Eventually, these contribute to severe, unsightly, and smelly algal blooms that devastate a pond’s ecosystem and lower the property value of all homes in the area. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

7. What is the minimum depth that the MARS Pond Aerator will operate?

We have multiple different designs that are constructed to work in most water depths. The optimal depth for a MARS Pond Aeration System is around 8 feet. However, standard MARS 1500 Aerators can operate effectively in as little as 3 feet of water. For shallower depths, give us a call and we will tell you about our MARS models capable of operating as shallow as 18” deep.

8. How does the ‘Synergistic Venturii Effect’ (as created by the Patented Double Bubble Technology) work?

The venturii effect is the process by which the air enters into the static tube (large bubble) component of the MARS. This creates a ‘vacuum’ like effect that lifts bottom sediments through the tube towards the surface, where they can be oxygenated by the thousands of bubbles being emitted by the fine bubble diffusers. This synergy between the static tube aerator and the fine bubble diffusers is unique to the MARS and makes it the most efficient aerator of its kind.

9. What are the electrical requirements for the MARS?

The MARS Aeration diffuser itself does not require electricity, but the compressor that provides its air does. This air compressor can be configured to work almost every normal power configuration – whether that be single or three phase, 110v to 220V.

10. Does the MARS run all day long?

The MARS runs all day, every day, all year because nutrients are constantly entering your pond. By maximizing treatment time, the MARS will rehabilitate and maintain your pond more efficiently and effectively.

11. What about power consumption and logistics?

The MARS Pond Aeration System can be adapted to fit your electrical situation and community guidelines. Electrical meters can be specifically installed for the MARS Units where necessary, or we can hook up to an existing system - whether it be street lamps, an existing meter socket or a neighboring building. In terms of power consumption, the air compressor consumes less power than running a coffee pot all year round — about $1.40 a day.

12. How is the MARS Pond Aeration System more cost efficient than other pond management alternatives?

Alternatives to the MARS can usually only successfully halt algal growth with the aid of chemical treatments. Because these methods treat the symptoms rather than the causes of your pond problem, they never truly solve it – and as a result, you can never stop adding chemicals. The MARS, on the other hand, has Patented Double Bubble Technology, which does not require the help of harmful chemical treatments. In the long term, the MARS saves you the money you would have spent on chemicals. Additionally, the MARS consistently has one of the lowest energy costs in the business.

13. What causes pond algae and other pond problems to occur? Can I do anything to stop it?

Excess nutrients are your problem - fertilizers and landscaping wastes are the most common culprits of pond problems. Avoid fertilizing your lawn near the pond, and be sure that grass and tree clippings don’t end up in the water. You can contact your landscaping service to make sure that they avoid this as well. Copper sulfate treatments also tend to exacerbate pond algae problems in particular, as they do not remove or organically break down the excess nutrient.

14. How does the MARS Pond Aeration System help fish?

Fish love the MARS. In fact, we did a case study in which it was proven that tilapia were more lively and grew larger in a pond aerated by a MARS than in one aerated by a traditional paddlewheel aerator. Fish need a dissolved oxygen level (DO) of at least 4.0 (or 4 mg/L) to flourish. The MARS is consistently able to maintain this DO content. Moreover, the MARS will keep the pond open in the winter time, therefore preventing fish from being poisoned by trapped gasses when the pond ices over.

15. Do you present these to village and/or Homeowners Associations?

A. Of course! Some villages actually have ordinances that require aeration in every storm water retention pond. This is because they recognize that not only does aeration improve the aesthetic look of a pond, but it also improves the aquatic health contributes to an overall healthier environment. This provides a benefit to the entire community, raising the value of the surrounding properties.

16. How many MARS Pond Aerators do I need?

A. This depends on your pond’s size, depth, shape and current condition (in other words, how eutrophic the pond is currently). Typically, we start from the basis of one MARS per surface acre of water. However, more or less MARS units can be required depending upon the aforementioned factors. An average circular pond approximately 6-8ft deep, we recommend one MARS unit per acre. Older, shallower, and more nutrient rich ponds often require more, whereas newer, deeper ponds require fewer.

17. How do you determine where the MARS should be placed?

Placement is determine by considering two factors: 1) Pond Depth: the MARS is primarily placed in the deepest parts of the pond to boost both mixing action and oxygenation. Therefore, the deeper the MARS, the more contact the air has with the water and the more optimal circulation can occur. And 2) Pond Shape: placement is also dependant on the shape of your pond, because we want to position the MARS in such a manner as to maximize the treatment area. If you have a circular pond, often times the best location for aeration is the middle—but because every pond is different, pond shapes need to be assessed individually.

18. Can we put the MARS System in newly constructed ponds?

Yes, and please do! It is actually much better to put MARS units in new ponds because, instead of treating a smelly, algae packed, ‘dead’ body of water, you are preventing one from forming. What’s more, newer ponds often require fewer MARS units than older, nutrient-challenged ones, saving you money in both the short and long term.

19. Can we us both the MARS and a pond fountain?

Yes, if you’d like to keep the fountain for aesthetic purposes, it will not inhibit MARS function. Otherwise, we recommend fountain removal, because it is an inefficient and expensive method of treating your pond. Your MARS units are more than sufficient for creating a sustainable environment for your pond.

20. Why MARS? Why not leave our pond "bubblers" on for 12 months?

Regular pond bubblers are designed solely for water aeration. Effective oxygenation and breakdown of nutrients that are ‘choking’ your pond can only occur with both mixing and aerating. This is something that a ‘bubbler’ is not capable of achieving and, as a result, not only are additional chemical treatments required, but they can never stop. The MARS, on the other hand, employs Patented Double Bubble Technology that can effectively mix and aerate. Thus, the MARS is not only designed to achieve water aeration, it is also able to pull up, mix and treat the nutrient-rich muck.

21. What is the life of the MARS unit?

With proper cleaning of the diffuser membranes, your MARS unit should last fifteen to twenty years — or more. There are no moving parts, so it should last as long as you need it to.

22. Is there a warranty?

The compressor comes with at least a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty, but is designed to last significantly longer than that. The MARS diffuser unit has no moving parts and is made with the most robust materials available – indeed, we have never had to replace one. Nonetheless, our manufacturer’s warranty is 5 years.

23. What is the MARS Pond Aerator made out of?

The MARS's main body is constructed from high-grade schedule 80 PVC, whichi s much stronger than your conventional PVC. This is designed to protect your unit from the elements, and from the rigors of operating underwater with high-pressure air.

24. What about the weighted air hose? How durable is it?

The weighted hose is made out of top-quality flexible PVC, and should last as long as you have your MARS Pond Aeration System installed.

25. When do we stop putting chemicals into the pond after installing the MARS?

Immediately! Poisoning a pond with chemicals contributes to the problem! The dying pond algae sinks to the bottom and becomes fertilizer for more severe algal blooms the next year. Instead, we harvest the pond algae—removing the fertilizer—creating a sustainable pond ecosystem that requires only the minimal amount of maintenance.

26. What is algae harvesting?

Instead of allowing your existing pond algae to die and become fertilizer for future algae growth, we recommend removing it. Every time this is done, a significant portion of the excess nutrients that are “choking” your pond’s ecosystem are removed. There are a number of ways to algae harvest, which often includes some combination of a boat, netting, rakes, and possibly a pool skimmer. Once enough of this nutrient material has been removed, the MARS creates a sustainable ecosystem that no longer requires algae harvesting – at that point, large algal blooms should never occur again. This is a service that we offer to our customers.

27. How quickly can the MARS reclaim my pond?

There is no “quick fix” solution to your pond that treats the problem at its source like the MARS Aerator does. The MARS is a long-term solution for reclaiming your pond, which will become a sustainable, clean ecosystem in a maximum of 2-3 years. Every customer that has stayed the course and completed algae harvesting whilst utilizing MARS Pond Aeration and Pro-Biotic has saved money in comparison to alternatives and been a satisfied customer.

28. Have you ever had a pond that hasn't cleared up?

No. Every client who stuck with the MARS for the recommended 3 years now enjoys a clean, healthy pond ecosystem on their property.

29. How often does the MARS need to be cleaned? Does it ever clog?

The MARS is designed to sit above the muck lining the bottom of your pond, protecting it from clogging. Any other sediment that falls near the MARS is immediately blown away by the aeration turbulence. Rarely, if ever, should a MARS unit be clogged. Just as a precaution, we recommend that your MARS is cleaned once a year, and this is done simply by lightly brushing off any build up on the fine bubble diffusers.

30. What if we have creeks and moving water?

Not a problem. The MARS is specifically weighted to avoid being swept away in environments with flowing water.

31. Does this affect native areas, where you have to leave shorelines?

No. When you convert a eutrophic pond into a healthy aquatic habitat you transform the entire ecosystem, in which case you get helpful plants growing rather than plants that harm the local environment. Indeed, fish and various other aquatic organisms will flourish as well.

32. What happens during the winter?

We recommend leaving your MARS Pond Aerator running 365 days a year. In the winter it can achieve maximum oxygenation. Sediment and water are constantly mixed, continuously treating your pond throughout these months. If you live in a cold climate, your pond may freeze over, but the MARS will typically create an open area of 10-50 feet in diameter. This can be very good for fish that are sometimes poisoned by gasses sealed beneath the ice.

33. Can the MARS Pond Aeration System be installed during the winter?

You bet it can. We simply cut a hole in the ice and drop it in! By installing a MARS over the winter, you get a head start on treatment that will contribute to a decrease in algal blooms the following spring and summer.

34. What kind of maintenance does the compressor need?

The compressor requires minimal maintenance—there is no oil to change or lubrication to add. We recommend changing the compressor’s three filters every 6-12 months in order to keep it running at peak performance. We can provide you with a ‘how to’ guide for this upon request.

35. How resilient is the MARS System to flooding?

The MARS System will never flood as long as the compressor is operating, and is designed with valves that prevent the inflow of water when the compressor is turned off. If your compressor is turned off for days, some water may creep into the system. Not to worry, though, as the MARS contains no moving parts to be damaged, and the water is simply expelled when the compressor is turned back on.

36. How many MARS Units are currently in operation?

There are near 1000 operational units in pond management, fish farming, and wastewater treatment applications. This number is growing daily.

37. How loud is the MARS System?

Not loud at all. Our sound-resistant enclosures muffle the majority of the sound. At most, you’ll hear a mild motor ‘hum’ when inside a twenty foot radius—quieter than most dishwashers at only 56 decibels. Beyond twenty feet, the noise of the general atmosphere typically drowns out the compressor (for a comparison—normal conversation is 70db and a quiet room/library is 40db).