Floating Lake Aerators

What is a floating lake aerator?

Floating (surface) aerators sit on a buoyant float and draw water up from just below the surface, throwing it across the air where it mixes with oxygen before falling back into the lake. They’re ideal when you need immediate oxygen transfer, targeted circulation in the upper water column, or a simple, plug-and-play solution.

Best for: shallow to medium-depth lakes, warm-weather oxygen dips, fish-kill prevention, algae pressure, and sites that prefer low visual impact versus a display fountain.

Key benefits

• Rapid oxygen boost: Very high oxygen transfer in the top layers where fish and beneficial bacteria need it most.
• Algae and odour control: Increased DO and circulation help limit nuisance blooms and sulphide smells.
• Fish-health resilience: Reduces stress during hot spells and after rainfall nutrient pulses.
• Stratification disruption (surface layer): Mixes warmer surface water to even out temperature spikes.
• Low-visual, low-noise: A clean, functional plume without the attention-grabbing height of a display fountain.
• Easy to install & relocate: Floating, self-contained units—no complex infrastructure.
• Year-round reliability: Marine-grade components built for UK conditions.

How floating aerators work

An energy-efficient motor drives an impeller that lifts and throws water into the air. As droplets meet air, oxygen diffuses in; on return, the aerated water entrains surrounding water, creating a continual circulation cell. Multiple units can be positioned to create a gentle, lake-wide flow pattern.

Floating vs diffused aeration—when to choose which?

• Choose floating aeration when you need fast oxygen gains at the surface, have shallow areas (<3–4 m), or want simple, portable hardware.
• Choose diffused aeration when your lake is deeper, you want whole-column mixing from the bottom up, or you’re targeting sediment oxygen demand and internal nutrient reduction.
  Many lakes benefit from a hybrid approach—diffused aeration for deep zones, floating units to protect in-lakes beaches, coves and inlets.

Sizing guidance

Every lake is different, but as a starting point:

• Light-to-moderate load: approx. 1.0–1.5 HP per surface acre (0.4 ha) distributed across one or more units.
• Heavier load / warm summers / fisheries: 1.5–2.0+ HP per acre with strategic placement in coves and wind-sheltered areas.
  We’ll model your shoreline shape, average depth, inflows and fish biomass to recommend the right mix of units and mooring pattern.

Product features

• High-efficiency motors (230 V single-phase or 400 V three-phase).
• Corrosion-resistant, marine-grade hardware and fixings.
• Debris-tolerant intake guards to protect the impeller.
• UV-stable floats with balanced trim for smooth operation.
• Plug-and-play control panels with RCD protection and optional soft-start.
• Quiet operation—ideal for estates, parks and fisheries.

What's included & optional extras

• Pre-assembled floating aerator(s) with impeller module
• Mooring kit (bank-to-bank or bank-to-anchor)
• Optional: Control panel and cabling specified to your site
• Commissioning and performance checks (optional service plan available)

Installation & placement

1. Satalite Site survey: confirm cabling runs, depths and access points.
2. Positioning: locate units upwind of problem areas to drive flow across the lake.
3. Mooring: secure with bank anchors or screw anchors; check diagonals for stability.
4. Electrical: connect to protected supply; test currents and rotation.
5. Commissioning: verify DO response and adjust angles/locations as needed.

Maintenance

• Quarterly visual checks on moorings, cable strain and intake guards.
• Annual service: impeller inspection, seal check, bearing and insulation tests.
• Winter: run shorter duty cycles as needed to maintain DO and deter surface ice in colder regions.

Smart controls & add-ons

• Timers & duty cycling to match diel oxygen demand.
• DO sensors with threshold-based start/stop for energy savings.
• Telemetry for remote alarms and performance logs.
• Lighting kits if a subtle night presence is desired (keeps plume low).

Typical applications

• Fisheries and angling lakes
• Estate and park lakes
• Golf lakes and holiday parks
• Stormwater and amenity lakes
• Wildlife conservation waterbodies

Frequently asked questions

Will a floating aerator de-stratify my whole lake?
It will vigorously mix and oxygenate the upper water column. For complete bottom-to-top mixing in deeper lakes, combine with diffused aeration.

Are they noisy or visually intrusive?
No—plumes are modest and sound levels are low. They’re designed to be functional rather than decorative.

How many units do I need?
That depends on lake size, shape, depth and nutrient load. As a rough guide, start from 1.0–1.5 HP per acre and refine after a site assessment.

What about power and running costs?
We specify high-efficiency motors and can add timers/DO control to reduce runtime. Solar-hybrid options are available for remote sites.

Can I add them to an existing fountain?
Yes—floating aerators complement display fountains by adding efficient oxygen transfer without changing the visual look of your feature areas.