The act of increasing oxygen in water. This occurs when moving water reaches the pond’s surface and comes in contact with air.

Creating movement in water

This is the measure of available oxygen for uptake by aquatic life.

The part of the bottom aeration system that delivers oxygen to the pond. Air is pushed from a compressor located out of the water, down air tubing which is connected to the diffuser where its releases as fine bubbles into the pond.

This is a measurement of the amount of oxygen in demand by fish, plants, bacterias to function within a pond. The greater the amount of aquatic life & waste, the greater the oxygen demand.

A natural separation of water that occurs in ponds that lack circulation. The water layer above the thermocline remains warmer and contains greater oxygen levels in summer months, where deeper water below the thermocline are colder and have lower oxygen levels. 

The mixing of water layers that commonly occurs during seasonal weather shifts.

A variety of factors that are used to assess the overall health of a pond.

Another word to describe cloudy water, or water with low visibility.

A round black and white weighted disc that is attached to a rope and lowered into pond water to measure visibility.

There are a number of elements that fit in this group. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and any form of these are considered nutrients. They act as a pond fertilizer that enable growth.

Muck is the accumulation of organic debris from decaying pond weeds & algae, fish waste, and leaves that fall in the pond.

Muck and sludge can be used interchangeably to describe the organic debris from decaying pond weeds & algae, fish waste, and leaves that accumulate at the bottom of the pond. 

Particles that settle to the bottom of the pond.

A treatment which clears water by causing fine particles to clump together (flocculate) making them heavier which allows the particles to settle to the bottom of the pond.

Probiotics for ponds that are used to naturally digest nutrients and waste in water. 

Oxygen loving; used to describe a type of bacteria used to clean pond water.

Oxygen lacking; used to describe a type of bacteria that naturally occurs in ponds.

Stimulate the break down of vegetation. Enzymes do not multiply like bacteria do .

This is a type of pesticide used for killing pond weeds. It is important to note that aquatic herbicides are rated safe for use in ponds, where herbicides used for weed control in yards and gardens are not.

An algaecide is a type of pesticide used for controlling algae. An algaecide will not be effective on pond weeds as a stand alone treatment.

A pesticide used to manage nuisance mosquitos, midges, black flies when the bugs are in the larval stage.

Non-selective pond weed treatment. Will kill most any pond weed that it is applied to.

A pond weed control treatment that kills vegetation down to the root system. Although the treatment takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month to work, results long term are far greater.

A pond weed killer that requires direct contact with the weeds its designed to control. If vegetation does not come in contact with the herbicide it will not be affected.

Additive used with any liquid aquatic herbicide or algaecide that is being sprayed into water. The surfactant increases effectiveness of the herbicide by breaking the surface tension of the water, as well as acting as a sticking agent for the herbicide to have better contact with vegetation it is targeting.

Aquatic plants that are rooted in water or moist soil but the majority of the plant is above the water surface. Examples of this are cattails, phragmites, iris, bulrush.

Aquatic plants that remain underwater. Submerged weeds may or may not be rooted. Examples are watermilfoil, hydrilla, elodea, naiad.

Nutrients added into pond water to increase phosphate and nitrate levels with the purpose of triggering a planktonic algae bloom.

Commonly referred to as blue-green algae or HAB harmful algal bloom. Cyanobacteria is a harmful bacteria that appears in water bodies with high nutrients, low circulation, and poor dissolved oxygen levels.

Released by cyanobacteria. Can have major health affects to humans and pets.

The number of fish that a pond can handle.

Pond area is also know as surface area. Found by multiplying Length x Width. Use feet when using this formulation.

A measurement of the total amount of water in a pond. Found by multiplying Length x width x Depth x 7.5. Use feet when using this formulation.

The measurement of the steepness of the sides of a pond. For example if the slope is 1/3 (rise over run) this means for every 1 foot of vertical rise, there is 3 feet of horizontal progression. When speaking of slope we would say this is a 3 to 1 slope, or written as 3:1.

The downward pushing pressure created by water. This increases with water depth. 

A naturally occurring clay that has expansion qualities that far exceed normal clay soils.

A trench that is dug down the center of a dam during construction process. The ground is excavated below the start or base of the dam. The trench is then filled with quality soil and compacted to improve the seal of the dam.