PondHawk FAQs | PondHawk by LINNE

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is diffused subsurface aeration?

Aerate means to expose a substance to air. For plant growth, this means to put cylindrical holes into the ground. For water, it means to expose the water to air so that oxygen can be dissolved into it. The most publicly recognizable aerators for water are fountains. They shoot water into the air so it can collect oxygen on its return path to the pond. Subsurface aeration is like underwater fountains of bubbles. Air is fed to the water from the bottom of a pond through a diffuser and released back to the atmosphere when it reaches the surface of the water. The diffuser takes a stream of air and releases it into the water as tiny bubbles. From the perspective of the bubble, the smaller it is, the more oxygen that gets transferred. So, diffused subsurface aeration is an underwater fountain of tiny bubbles.

2. How does subsurface aeration actually contribute to the health of a pond?

According to the Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Council … “The use of aeration can significantly improve water quality by increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations, mixing waters and de– stratifying deep ponds.” To learn more about the benefits of subsurface water aeration review our BRIEFS Notable Improvement in Water Quality – What a Pond Assessment Before and After PondHawk Installation Revealed

3. Will the PondHawk® (U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,398) control algae and duckweed?

In the personal pond of LINNE Industries owners, PondHawk reduced algae, improved water quality, and allowed for the natural re–introduction of fish, dragonflies, frogs, turtles and salamanders. As the pond became increasing healthier, the natural balance of life returned. According to the Montgomery County Maryland Department of Environmental Protection, bubble aeration may improve nutrient levels and therefore reduce duckweed blooms over time.

4. What size pond, lake or lagoon does PondHawk service?

Each PondHawk unit is semi–custom, can serve water bodies up to two surface acres, and is aggregated for larger lakes. PondHawk comes in two pump sizes that operate off the same solar panel and enclosure, and each unit is supplied with up to four diffusers. We work with the civil engineer, pond manager, or golf course superintendent to evaluate each pond and specify the system components needed to meet the water quality improvement goals.

5. How can I tell that the system is working?

When you look at the pond, there should be bubbles breaking the surface and ripples of water emanating from this center. Essentially, Sun = Bubbles. If there is sun on the solar panel but no bubbles on the pond surface, contact LINNE Industries at 888–755–1950 or [email protected]. You will also find a QR code on the back of the system that will take you to our website contact form.

6. Will PondHawk work in cloudy weather?

Yes. PondHawk is designed to work in very low levels of solar insolation. With PondHawk, Mother Nature works her magic and aerates your pond—even during windy and rainy conditions.

7. What maintenance is required?

PondHawk is an electro–mechanical system. It requires only minimal maintenance but should be inspected periodically. If there is debris on the glass of the solar panel, cleaning will help ensure proper output. If it is sunny but there are no air bubbles, check the hose connection to the pump. After four years of operation, the PondHawk gradually reduces the CFM of air it delivers. This is the time to contact LINNE Industries for a service plan that is right for you.

8. Does PondHawk® come with a warranty?

Yes, LINNE Industries provides a three–year limited warranty on PondHawk.

9 . Does LINNE Industries offer financing?

Yes, LINNE Industries offers several payment options to accommodate your budget.

10. Is PondHawk in stock? How soon can I have one installed?

LINNE Industries has the PondHawk in stock. We usually schedule shipping or installation within 10 business days of receipt of order.

11. How long will it take to install?

Once the hole and trench are prepared, installation of PondHawk takes less than three hours to complete.

12. How soon can I have one installed?

LINNE Industries has inventory in stock and can normally schedule your installation within 10 business days.

13. Why does PondHawk® have a dragonfly logo?

To Native Americans Indians, the dragonfly symbol signifies happiness, speed and purity. The dragonfly also represents transformation and life’s ever–constant process of change. For the Navajo tribe, the dragonfly is the symbol for pure water. A pondhawk is a Mid–Atlantic dragonfly.

14 . How durable is PondHawk?

While a PondHawk prototype has been operational in various forms since 2009, the first commercially available PondHawk systems have been in the field since 2014. To date, they’re all working well and none have had to be replaced. PondHawk is made of powder–coated steel and is designed to withstand wind up to 120 mph. The solar panel is UL–listed and has a 25–year manufacturer power warranty. PondHawk’s structural integrity and rugged design remained operational through Hurricane Harvey in Houston, TX. The PondHawk enclosure keeps the equipment off the ground and away from high water.

Don’t miss our PondHawk “Doing Good” Calculator to see our current energy impacts from our fleet of installed systems. Click here

15. What conditions are needed for installation?

The only requirement for installation is access to the sun. For best performance, look for a location that is shade–free from 10 AM to 3 PM most of the year. Also seek a location with the most open sky in the summer months when days are longer. Note that PondHawk can be installed any time of the year. Our technical team will work with you on a site evaluation to optimize the installation location. It’s as simple as that.

16. Our pond is covered in duckweed and algae. Can we still install a PondHawk?

Yes. Even a pond covered in duckweed and algae doesn’t prevent PondHawk installation! Unlike fountains that float on the surface and only circulate surface water, PondHawk diffusers rest on the bottom of the pond and emit tiny bubbles that rise through the entire water column. This action thoroughly mixes the pond water, eliminates stratification, and adds dissolved oxygen throughout the entire pond—not just on the surface. PondHawk has no moving parts in the water that can become clogged with algae, duckweed, or watermeal.

17. The condition of the water in our pond has been an ongoing concern but we are unsure about the large monetary outlay. Is there an affordable option?

We understand that a large capital outlay can be difficult but holding off on proper maintenance is the single biggest driver of pond eutrophication. That’s why the PondHawk loan option is so beneficial. It allows you to experience PondHawk’s benefits immediately while paying for the cost over time.

Also keep in mind that if your pond is in a neighborhood and it has increased mosquitos and depleted stormwater capacity, the entire community is impacted. While algae and odor control, improved aesthetics, and mosquito management are worthy reasons alone, the real reason to employ subsurface aeration is the present value of the future cost of dredging™ . As the pond continues to age and algae blooms become more frequent, the design capacity of a stormwater facility becomes significantly impaired. This leads to dredging, an expenditure your HOA or golf course should try to push out as long as possible. As a point of reference, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the cost of dredging at around $170,000 per acre. Think of PondHawk as preventive medicine.

18. Grid– powered aeration systems are much cheaper upfront. How do PondHawk's long–term costs compare?

Upfront costs are only part of the equation. The cost of power delivery is almost always cost-prohibitive, and getting an electrical contractor to do the work can be a challenge. The other barrier is getting a permit and an electric meter on what is often a lot with no address. Depending on the unit you consider, your annual electric bill can be significant. Some clients have installed solar–powered PondHawk for the electric bill savings alone. Also, again depending on the unit you are considering, you will have electric wires in the water which means annual removal, maintenance, and storage to ensure that the equipment is safe when reinstalled in the spring. That service can run as much as a new unit. By comparison, PondHawk’s electrical and mechanical equipment sits in the enclosure behind its solar panel, safely above high water levels.

19. Why is PondHawk expensive?

PondHawk’s cost comes from its unique design, and it certainly pays off. PondHawk is the only commercial–industrial grade solar aeration system available and isn’t more expensive over the long term. Customers can easily expect decades of worry–free performance. PondHawk is the only factory–assembled system that arrives complete and ready for installation. Each system includes our proprietary electronic controller, which operates the system in daylight—not just sunlight! This means that unlike other systems, it works early in the morning, late in the evening, in the rain, and in the fog, all without human interaction. Take a look at PondHawk operating in the rain:

20. Is service required? What does it entail?

Annual service for PondHawk is minimal, and we can develop a package that fits your needs. We offer three service packages. For most of our golf course customers, we provide a guide for the mechanical staff to complete the work in-house. For our commercial customers, we offer a service to regularly monitor the system to ensure it’s performing as required by the Environmental Protection Agency’s MS4 stormwater program. For our private estate customers, we offer an annual check–in to remove insects, check the pump filter, clean the glass, and rebalance the differs, if needed. For all customers, we send an email survey twice/year to encourage feedback on system performance and potential service needs.

21. Pump Swap Program

While PondHawk requires minimal maintenance, the pump requires maintenance every four years to ensure the system is delivering the volume of air originally prescribed. To meet this need, we encourage customers to participate in our Pump Swap Program. For a nominal fee, LINNE Industries will send you a new or refurbished pump in exchange for your existing pump. We service the pump and add it to the Swap Program inventory. This way, you get a fully operational pump and another three-year pump warranty, and we keep pumps out of the landfill.

22. What’s the No. 1 thing pros overlook when servicing ponds and pond aerators?

Power. The number one thing pros overlook is power: manpower, electrical power, and access to power. Many pros forget that each “power” has an associated cost, and each aerator type affects these costs differently. Surface aerators like fountains are burdened with all three power costs. Fountains require power delivery costs to get the electricity near the pond, electrical costs to keep the fountain operating and manpower to annually remove, service and replace fountain components in the pond.

Electric powered subsurface aerators have lower manpower costs but are still burdened with power delivery and ongoing kilowatt-hour costs.

With PondHawk® Solar Powered Aerator, the pros gain all the benefits of subsurface aeration without the cost of power access, electricity, and manpower common to other aerator options.

23. What can golf course superintendents do now/think about now (in January) to get their pond or water feature ready for spring?

For many superintendents, January is budget season. Recalling the pond headaches from the summer, winter is the time for superintendents to develop a plan for installing subsurface aeration to improve water quality. Subsurface water aeration delivers oxygen and circulation to the pond, reduces algae and odors, helps superintendents cut costs, all while improving the water that eventually nourishes the turf. Most superintendents understand the benefits of adding oxygen to the water but have found running power to the pond to be cost prohibitive. This is where solar aeration really delivers. By using solar powered subsurface aeration, the superintendent gains the benefits of improved water quality without the power delivering costs, ongoing electric charges, and the winter labor maintenance of other options.