Steve is an expert in fish, fish pond management, and fish pond construction. He is an award winning author of the book now sold in paperback – Farm Pond Management – A Common Sense Guide.
Steve is a refreshing person to deal with in this industry because he is an expert in his field from hands on experience, a man who lives and breathes the business that he writes and consults about.

With over 200 acres of Fish Ponds spread over 3 Counties do OH Steve has the experience to help many fish pond owners keep healthy fish and a clean pond.

January

Do you know where your fish are?

They are sleeping on the bottom of the pond or lake.

Unless you have trout in your pond, your fish are in a dormant stage. Come winter when the pond gets cold your fish will become slow to the point of almost no movement. A pond owner’s biggest concern in winter should be if there is enough oxygen in the water. Some ponds will winter kill very easily, while others never do.

The difference between the two types of ponds lies in the source of oxygen. Is oxygen provided by aeration, pumped fresh water, or natural spring? Any amount of water coming in will be full of oxygen. The best way to tell if there is water coming in is by determining if water is going out of the overflow. Many times I have had customers tell me they have spring fed ponds but no water going out the overflow. If no water is leaving, unless your pond leaks, that means no water is entering the pond.

This is important because if we have a severe winter, the pond will freeze over creating an airtight seal and over time (a month or more) your fish will use up the oxygen reserve in the pond.

The least that can be done is to push off the snow. A heavy blanket of snow will cut out the light stopping all plant growth.

The best way to prevent loosing fish is to install a fountain or aerator, which will provide water movement in your pond.

Aeration year round is highly recommended to keep oxygen levels at the highest possible level, and to improve water purity.
(It is also very important not to ice skate near your fountain because the ice could be uneven making it unsafe to be on a frozen pond.)

During this cold winter month many pond owners will take advantage of the ice and build brush piles on the ice in areas that they know the water is four to six feet deep. When the ice melts, the brush piles sink; thus providing cover for little fish that will be hatching out in a few months.

February

This month is similar to last month. The only difference is that we are closer to spring.

By now, the adult bluegill, bass, black crappie, shell cracker, and perch will be full of eggs waiting for warmer days. Ponds in central and southern Ohio begin to open toward the end of the month. Same goes for ponds in the same weather zone such as WI, MI, PA, NY, MN, SD, ND, MT, WY, NE, ILL, IN, MA, ME, OR, WA, ID, UT, MO, NE, VT, NJ and other states and Canadian Provinces in similar weather patterns.

March

This month most ponds will open. We will start to see some algae and weed growth. This is usually a signal to many pond owners that they is not enough oxygen in the water. We suggest this be a signal to you to invest in an aeration system. Pond water still isn’t warm enough for the Amurs or for Pond Conditioners such as Natures Pond Conditioner (non chemical based) products to be of value. This is a good time to plan on adding more fish to your pond if you want to boost any one species or to add additional species.

Also in March, perch begin to breed by dropping eggs. As the ice melts and the ponds open up, begin watching for sick fish. I will provide more details about this in the next section.

April

Here at the fish hatchery, we start to receive calls from pond owners asking why they don’t see their fish. Until the water gets to about 60° to 65°, the fish will not feed on pellets and won’t be around the sides of your pond.

At this time of year, pond owners need to watch for sick fish. After a long winter, bass and mostly bluegill of six inches or more get sick from Bacterial Gill Disease.

This is noted by bluegill swimming weakly in shallow water and showing signs of fungus patches over their sides. This is both a deadly disease and very curable. One pound of copper sulfate per acre dissolved in water and broadcasted around the perimeter of the pond will generally stop the bacteria. Once a bluegill is in the fungus stage, it will probably die. I would suggest to try to net the fish that is covered with fungus and destroy it. The fish that are not infected too badly will likely heal and be all right. Some ponds will experience this problem every few years. However some may never show signs of it. Again, an excellent preventative method to avoid this from happening is by keeping your pond aerated and healthy so that it does not give a chance for this bacteria to grow in the pond. Adding a pond conditioner in the summer and fall while the water is still warm is also an effective prevention technique. We recommend Natures Pond Conditioner learn more by visiting www.naturespondconditioner.com

April is the time to begin feeding depending on the weather. The water may still be too cold for the fish to start feeding.

May

The growing season begins. This month your pond will go from hardly any action to fully active.

By mid-May depending on the weather, there should be signs of spawning beds. Bass, bluegill, shell cracker, crappie will all be on beds ready to reproduce. The White Amurs should start to clean up on submerged weeds and algae.

June

By now most of the breeding activity is finished. You should see small bass schooled up and bluegill will begin to leave their spawning beds. The bluegill fry (newly hatched fish) will be very tiny at this stage. They are about as big as gnats.

June is usually when the fishing gets great and lasts until the end of the month. Fishing then becomes a real challenge, because of all the newly hatched fish. They are a large food source for respectable sized fish as we enter July.

Again using aeration and pond conditioner opposed to treating a pond with chemicals is suggested. Treating ponds with toxic chemicals at this time of year can kill off many of the small Fry. It will also ensure that you do not get an algae bloom that depletes all the oxygen in the water and results in a Fish Kill.

July

The water is now hot and the fish head for cooler water. Fishing is more difficult now because there is plenty of food. The catfish have now spawned. If your pond is experiencing vegetation problems, add more Amurs. If your Amurs are in their first year they may need a little more time to get big enough to be effective.

This is not a good time to try to use chemicals because

• Hot water = low oxygen
• Fast dying weeds and algae = oxygen depletion = dead fish.

I want to explain what I mean.

As water warms up, less oxygen is retained so oxygen levels will naturally be lower in hotter months. Next, not only does vegetation grow fast in warm water, but it also dies much faster making it difficult to control weed kills. After the vegetation dies, it decays. The decay process uses oxygen and can take all the oxygen out of your pond which can kill all the fish.

The only recommendation we have for your pond during this time is Aeration. Electric Aeration or windmill aeration system – for deeper ponds greater than 8 ft in depth we suggest bottom up aeration being the most effective method to aerate the pond eg. Windmill or electric. We have used Koenders Windmills products for over 15 years and would recommend this brand for it is what we have sold and what we and our customers have had success with. It’s a proven brand that has been in business for over 24 years. It has over 50,000 windmill aeration systems installed and over 15,000 Electric Aeration systems running. Not a bad track record! (photo – Steve Fender beside one of his fish ponds and Koenders Windmill (Fenders Fish Hatchery has over 200 acres of fish ponds)

August

This is the month to be paying close attention to your pond.

Oxygen depletion can be a problem this time of year. Normally, this is the hottest time of the year, so oxygen levels are at their lowest. Vegetation can come and go very quickly. Plankton blooms grow and die rapidly this time of year. When this happens, the oxygen is depleted. If this is not prevented, it can cause complete fish kill. Year round aeration is very helpful to prevent fish kills from happening. Also, try to divert as much high fertility run off from your pond as possible. That would be the best way to prevent plankton bloom from beginning.

September

Small bluegill have been spawning all summer. This is about to end with the arrival of colder temperatures.

You will notice the fish will begin to feed less. Vegetation growth should slow down by the end of the month. If you catch any fish you will see some change. Much of this depends on weather. September can have an early frost or be very warm all month. If we have a warm month, your fish will feed and grow. Fishing will be good.

October

With the exception of Indian summer, fish growth is over for the year (unless you have trout in your pond).

Put the fish food away until next spring. Now is a good time to introduce any new species of fish or boost the population of what is already in your pond.

With water temperatures dropping, fish feeding activity will slow dramatically. Now it is safe to stock just about anything you would want without worries of the bigger fish.

By now, black crappie will become firm. The flesh will not be mushy. It is a good time to catch some crappie for fillets.

November

This is a good month to stock for the same reasons as last month.
If you have a pond that can winter kill easily, now would be a good time to get your electric aerator or fountain running. If you do not already have an aeration system then we suggest you consider one.

Also, muskrat trapping season comes in around the first week of November. This is a good time to get rid of muskrats and make a little money from their hides. At the same time you stop them from tearing up your pond.

December

An Amish saying I heard a few years ago is, “If you can put a horse on the ice of a pond before the first of the year, you won’t be able to walk a dog on it after the first of the year.” After I heard this, I have been watching to see if it holds true. So far it has. What the saying means is if your pond freezes over hard and thick before the first of the year, chances are the ice will open at least a little after the first of the year.

Like most rules of winter, some years this will not hold true.

It is likely your pond is frozen over by now. All you can do is make sure there is either water coming in to make oxygen or that you have an aerator of some kind to ensure the pond and everything in it stays healthy.

To order Steve’s book on line goto www.koenderswindmills.com and download it. Steve Fender has partnered with Koenders Windmills to offer his book FREE with every windmill or electric aerator purchase from Koenders Windmills.

Steve is a huge advocate for the environment, clean water, healthy fish and ponds. Fish is part of a nutritious diet and a fish pond can provide an economical source of health protein for the whole family. You can learn more about Steve and his family’s Fish Hatchery located in Baltic, OH by visiting www.fendersfishhatchery.com. With over 200 acres of fish ponds under management, Fender’s is one of the oldest and largest Fish Hatcheries in the Midwest.

Pond Owner Magazine is continually looking for stories and studies that can inform its readers on environmentally friendly ways to maintain a clean pond and a healthy eco system for its water and all its inhabitants.

Years of studies and scientific research has proven that the most effective and environmentally friendly way to keep water clean is to aerate it. Aeration is the process of dissolving oxygen into water. Having sufficient oxygen in a pond makes it stronger, more able to fight off unwanted bacteria and stagnation.
There are different ways to aerate ponds – electric aeration, solar aeration, windmill aeration and some would even say fountains are aeration systems too.

100% for Certain – Windmill Aeration is the most cost effective, reliable, long lasting and efficient way to aerate a pond. As a result, because aeration is so important and Windmill aeration is the best way to accomplish this goal – Pond Owner Magazine conducts an Annual Survey of pond owners, dealers and readers to determine which windmill aeration system is the best.

photo courtesy of Montana State Government – Fish and Wildlife Dept

This year Pond Owner Magazine asked Pond Owners to evaluate windmill aeration systems based on the following criteria:

• Windmill Aeration Performance in both Low winds and High winds
• Reliability and Years of Proven Quality
• Stability of Structure and Engineering Depth of Company
• Compressor Technology and Efficiency

The Winner for 2012 and for the 5th Year running Pond Owners have voted Koenders Windmill as the best windmill aeration system based on the criteria listed above.
Windmill Aeration Performance in both Low and High Winds

After a detailed design analysis of the various Windmill aeration systems one can see how Koenders Windmills have been designed by engineers to solve a problem rather than by salesmen trying to fit a marketing campaign. Koenders Windmills invented windmill aeration systems over 24 years ago. Now, in their 5th generation release of a truly unique patented design made of light weight galvanized steel the company has clearly separated themselves from all other imitated products that are found on the market today.

Koenders Windmills light weight structure has been designed to work in winds as low as 3-5 mph winds and up to 30 Mph or more before self regulating itself. We liken the engineering of Koenders Windmills to the technology being used in the aerospace industry. For example, the more advanced the design in airplanes the more aerodynamic the design is – and the lighter the weight. Koenders uses structural engineers in their design – the sum of its parts makes for an extremely strong, reliable and efficient windmill aeration system. Be careful of the companies that promote a heavy windmill structure. That should tell you that very little engineering went into the design but a lot of marketing might have. The Koenders Windmill system design has some key features that point out their engineering focus –

• Ability to compress air in low wind speeds – via their diaphragm based compressor that has been proven over 24 years – not much has changed with the size of the diaphragms being used on the Koenders Windmills. They use a standard 7.5 inch diaphragm – some companies who use diaphragms in their compressors use larger diameter diaphragms. This is extremely important to note. The larger the diaphragm – the more wind you will need to compress the air. It’s like the wheels on a car or truck – the larger the wheels the more gas or energy is required to turn the wheels. This is precisely why Koenders has always stayed with its proven 7.5 inch diaphragm and why when it innovated the dual diaphragm it kept two diaphragms the same size instead of increasing the diameter of one Diaphragm.
• The publishing and advertising of CFM cubic feet per minute of air. Koenders is the only company that shows how they calculate their CFM at the various pond levels. Koenders does not try to mislead customers into publishing unrealistic CFM numbers that can’t possibly be reached at certain pond depths. Koenders Windmills make every attempt to set proper expectations in the market for their product’s performance. Example, for every 2.3 Ft of water an air diffuser is placed into the pond there is 1 PSI of back pressure that the compressor needs to overcome, to push the air down into the water. With more back pressure, you require more wind to increase PSI, as a result you lose CFM depending on the depth of the air diffuser in the water. Many compressors are not tested to the PSI levels that are advertised and use over inflated CFM numbers to mislead customers. Koenders Windmills engineering show real proven numbers when publishing CFM at various pond depths.

Without a doubt Koenders has the most CFM being produced in the lowest wind regimes. CFM volumes that are measured at the compressor head rather than in the water are misleading customer’s expectations. The aeration systems need to install diffusers at depths as low as possible in shallow ponds and between 12-20 Ft in the deeper ponds.

Many windmill aeration systems will publish high CFM output but when the air diffusers are placed in the water the CFM dramatically drops. Example – a windmill aeration system that promotes 3 CFM or more needs to indicated a what pond depth. If it is 3 CFM out of the water and 0 CFM at 12 FT then the windmill aeration system is of little value unless you have a very shallow pond. This is why PSI is so important – at what PSI does the CFM compress? Again Koenders Windmills pump air at proven PSI levels of upto 30 PSI.

Reliability and Proven Quality

• Koenders Windmills were first invented in 1988 and for the last 24 years they have consistently worked at perfecting their models of windmill aeration systems. Now into their 5th generation model shows to consumers their commitment to quality and reliability.
• Koenders Windmills has more than 60,000 windmill aeration systems sold and installed throughout the world. The next nearest competitor has less than 10,000 Windmill aeration systems installed – that competitor is Superior Windmill. A company that has been in business for 10 years and is the next closest competitor to Koenders Windmill.
• Koenders has a warranty rate of less than ½ % which when you are producing and selling thousands of windmills per/yr is quite impressive. We hear from numerous Koenders customers who have owned and operated their Koenders Windmills for over 15 and 20 years. There was one customer that we heard from this year who had their windmill aerating for over 23 years and just recently explained that they ordered another Koenders Windmill for their neighbour. They had no need for a new one for their own use because it was still operating in fine condition. Just think of the amount of energy costs they would have incurred over all those years if they had installed an electric aerator.

24 years in business and over 60,000 windmill aeration systems installed all over the world counts for a whole lot when we look at the Best Windmill Aeration Systems. The fact that most of these units from 24 years ago are still working and pumping air into water tells us a lot about a company and its products. There are companies in the market that are offering warranties that exceed the number of years they have been making windmill aeration systems. How can that be – they have not even proven that the product can last that long. At least with Koenders Windmills the pond owner knows that the windmill is designed to last decades because it already has.

Stability of Structure and Engineering Depth of Company

Ability to swivel 360 degrees to catch the wind in all directions – they use a standard 3 legged lattice tower to ensure no matter what direction the wind is coming the structure is strong and secure. The 3 legged tower is a key indicator that Koenders Windmills understands engineering. Look at the wind power or the telecommunication industries, you will see that the lattice towers are 3 legged for they have proven to be more stable and reliable than any 4 legged tower. That alone is a good indicator to the consumer that engineering is involved in the design of Koenders Windmill Aeration Systems and its structures. A clear difference that Koenders Windmills seem to have in the market place and is noticed by Pond Owners.

Compressor Technology and Efficiency

Koenders Windmills has only 3 moving parts in its compressor technology – resulting in an extremely reliable and efficient model. It’s designed for the simple function of pumping air into aerate water and lasting through millions of compression. All Koenders parts have been designed for the sole purpose of windmill aeration, unlike other windmills which use vehicle suspension parts. Koenders Engineers designed and tested a solution over 24 years ago and continually improve upon the same inherent design for one function only – to pump air into water. Pond Owners seem to appreciate the focus of Koenders’ design and the proven parts they have continued to use in order to accomplish this important function for pond maintenance.

1. No electricity close by so cannot use traditional electric generation
2. Electric aeration systems have a high cost of operation and shorter life
3. Reliability of electric aeration systems are much lower
4. Looking for sustainable solutions to go GREEN and that provide short term payback

Koenders Windmills gets calls from state parks and municipalities weekly requesting their products. From some government groups that they never knew were even using their products. It is estimated that over 500
government organizations use Koenders windmills to aerate their ponds and sewage lagoons in North America.

Take the Montana State for example, the State Dept of Fish Wildlife and Parks have over a dozen Koenders Windmill Aeration Systems aerating their ponds and have been doing so for over 10 years. They have been using them to aerate the Fishing ponds to help keep the fish healthy in the hotter summer months and to avoid fish Kill in the winter months.

“We have also noticed a reduction of algae in weeds in the ponds that have the windmills aerating them” explained Cody.

Cody Nagel works in the field with the Montana State Fish Wildlife and Parks Dept in Havre, MT. Cody has been very impressed with the reliability and durability of the Koenders Windmills. “these windmills are installed in some of the toughest weather conditions in the world and these windmills survive everything from harsh storms to shot gun blasts from the hunters”.

Koenders Windmills – for over 23 years providing affordable, reliable and efficient windmill aeration systems to State and Local Governments.

Koenders Windmills the innovators in Windmill Aeration is introducing the windmill that got them started over 23 years ago. The Original tower height was only 8 FT and even at that height they caught plenty of wind. Listed below is one of those Koenders 8 FT windmills still going strong over 20 years later. This video was sent into pondowner.com by the windmill owner in Northern Saskatchewan. This windmill was in the middle of a farmer’s field by the dugout which it was aerating. Due to all the rain and floods in that region – the water has risen right up to the blades. Even at ground level the Koenders Windmills keeps on turning.

Being proven to work in low winds as well as sustain high winds is a key feature that has made Koenders the top choice of windmill aeration systems and an the industry leader.

“Pond Owners are looking for a solution that is affordable and that will last decades,” explains Alan Goode, GM for Koenders Windmills inc. “Our customers are worried about the economy and know that aeration is the most efficient way to keep their pond water clean and healthy. They just need to be able to afford it.”
Koenders is offering their Original Koenders Windmill in a 12 FT Tower height at a price that is extremely affordable for a limited time only. The Koenders Windmill is now in its 5th generation of its model release continuously improving the performance, reliability and longevity of the product.

Greg Francis – of Sherwood Park Alberta – has been a Koenders Windmill customer for over 15 yrs. He has a Koenders Original windmill aeration system and the only thing he has done is changed out the diaphragm every several years.

“this windmill aeration system has kept the algae off my pond and the dugout clean since it was installed, we have never had any issues with our animals getting sick because of water, thanks to our Koenders Windmill” he explains. Mr. Francis is a cattle and chicken farmer whose animals drink directly from the dugout. “If it was not for the windmill aeration system the pond would stagnate and grow algae. Some algae forms are toxic and can make the animals sick or even die.”

The windmill also kept the pond open during the winter months allowing it to clean the water all year round ensuring good quality drinking water for his animals.

Another Original Koenders Windmill owner – Fred Jones – East Sparta, Ohio installed his windmill over 18 yrs ago. Mr. Jones owns a ¾ acre pond and stocks it with fish regularly. The pond water is used to irrigate his brother in laws farm and Jones uses the pond to fish.

“We have never had a fish kill since installing the windmill, during the cold winter months there is always a hole in the ice at least 10 FT in diameter,” Jones says. “this allows the pond to vent off any gases that could otherwise suffocate the fish and it also provides adequate levels of oxygen so that the fish stay healthy during the cold weather months.”

Koenders Windmills – the leaders in Windmill aeration systems have over 50,000 windmills installed in North America. One does not have to look far to see a Koenders Windmill. As you drive down the highway just look for this traditional looking windmill beside any pond. There is a 95% chance or better that it is a Koenders Windmill keeping that pond water clean.

Koenders Windmills has been manufacturing windmill aeration systems for over 23 years. The proven Leader in this industry. For more information on their Koenders Original Windmill offer go to www.koenderswindmills.com or call 1-888-777-4933

What do Superior Windmills have in common with growing cranberries? Last year Paul Holloway from Cutler Cranberry, Camp Douglas Wisconsin had a problem…and an idea. The problem was weeds…the idea was a Superior Windmill.

The inlet pipes in a pond Cutler Cranberry uses to irrigate their cranberry fields were plugging up with aquatic weeds. Keeping the pipes clear by manual methods was time consuming and expensive, but not as
expensive as if the pipes became clogged and subsequently damaged a water pump. Paul said “There are 3 water pumps attached to those inlet pipes, 200 HP each, and if a pump becomes damaged, it gets very, very expensive. Growing cranberries requires a tremendous amount of water. For every acre of cranberries we have about 4 surface acres of water”.

Paul was aware other cranberry growers had successfully used aeration windmills to control weed in their bogs, so he thought they would work even better to keep a specific area weed free, the area around their inlet pipes.

He ordered a Superior Windmill Turbo Jet Stream from www.Windmillaeration.com . “The assembly manual was easy to follow so assembling the windmill went smoothly. I am well pleased with the product and it performs as advertised” he said. “And,
it was a pleasure working with Terry at Windmillaeration”.

Four diffusers were used for the project, 3 to form a 100′ long arc in one area and the fourth approximately 750 ft from shore near another pipe. Mounting the 12′ windmill on the 14′ high peak gave it about a 28′ overall
height. The air line runs through the roof to the Freeze Control Tank, then to a 4 way splitter, all mounted inside the building. Paul also came up with an innovative way to grease the pivot post. A line was built to run from ground level, up the building to the pivot post on the windmill. “Greasing doesn’t get any easier than that”. He joked.

Paul hopes to purchase more Superior Windmills in the near future. “These windmills operate on free wind power, are well built and easy to maintain, and we have lots and lots of water!” he said.

There is also an added bonus to having a windmill mounted to your roof. The Cutler Cranberry workmen use the windmill for checking wind direction as well as (with a little practice) wind speed when spraying the cranberry fields. The innovative uses for Superior Windmills just never end!

A number of criteria is looked at in order to make this decision.

1) The number of years in business. Koenders Windmills Innovated Windmill Aeration and Water Pumping systems over 23 years ago – Its closest competitor is Superior Windmill -it has not even been in business for 10 years.

2) Warranty Claims – less than 1/2 a percent

3) Price Point – Due to Koenders market share and volume they have been able to manufacturer their windmills at price points that are affordable. Providing pond owners with a relatively short pay back. In these tough economic times, volume is important for the manufacture and price is critical for the customer. Koenders has been able to manage this balance with one of the lowest price points in the industry. Furthermore, Koenders Windmills do not require energy to run their windmills – they simply use the wind to power their air compressor systems – resulting in a very low cost of ownership.

4) Proven Product – we hear from customers and dealers that have tried all the products in the market and they keep going with Koenders for the key reason that they are the Proven Leader and Product in the aeration industry – any wind regime and in any temperature.

Here is typical feedback that we hear from Koenders Customers on a regular basis.

“Wanted to thank Koenders for a high quality product that has been aerating our family pond for 18 yrs. I can appreciate well built, mechanically sound products and know the difference first hand for I am a mechanic by trade and profession.

The only maintenance that I have done on this windmill in 18 years is change the check valves and the diaphragm kit twice.

Koenders Windmill Aeration System has kept our recreation pond clean for all these years. It has also maintained a healthy eco system for our fish. We have never had a fish kill since we installed our Koenders
Windmill. Living in North West Ohio we get some strong winds and our windmill has never faultered.

Tim Noblit
OH, USA

5) Variety of Windmills Styles – Koenders believes in its core product which is galvanized steel structure windmills that provide aeration. They also have powder coated windmills of all colors and a range of tower
types and heights.

6) Versatility of Windmill – Koenders scores very high in this area. Their windmills are designed to work in very low winds – 3-5 MpH – However, even in high winds they work reliably, making them extremely attractive in both low and high wind locations or times of year. Due to the fact these windmills are installed on low tower heights – less than 25 FT you need a windmill that will operate in low wind speeds. That is where the winds are the majority of the time. We have seen that these units do that quite well. Turning and finding the wind resource in low wind speeds and furling out of the wind when the occassional high wind comes in that is over 28 MpH to regulate the rotor speeds

Aeration – is the process of dissolving oxygen in water – By aerating a pond you increase the oxygen levels which help uncrease the decomposition process of organic debris that penetrates the pond body. When you do this you reduce the chances of weed, algae, sludge build up and fish kill.

Making aeration the most sustainable and affective way to maintain the health of a pond resource.

Air Driven Water Pumping – windmills compress the air into various styled water pumps that use air to pump water up from over 30 FT deep. ideal for pumping water upto troughs or irrigating. Come in two kinds – to pump water from wells or to pump water from ponds.

For more information you can review the many articles that Pond Owner has published over the years. www.pondowner.com or you can visit www.koenderswindmills.com.

Windmill aeration systems were innovated 23 years ago by an inventer by the name of Wilf Koenders.

He founded Koenders Windmills at that time and it has now grown to sell over 6000 windmill aeration systems per/yr all over the world. Koenders owns about 90% of the market when it comes to windmill aeration systems and its product is proven to stand the test of time with more than 50,000 units installed in North America. Koenders has a unique tag line that holds true to the product – “Saving the Planet’s Water Natures Way”.

There are no operating costs and the maintenance is so seldom that we calculate the total cost of ownership as basically free.

Using wind to compress air into the airlines instead of electricity allows these units to operate with very little moving parts and no energy costs. That is correct – there are not electricity costs for powering thiswindmill.

The main reason for this article is to let pond owners know about the recently released Special Spring OFFER that Koenders announced this week, making windmill Aeration systems affordable for the masses.

Koenders Windmills just announced a Spring Special where you can get a complete Windmill Aeration System for $ 999.00.

This is truly an amazing opportunity for Pond Owners who have been wanting to use a sustainable approach to reducing algae and sludge in their ponds, wanting to keep fish alive and avoiding costly fish kills, providing a healthy ecosystem for everyone to enjoy.

To learn more about Koenders windmills products and this offer you can visit Koenders Windmills’ website at www.koenderswindmills.com.

Then comes the clean up and the cost of re-stocking. Winter Fish Kill can cost pond owners thousands of dollars…but it can be prevented for pennies per day.

Let’s look at the average 20 year cost of owning a 20′ Koenders (single diaphragm) Windmill System:

20′ Windmill $1345.00
Shipping $150.00 (average cost to ship throughout the US)
(3) Maintenance Kits $179.85
(1) Set of 3 Compressor Bearings Kits $119.85
TOTAL COST $1794.70
Cost Per Year $89.74
Cost Per Day $.2458493 *LESS THAN 25 CENTS A DAY !!*

Shouldn’t every pond be protected by a Koenders Windmill?

Customers all over North America are discovering the benefits of aeration during the winter months. By aerating the water you provide additional levels of oxygen to the pond to help keep the fish healthy. The aeration also keeps an area of the pond open so that the water can vent off the CO2 gases that are caused by the decomposing organic matter in the pond. This not only keeps the fish happy and healthy – it also keeps the pond water cleaner.

Terry Miller
Koenders Customer for 10 years – bought a Koenders windmill aeration system after a severe winter killed all his fish.

Wind Power for both Aeration and Generation – Powering Up Farm Profits

Across the U.S. and Canada, farmers and John Deere dealers are looking to advanced wind turbines that offer the best features of large megawatt units. They’re also using windmills to eliminate the need for energy altogether, when replacing the electric pond aeration systems used to support healthy fish and livestock. The result is powering up farm profits and minimizing input costs.

“Whether for irrigation systems and grain dryers or equipment to raise hogs, cattle, or turkey, farmers use a lot of electricity,” says Don Van Houweling, General Manager of The Van Wall Group, the Midwest’s largest John Deere dealer with locations throughout Central Iowa and the greater Kansas City area.

“That’s why farmers and dealers are turning to wind energy: to achieve good ROI, hedge against volatile energy costs, and ensure the future of farm and country,” says Van Houweling. “By harnessing a naturally renewable resource, we can limit rising input costs and our dependence on polluting, foreign fossil fuels.”

Van Houweling estimates an annual 12 to 15% ROI for Midwest farmers and John Deere dealers who choose state-of-the-art wind turbine technology and take advantage of current federal, state, or local renewable energy incentives. He both uses wind turbines and is a dealer of them.

At his Perry, Iowa dealership, for instance, Van Houweling has installed a wind turbine by Endurance Wind Power capable of producing up to 20,000 kWh per year, about 20% of the site’s needed power; and a larger unit capable of producing over 200,000 kWh per year is scheduled to produce about 85% of the power needed at his upcoming west Des Moines, Iowa site.

Back to Wind
Farms and windmills have a long history together, and today’s growing interest in renewable wind power is just the latest chapter.

“The first heyday of wind power in America lasted from 1870 to 1930, when thousands of farmers used the wind to pump water and generate power. The second heyday is just beginning,” states the website of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world.

According to the UCS, the reasons for wind power’s rebirth are many: some of the best wind resources are on farmland; electric wind generators are more efficient and reliable than old water-pumping fan-bladed windmills; and the relative cost/convenience advantage of renewable wind power over diesel generators and extending power lines. Other reasons: technology improvements, cost reductions, government incentives, plus the ability “to plant crops and graze livestock right up to the base of the turbines.”

“Why did we jump into the wind market?” asks Van Houweling. “For the first time, the technology is designed for commercial farms or businesses on the electric grid, not just remote off-grid sites. Unlike traditional windmills requiring a complex DC to AC power inverter prone to breakdown, grid-compatible technology like Endurance’s can provide up to 30% more power and greater reliability.”

Grid-compatible wind power generation allows “net metering,” which “enables farmers to get the most out of their wind turbines,” according to the UCS.

With net metering, “When a turbine produces more power than the farm needs at that moment, the extra power flows back into the electricity system for others to use, turning the electric meter backwards,” states the UCS. “When the turbine produces less than the farm is using, the meter spins forward, as it normally does. At the end of the month or year, the farmer pays for the net consumption or the electric company pays for the net production. Net metering rules and laws are in place in most states.”

Going Green
When a tornado destroyed Mike Estes’ family-owned John Deere dealership in Greensburg, Kansas as well as most of the town, wind power got his BTI-Greensburg dealership back on its feet again.

“The first thing to go up after the tornado was an S series Endurance wind turbine that powered the construction of our new building,” says Estes, co-owner of BTI, a fourth-generation John Deere dealer with four Kansas locations.

The renewable power provided by the wind turbine, along with other measures taken, helped the new BTI-Greensburg facility become the world’s first LEED Platinum John Deere facility. LEED (Leadership In Energy and Environmental Design) is the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest certification for sustainable design.

Inspired by the performance of the S series wind turbine used onsite, Estes and his family started a new business, BTI Wind Energy, and have become the North American distributor for Endurance.

“We turned to the state-of-the-art wind turbines because they offer the best features of large megawatt units brought down to the individual farm and dealer level,” says Estes.

With the Endurance turbines, for instance, grid-compatible power and large rotor diameters that capture more wind enable up to 60 % slower rotor speeds with similar or greater output than traditional units. Like a healthy slow-beating heart will outlast a chronically fast-beating one, this means less wear and tear, quieter operation, plus a service life of over 30 years.

“As a John Deere dealer already out on the farm, it makes sense for us to offer and support the wind turbines,” says Estes. “For generations, farmers have trusted us to get the most out of their equipment. We’ll do the same for the wind turbines.”

Estes points out a number of features that will help farmers get the most out of the next generation technology.

“Unlike traditional wind turbines with the controls and generator high above ground, these are designed for easy maintenance with the controls and electronics at ground level,” explains Estes. “For safety and productivity, these have a high wind sensor and dual disc brakes that automatically stop and release the rotors when appropriate; and for those who want total peace of mind, as an option, dealers can remotely monitor and control the turbine operation via a wireless interface.”

Roger Stotts of Morning Star Farms near Greensburg, Kansas is working with BTI Wind Energy to implement an Endurance E series wind turbine capable of producing over 200,000 kWh per year to power electric irrigation pivots and a grain elevator. He’s also implementing two Endurance S series wind turbines, that are capable of each producing over 20,000 kWh per year each, to power a shop and office.

“On the farm, energy is one of our biggest expenses, so we want to manage that,” says Stotts. “We’re incorporating as much renewable energy as we can, and government incentives will certainly help.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy Wind & Hydropower Technologies Program website, for instance, “As of March 2009, the federal government offers an investment tax credit for the purchase and installation of qualifying small wind electric systems, worth 30% of the value of the system.”

Estes’ BTI-Greenburg dealership is further reducing its electrical use with wind-powered aeration of a water run-off pond to be used for fish and landscape irrigation, instead of using expensive electric aeration. This will keep the water cleaner, clearer, and help to control algae and weed growth, thus preventing irrigation pump clogging.

“After researching the market, we chose a Koenders Windmill Aeration system and had it powder coated in John Deere colors,” says Estes. “We noticed they’d been servicing customers for 21 years with over 50,000 windmill aeration systems installed in North America. It’s another way for farmers and dealers to reduce energy costs.”

Fast ROI
Renewable wind power aeration is also reviving rural pond water quality for livestock, eliminating the high cost of water hauling or electric aeration.

“Our windmill pond aerator paid us back in ten days and is saving us $30,000 a year by avoiding water hauling and energy costs,” says Jim Barrett, owner of the Barrett Ranch in Venus, Florida. “We could add hundreds of thousands of dollars to our bottom line by keeping our herds healthy and preventing catastrophic loss with good water. We’re expanding now.”

Before using windmill pond aeration, the Barrett Ranch couldn’t expand due to a lack of clean, affordable water for its cattle and registered goats on 88 acres. Water was plentiful but undrinkable in 12 stagnant, algae-filled ponds.

Generations ago, pond aeration would not have been needed to clean up stagnant water—the wind and rain did the job, stirring up the water enough to keep it oxygenated. In the last 20 years, however, pollutants and fertilizer run-off, combined with an increasing lack of rainfall, has caused many ponds and dugouts to stagnate. Medical costs for livestock that drink from algae filled ponds can be thousands of dollars. The costs of maintenance and filters for irrigation pumps can also be thousands of dollars per year.

Farmers like Barrett are saving their ponds and dugouts with bottom up-water aeration, which gives the water the strength to burn off the excess chemicals and pollutants that cause algae, weed growth and stagnation. The water becomes much clearer and cleaner when air, diffused into tiny bubbles and transported by tube, is continuously pumped to the bottom of a pond or dugout.

In this effort, windmill aerators are gaining in popularity over electrical ones for a number of reasons. Powered by wind as light as 3 mph, Koenders windmill aerators were originally developed for farm pond use when running electricity out to ponds was found to be too expensive. Wind costs nothing. It can save farmers and ranchers thousands per year in energy, maintenance and filter costs. It can save thousands more per year in preventing livestock and farm animal loss or sickness.

Another reason for the popularity of windmill aerators is how long they last. While the windmills only have 3 moving parts and will last decades, electrical aeration devices have motors and generally die out in a few years after constant use. Environmentally friendly windmills also eliminate the need for costly electric power or oil-based fuels.

After investigation, Barrett chose a windmill aerator by Koenders Windmills to clean up his first pond.

“Within 30 days, the water was clean enough to put catfish in,” says Barrett. “Not long after that we had the water tested, and it was fine for our animals. Now it’s crystal clear and I could drink it.”

For more information about wind powered energy, visit www.endurancewindpower.com or call 1-888-440-4451 in the U.S. or Canada.

For more information about windmill aeration, visit www.koenderswindmills.com. Contact Koenders Windmills Inc. From the U.S. or Canada, call 1-888-777-4933;

What do Superior Windmills have in common with growing cranberries? Last year Paul Holloway from Cutler Cranberry, Camp Douglas Wisconsin had a problem…and an idea. The problem was weeds…the idea was a Superior Windmill.

The inlet pipes in a pond Cutler Cranberry uses to irrigate their cranberry fields were plugging up with aquatic weeds. Keeping the pipes clear by manual methods was time consuming and expensive, but not as expensive as if the pipes became clogged and subsequently damaged a water pump. Paul said “There are 3 water pumps attached to those inlet pipes, 200 HP each, and if a pump becomes damaged, it gets very, very expensive. Growing cranberries requires a tremendous amount of water. For every acre of cranberries we have about 4 surface acres of water”.

Paul was aware other cranberry growers had successfully used aeration windmills to control weed in their bogs, so he thought they would work even better to keep a specific area weed free, the area around their inlet pipes. He ordered a Superior Windmill Turbo Jet Stream from www.Windmillaeration.com. “The assembly manual was easy to follow so assembling the windmill went smoothly. I am well pleased with the product and it performs as advertised” he said. “And, it was a pleasure working with Terry at Windmillaeration”.

Four diffusers were used for the project, 3 to form a 100′ long arc in one area and the fourth approximately 750 ft from shore near another pipe. Mounting the 12′ windmill on the 14′ high peak gave it about a 28′ overall height. The air line runs through the roof to the Freeze Control Tank, then to a 4 way splitter, all mounted inside the building. Paul also came up with an innovative way to grease the pivot post. A line was built to run from ground level, up the building to the pivot post on the windmill. “Greasing doesn’t get any easier than that”. He joked.

Paul hopes to purchase more Superior Windmills in the near future. “These windmills operate on free wind power, are well built and easy to maintain, and we have lots and lots of water!” he said.

There is also an added bonus to having a windmill mounted to your roof. The Cutler Cranberry workmen use the windmill for checking wind direction as well as (with a little practice) wind speed when spraying the cranberry fields. The innovative uses for Superior Windmills just never end!

Submitted by

Terry Miller

Superior Windmill Aeration Consultant

www.windmillaeration.com