There are many posts on here from Bill Cody and Greg Grimes on this topic, you may want to plud those names into a search at the top of this page. Nhman,If your pond is productive and healthy you should not have a lot of sludge/buildup in bottom.If you do then it can be more productive and healthier. Why would that be, are they just not reliable enough because of the uncetainties of wind? I saw that a windmill aerator was a 'last choice'.

Appreciate all the info that you have provided thus far. I often wonder if the muck is not mostly accumulated goose droppings from years of their 'patronage'. I have lots of geese and get loads of goose droppings. The pond is spring fed and also fed from runoff from a larger pond. I have walked through it when the water level was down and sunk up to my knees almost in muck. I have just discuover this great site and the wonderful advice. I am thinking of installing a windmill bottom aerator as I have heard this will clear the sludge on the bottom by stirring it up and letting the bacteria consume it. I bought the property with the pond on it 10 years ago. Pond is small, only half an acre, but productive and healthy.

Pond dredging georgia