For anyone who owns waterfront property on a lake or pond, muck can be a particularly foul, unattractive nuisance. Muck is also notoriously tough to remove, as many common methods of doing so are labor-intensive, ineffective, or impractical.
Muck blowers are powerful, easy-to-use tools that aim to solve this mucky problem!
3 Best Lake Muck Blower Removal Machines
1) The Aquasweep by Scott Lake Aerator Blowers
- The Scott Aerator Aquasweep now features a dock post mounting option allowing you to mount the Aquasweep to one of the posts that support...
- The Aquasweep can be pointed in any direction around your dock to focus your muck or sediment movement precisely where you’d like it.
- You will get the same great performance, long life and durability of the very popular dock plate mount without the down side of drilling...
Scott Aerator’s Aquasweep is a powerful muck blower made of high-quality materials. The standard Aquasweep is available with 1/2-HP, 3/4-HP, or 1-HP motors, which can move bottom muck 50, 60, or 75 feet, respectively. These are relatively far distances for bottom muck, assuming they apply all the way to the standard dock-mounted model’s maximum depth of 7 feet. As an aerator, the Aquasweep can move 400-500 gallons of water per minute. Motor strength is one of the Aquasweep’s biggest advantages, making it a good choice for use at both the top and bottom of the water column.
Another of the Aquasweep’s major selling points is its impressive construction. The blower is made of mostly stainless steel and polyurethane (a strong plastic), and both the motor and the power cord are sourced from professional manufacturers of heavy-duty aquatic products. A basket-like intake shield keeps debris away from the fan and motor, while a special sensor automatically turns off the blower when the water level falls too far, helping to prevent burnout. This combination of safeguards and excellent materials indicates that the Aquasweep should be a durable, long-lasting product. Just in case, Scott Aerator offers a 5-year warranty on the motor and a 1-year warranty on all other parts. The Aquasweep is oil-free, meaning it requires minimal maintenance beyond changing the propeller every 5 years.
Several mounting options are available for the Aquasweep. The dock-mounted model is rated at 1/2 HP and requires a water depth of 12 inches. The typical version attaches using a plate that screws into the dock, but a post bracket is offered as an optimal attachment. A 50-foot cord is standard, but you can upgrade to 75, 100, or 125 feet, as well as add a programmable, 360-degree oscillator for extra cost. (Note: This oscillator only works with the dock-mounted Aquasweep.)
If you don’t have a dock, you can go with the floating Aquasweep or purchase an 8-foot freestanding post. The floating model, only available with a 1/2-HP motor, comes with a 35-foot cord (at extra costs, you can upgrade to 50, 75, or 100 feet). The freestanding post installs directly into the bottom and doesn’t require additional tools.
All models of the Aquasweep are available in both 115-volt and 230-volt sizes, making it a good fit for a variety of electrical setups. The 1/2-HP motor runs at 680 watts. Using the 2018 US average electricity rate, running this motor would cost about 8.48 cents per hour.
In all, the Aquasweep’s superior design, quality materials, and high-performing motors make it a great choice for moving large amounts of muck and surface debris. Various options make it adequately flexible, and although it isn’t cheap, the price isn’t outrageous relative to other muck blowers.
- Mounting Options: dock-mounted (plate or bracket), floating, freestanding post
- Motor Strengths: 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP, 1 HP (for dock-mounted model); 1/2 HP (for floating model)
- Minimum/Maximum Blowing Distance: 50 feet/75 feet (bottom)
- Motor Sizes: 115 volts, 230 volts
- Oscillator: yes
- Materials: stainless steel, polyurethane
- Warranty: 5-year motor warranty, 1-year warranty for all other parts
2) Kasco AquatiClear Water Muck Blowers
- Water Circulator w/Universal Mount: AquatiClear by Kasco is a pump circulator, reimagined. This 3/4 HP, 120 V circulator with a universal...
- Innovative Design: With our revolutionary Clean Current Technology, AquatiClear circulating water pump features a brand-new composite prop...
- Maintenance-Free: The external metal and hardware of our pumps are made with stainless steel and are protected by a sacrificial zinc anode....
Our second muck blower is the Kasco AquatiClear Water Circulator Pump, which is available with motor strengths of 1/2-HP, 3/4-HP, and 1-HP (all three of which are backed with a 2-year warranty). The 1/2-HP and 3/4-HP models both perform very well, with the Kasco 1/2-HP motor covers 75 feet at the surface, while the 3/4-HP motor reaches 100 feet at the surface. Kasco’s 1-HP model, however, is the more effective of the two, covering over 125 feet at the surface. If you’re considering a 1-HP model, the Kasco AquatiClear is very good better value for a muck blower.
The AquatiClear primarily made of are stainless steel and coated in a a sacrificial anode to protect it from corrosion. Additionally, ETL, a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, lists it as meeting Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Candadian Standards Association (CSA) standards for safety and quality. This nationally backed certification means that the AquatiClear should be completely safe as well as durable. Maintenance is low; you just have to clean the motor housing twice a year and replace the protective zinc when it becomes visibly corroded.
The blowers feature a clog-resistant circulator, which operates with a a crown-like composite prop guard, allowing for continuous operation and less overall maintenance. However, the variety of mounting options is where the AquatiClear really shines!
The muck blower provides three types of packages: standard base unit only, horizontal float mount, and universal mount. The universal mount provides adjustable angle and depth options and comes with a durable swivel bracket for easy rotation within the water column. The horizontal mounting package allows you to create extra elongated water patterns by allowing you to mount the blower to the underneath of your deck or shore using 3 secure ropes. They even offer a special mounting kit for shallow water, which allows the muck blower to work without disrupting the lake or pond bottom and without creating a loud suction sound (ventilation).
All models come with a 50-foot electrical cord as standard, but you can also upgrade to 100, 150, or 200 feet cords if needed. A 110-volt motor is standard, but 220-volt sizes are available for customized models.
In sum, the Kasco AquatiClear Muck Blower is a well-made, very customizable, and decently powerful muck blower at a very reasonable price point. It isn’t the strongest muck blower around, but its large variety of mounting options and extras may make it more appealing, depending on your situation.
- Mounting Options: dock-mounted (plate, truss, or post), floating, freestanding frame, bottom frame (with oscillator and dock post mount)
- Motor Strengths: 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP, 1 HP
- Minimum/Maximum Blowing Distance: 75 feet/125 feet
- Motor Sizes: 110 volts, 220 volts
- Oscillator: no
- Materials: stainless steel
- Warranty: 2-year warranty
3) The Torrent by Weed Razer
For those looking for an unfussy, slightly cheaper option, the Torrent could be a good choice. Unlike the other two muck blowers featured here, the Torrent isn’t intended for consistent use. Instead, its manufacturer, Weed Razer, recommends most people turn it on just once every month to push away whatever muck has accumulated over that time. With a typical operating depth of 2–3 feet, the Torrent is designed to remove muck at or suspended a little below the surface, rather than on deep bottoms. For these reasons, the Torrent is probably best suited for smaller, shallower ponds and lake areas.
Like with other muck blowers, you can buy the Torrent with a 1/2-HP, 3/4-HP, or 1-HP motor. When used within a few feet of the surface, these motors can blow floating muck 50 feet, 70 feet, and 100 feet respectively. Although the other models here may be capable of blowing muck farther, they might be overkill in smaller waterfront areas. In those cases, the shorter distances of the Torrent may make it a more practical choice.
The Torrent’s biggest draw may be its relatively low price — coming in the cheapest of the 3 for the 1/2–HP motor model with a 100–ft cord – it’s definitely the least expensive muck blower listed here. Be aware, however, that the Torrent is strictly a dock-mounted blower, and the bracket used to attach it is sold separately. The true cost is still cheaper than the other models, but not by as much as you might think at a glance, so this needs to be taken into account.
The Torrent is made mostly of stainless steel, and models that are compatible with either 115–V or 230–V power sources are available. As of this writing, you can buy the Torrent with power cords of either 100 or 150 feet (depending on the motor strength you choose, the 150-ft option will cost extra). Cords of 25, 50, and 200 feet may also be available periodically.
Most muck blowers are designed for use on larger waterbodies, but in other situations they may feel excessive. With its lower price and blowing radius, the Torrent stands out as a somewhat more economical choice. If you’re clearing muck from a smaller waterfront and don’t mind forgoing the flexibility of the other two brands, the Torrent might be your best bet.
- Mounting Options: dock-mounted (bracket)
- Motor Strengths: 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP, 1 HP
- Minimum/Maximum Blowing Distance: 50 feet/100 feet (2–3 feet below surface)
- Motor Sizes: 115 volts, 230 volts
- Oscillator: no
- Materials: mostly stainless steel
- Warranty: none listed
- Cord Length: 25 feet standard; 50, 100, or 150 feet available for extra fees
Why Should You Remove Muck?
Before choosing a muck blower, it may help to know your enemy. Most people know muck as a soft, smelly gunk found on the bottoms of lakes and ponds. Muck is a mix of organic substances, particularly plants, that have decomposed to the point they are no longer individually recognizable. This explains muck’s slimy consistency and brown-gray color. Rotting remains of fish, insects, weeds, leaves, grass clippings, algae, uneaten food, and waste are all common components of muck.
Muck is unpleasant to walk on and swim through, can interfere with activities like fishing, and can shelter dangerous pests like leeches. Additionally, the bacteria that break down muck can cause problems in excessive amounts. The microorganisms that initially decompose muck absorb dissolved oxygen in the process. When decomposing larger-than-natural amounts of muck on the bottom of a water body, these bacteria can drastically deplete the available oxygen, potentially suffocating fish.
Other types of bacteria that take over after the oxygen is gone then release hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide causes muck’s terrible smell, and at high concentrations it can stress and even kill fish and other organisms. Ordinary muck is unlikely to have such drastic consequences. However, large quantities of muck created by algal blooms or other products of human activity may lead to these problems, especially in smaller water bodies.
What Are Muck blowers, And How Do They Help? (The Benefits Explained)
A muck blower is basically a submersible, electrically powered fan that creates water currents to push away muck. Most can be mounted on a dock, but units that float or attach to freestanding poles are also available. Muck blowers can be positioned at the surface or bottom and can quickly and painlessly remove large clumps of muck in the immediate vicinity.
1) Automated Surface Debris Removal
Muck blowers are convenient, easy-to-use tools for keeping small areas free from floating debris. Many owners of muck blowers use them to blow away drifting clumps of algae and weeds. However, these devices can also move larger objects, such as driftwood, garbage, and ice, that could interfere with your dock or waterfront space. A muck blower might be an attractive option for maintaining good conditions for activities like boating, fishing, and swimming.
One of the biggest advantages to muck blowers is that they require very little effort but cover significant surface area. Muck blowers can clear debris from specific parts of the surface as needed, or they can run continuously to sweep the immediate area (though this will drive up your electric bill).
2) Bottom Muck Reduction
Blowers that are positioned deep enough can effectively clear weeds and clumps of muck on the bottom of a lake or pond. By doing so, they can create safer, cleaner swimming areas, especially when rotated as described above. Muck blowers let you remove significant amounts of bottom muck with minimal exertion. This can make them more desirable than labor-intensive options like rakes or shovels. The amount of muck cleared will depend on the blower’s motor strength.
3) Massive Aeration Potential
Because they greatly agitate the water, muck blowers can provide a pond or lake with valuable aeration. Blowers positioned near the surface expose more water to the air, helping oxygen to enter from the atmosphere. The currents these devices create can also circulate water between the bottom and the surface, bringing dissolved oxygen to the deepest parts and helping to keep deeper water bodies from stratifying into layers of different temperature.
In addition to helping fish breathe, this aeration can lessen the amount of muck that accumulates over time. Two types of bacteria decompose muck: aerobic bacteria, which need oxygen to survive, and anaerobic bacteria, which thrive in the absence of oxygen. Aeration promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria, which rot muck about 20 times quicker than the anaerobic variety. Anaerobic bacteria are also primarily responsible for releasing the smelly, potentially toxic hydrogen sulfide. By aerating the water, muck blowers can help keep harmful, less efficient anaerobic bacteria away.
Considerations When Buying Lake Muck Removal Machine
1) Motor Strength & Max Blower Distance
A blower’s motor strength determines the volume of muck it can move, as well as how far it can push. Manufacturers list motor strength in horsepower (HP); higher HP blowers can move more water, and therefore muck, per minute. Most muck blowers are available in motor strengths ranging from 1/4 HP to 1 HP. Models with stronger motors are typically more expensive as well as more effective. Generally, the larger your section of pond or lake is, the stronger your muck blower needs to be. This is especially true if you’re using your blower for aeration. Stronger blowers turn the water over faster because they have higher flow rates, making them most worthwhile for larger water bodies.
You may also need to consider how far you want your blower to move debris. If you’re looking to clear a section of a large body of water, you may need debris pushed 70 feet or more. For smaller ponds, though, this distance might be unnecessary. A smaller distance might also be better if you share a waterfront with other property owners, since you probably don’t want to blow debris into your neighbors’ areas.
When shopping for a blower, check to see if the manufacturer lists the maximum distance for different motor strengths. Keep in mind, though, that these may just be the distances the blower can push plain water. The actual distance a blower can move floating objects varies with the size, weight, and diameter of the debris. Heavier, bulkier debris won’t move as far or as fast as smaller objects. Blowers also may not be able to move debris as far in deeper, colder, or more polluted water, which is denser than normal.
2) Max Operating Depth
The depth at which you set your blower can depend on more than just whether you want to remove muck from the surface or the bottom. For clearing bottom muck, your blower obviously needs to reach down far enough. The blower can’t reach too deeply, though, or it will dig into the sediment, keeping the blades from turning smoothly. Check the product specifications to make sure that your water body meets the minimum operating depth.
Even if your muck blower doesn’t actually touch the bottom, it still shouldn’t reach down far enough to move much sediment. If your blower is too deep, its energy will be wasted pushing away heavy sand, gravel and sediment. This can also severely harm the natural ecosystem by damaging plants and animal habitats and clouding the water. For this reason, some areas have restricted or entirely banned the use of muck blowers on lake bottoms. Even if using a blower to clear bottom muck is legal in your area, you may want to consider whether it’s environmentally responsible.
3) Different Mounting Methods & Options
- Dock-mounted (+ optional oscillator)
Many muck blowers offer multiple mounting methods, allowing you to customize your setup to fit your needs. Most are designed to be mounted on a dock by attaching either directly to the side or to a post. Dock-mounted models are ideal for clearing swimming or fishing areas, as well as for keeping debris away from filters. They can work at the surface or bottom, and manually adjusting the direction is usually very easy.
Some manufacturers sell programmable oscillators as optional attachments to dock-mounted blowers. An oscillator can make changing a blower’s direction even easier. Usually, you can program the device to turn your blower by however many degrees you want at a set time interval. With an oscillator, your muck blower can sweep the area continuously and evenly without requiring constant manual adjustment. Unfortunately, oscillators usually cost about $700-$800 extra. They may also encourage you to run your blower more constantly, which can raise your electricity bill. Oscillators may be less worthwhile for removing bottom muck, which tends to build up over weeks and months and therefore doesn’t require constant attention.
- Floating & Free Standing
If you don’t have a dock, a floating or freestanding muck blower is a better option. Floating models can’t reach to the bottom; the blades usually sit a couple of feet below the water line, meaning they can only move surface debris and provide aeration. They are typically tethered to a steady object on the shore. Freestanding blowers are usually meant for moving bottom muck, but some work at the surface as well. They usually attach to an independent post that rests on a frame or is inserted into the ground.
Floating and freestanding muck blowers are particularly useful for blowing surface debris closer to the shore, where it can be picked up more easily. However, adjusting their depth or direction may be more difficult than with dock-mounted models, and they are rarely compatible with oscillators. Freestanding and floating blowers may also require longer electrical cords in contact with the water, an extra potential hazard.
4) Efficiency & Running Costs
More powerful muck blowers are also more expensive to run. Operating your unit for longer time periods can quickly hike your electricity bill; running it continuously could be prohibitively expensive. Models that use fewer watts cost less to operate, though they may not push muck as far. Oscillators need a small amount of additional power and will add slightly to the cost.
Note that the electrical power that determines a blower’s running cost (measured in watts) is different than the motor’s mechanical power (measured in HP). No machine is 100% efficient, so a blower’s motor strength will always be less than the electrical power it consumes. To find the most cost-effective muck blowers, look for models that provide the most HP per watt.
5) Safety, Build Quality & Warranties
Because they bring electrical cords in contact with the water, muck blowers carry a risk of electric shock. To minimize the danger, always unplug a blower when anyone is in the water. Also, only plug a blower into a GFCI, a special type of safety outlet that cuts off the electricity if the wire within the cord accidentally touches the water.
very helpful article, you saved me a ton of online research time. one question – you say the Aquasweep requires a water depth of 12 feet. not sure what you mean by that.
Hi Daniel,
I’m very happy to hear the article was helpful and saved you some research time!
In regards to your question, I think that is actually a mistake on my end. The correct minimum depth should be 12 inches (30 cm), not feet. Sorry about that, and thank you for pointing it out so I could correct it!
Approximately how long will it take ( ½hp let’s say) a muck blower clear 14 inches of muck? Are we talking months? I need to clear about 1000 sq ft. Would a dock post mount be best or bottom mount do I can move it around?
Just saw this article. Very informative. Thanks Chris! Another product suggestion for you; There is a small company in Minnesota called Admiral that makes another muck blower called the JetStream. So far it’s the best bang-for-the-buck option I’ve seen and has the most convenient mount system. Did wonders for my beach and lake shoreline. Definitely worth looking in to!
What is the most powerful unit available, who makes the best quality one and are commercially built units much better built, longer lasting and worth it for a normal lake / dock situation.
Has anyone used a trash pump to blow muck away
heavy deposits in the pond following use of malachite .how to clear it