Pond aerator pump

powerdam1953 · #1 09/03/12, 10:10 AM

Does anyone have any suggestion or recomendation for an inexpensive pond aerator. I need one that can stand up to continuous use. The one I had stopped working. I have no idea how old it was since it was here when I bought the place 2 years ago, but it ran almost contnuously for these 2 years.

Thank you for any help

plowjockey · #2 09/03/12, 11:45 AM

They don't have the exact same model, as I purchased (this one might be better), but I believe it was similar to this model, from Surplus center.

Surplus Center - THOMAS 115 VAC AIR COMPRESSOR 15 PSI

It used rubber 100' air line from harbor Freight and purchased a 9" airstone from a company, that sells wind powered pond aerators (less than $20).

I had less than $200 in the whole setup. It worked great but the motor ran very hot, maybe because of the long air line run, plus it did not a cooling fan.

Stopped using it, until I had time to build and fan cooled enclosure, but that was last year, with too man other projects. Also need to run electricity nearer to the pond.

Surplus Center was good to deal with.

powerdam1953 · #3 09/03/12, 11:58 AM

I should have specified, I am looking for a pump that floats in the middle of the pond and is a fountain. It needs to be submersible and continuous duty. My pond is 3/4 acre and 20 feet deep and hundreds of fish. It is also the water supply for my 2 houses.

I have the float and piping and only need the pump, electricity is also there already. The piping is 1 1/4 pvc and there are different nozzles. The pump will hang, by pvc pipe, from the float about 4 feet underwater to pump oxygenated water to the surface .

fishhead · #4 09/03/12, 12:58 PM

That type of pump is one of the least efficient pumps.

You can get good aeration with compressed air. My commercial ponds were shallow and didn't need aeration but if I were to aerate a pond like yours I would run air out to 4 air lift pumps suspended over the deep part of the pond. The air lift pumps would extend down to within 5 of the bottom and the air would be injected at the maximum specified depth on the pump chart. The air pump would be a regenerative blower. They put out the most air for the dollar. The pressure is low but the volume is very high and volume is what moves water. My 1/3 hp put out 35 cu ft/min.

They also make some energy efficient submersibles that could be suspended and directed towards the surface. It isn't necessary to elevate the water and that's what eats up efficiency.

powerdam1953 · #5 09/03/12, 01:31 PM

I will look into compressed air and check and see if that would be better. I have nothing moving water right now and feel I need to do something.

Thanks for your answers.

plowjockey · #6 09/03/12, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerdam1953

I will look into compressed air and check and see if that would be better. I have nothing moving water right now and feel I need to do something.

Thanks for your answers.

With a 20 ft deep pond, you will be fine, regardless.

One of the main benefits of an compressor - air stone setup, to oxygenate the lower layers, which will not only help the fish, but will remove buildup of muck, caused, by decaying organic matter (leaves, dead pond plants, blown in yard grass clippings, etc.)

Also, if you do not have a regular, constant, water source, feeding the pond, a fountain, will cause pond water to evaporate much quicker, taking the level down faster.

powerdam1953 · #7 09/03/12, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowjockey

With a 20 ft deep pond, you will be fine, regardless.

One of the main benefits of an compressor - air stone setup, to oxygenate the lower layers, which will not only help the fish, but will remove buildup of muck, caused, by decaying organic matter (leaves, dead pond plants, blown in yard grass clippings, etc.)

Also, if you do not have a regular, constant, water source, feeding the pond, a fountain, will cause pond water to evaporate much quicker, taking the level down faster.

Yes my pond is low from not enough rain, so another good reason to try the compressed air, thanks

||Downhome|| · #8 09/03/12, 09:55 PM

Check out a venturi on a water pump return line.
if you have a sump pump you can check it out easy enough and see if you want to go that route.

diy submersible/sump pump for pond mega oxygen,aeration,circulation (how to make) - YouTube