I have a pond, about 1/2 to 3/4 acre. I would like to install some kind of aerator, but i really don't like the prices of bought aeration systems.
Does anyone know if I could build my own using a small air compressor, some hose and maybe some PVC pipe with holes drilled? Has anyone out there built or made something like this?
Please any input would be greatly appreciated.
what is the average depth of pond, and shape of the pond?
what are you trying to achieve?
above info can dramatically change what might be suggested / done. a shallow lake, and wanting better oxygenated water, and better less black mud bottom. would more likely be better served in getting circulation going around the outside primeter of the lake. think whirl pool like current but much slower.
deeper lakes with same notation above, can be served better with air diffuser held off bottom about a foot.
general pond pumps for say backyard koi ponds can work. and are made for 24/7/365 day usage. though diaphragms style pumps you can except to replace diaphragms once a year or couple years. i never did keep trac of the better piston style air pumps. make a post at koiphen and you should get a few replies back of current good brane names. that are made to last.
if this is a breeding lake / growing fish lake. with high stocking levels. vs say a general catch what you can eat lake for your family. then you might be better setup with "air lift" setup. were you have pvc pipe going down to about a foot off bottom and about 1/2 foot below water. with an air diffuser 2 to 4 feet below surface of water and a string of these running down center of pond.
again it all depends on shape of lake, depth of lake. and what you are wanting achieve. remember ""current is the key"" majorty of the time if you are looking for better fish quality.
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on a side note air compressors are a very bad thing to use. the motors on them are not meant to run constant. and can quickly over heat. and burn the motors out. i do not like say it, because it sounds like a sales pitch. but the better air pumps out there, are built to last, and use less electricity. that cheap air compressor might cost ya 20 bucks a month to run. vs say a good pump that might cost 300 bucks up front but only a couple bucks a month to run. above is overly stated, then again, i have seen some doozies, of what folks have done. and i might not be far off on some them.
but honestly if you start pricing out an air compressor motor i am guessing at most 6 months life span over a couple years plus the extra electricity using the motor vs a higher price good grade air pump meant to run 24/7 and the less electricity it uses. plus less hassles. do the math. is all i can say. to many folks been there done that. and have learned.
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pondboss.com
koiphen.com (
Koiphen.com)
if ya goto koiphen and goto construction forum. you can find multi ways of creating air diffusers. about anything that can be done DIY has been done there with guides. if not someone already in the know. for you i would say go for epdm style membrane diffuser disc. errr what is the rubber stuff made out of? ((been to long)) any hoots membrane diffusers, if ya do a search for "koi pond" or hit koiphen dealers, look at bottom drain diffusers. same like diffusers. that have a membrane. they will last longer and less likely to clog up if they clog up at all. compared to the stick diffusers or like air stones you might see in an aquarium.
pondboss.com seems like a smaller community and takes a little longer for responses to happen.
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most pumps regardless if they are for a pool, pond, or other, need some sort of protection against the elements (wind, sun, cold, etc....) you can get say a black plastic bin, or cheap trash can. cut the top half off, flip it upside and over the pump. cut notchs / drill holes for power cord / air cord. then drill some holes around the bottom to allow air in.
if you do end up needing an air diffuser vs something else. pending on how far the diffuser is out in the lake. i might suggest paying the little extra for weighted air tubing. if not that, then figure out a way to keep that tubing sunk. if not fish pools, trolling motors, boat paddles / oars, legs / arms from swimming will get tangled up in the hose.
as far as actual air pump sizing and size of pipe to get. to many variables that tend to make things complicated for most folks. and with that. tend to tell folks to call some of the koiphen dealers. majorty of them have specs of air pumps on hand, along with a program to calculate info or some quick sheet charts. to size air pipe / hose, air pumps.
been there done that, i keep noting back at koiphen dealers, due to been part of koiphen for a long time. but more to the point local pool shops, nurseries, and like normally do not have people with the skills, knowledge, let alone experience for what ya asking. and if not koiphen dealers, then hit pondboss dealers. and in that trying to get ya in with correct folks, that get ya setup, if not with items, perhaps correct base line info. so you have something to go off of.
