Shop question: What the heck was this thing?

[Rusty]

My guess would be that this was part of a pond aeration system. If so, there may be some sort of diffuser in the pond. Try pumping low pressure (10-20 psig should be plenty) compressed air into the tube and see if it bubbles up in the pond. It might take several minutes to displace the water in the line. Ideally the bubbles should be in the deepest part or center of the pond. Try www.pondboss.com for lots of good information on pond aeration.

 

[valley]

I'm guessing they were working on a project together. One in the shop and one in the pond when the project was finished the guy in the shop simply cut of the flow of air to the pond and had the success or failure all to himself! Lousy son ** * *****!

 

[Western]

My first thought also was a "swamp cooler", but I don't see a need to run a drain in that manner. Unless it was like previously said, to pull water in over an evaporation coil..

It would seem strange to mount a compressor in the ceiling for a pond aeration pump when it could have been done at the closest exit from the building.