DC, lots of questions before I am able to respond to your aeration questions based on experience in N.E. Texas.
Where are you located in Texas?
How old is your pond?
Is your 9 ft pond depth measured at full pool?
Are you in a drought prone area with fluctuating water levels?
I do not give advice but will share some 10 years experience with a bottom diffuser system, a 110 volt 1 hp surface aerator, and currently installing a 12 volt solar surface aerator.
The following link will provide much information based on my experience.
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=397656Agree - I'd take capital necessary for expensive solar unit and invest in electric install or air hose install. Solar and windmill don't work in some conditions when aeration is most critical - consecutive cloudy, windless days which can lead to fish kills due to algae bloom/crash DO plummeting.
We get lots of good aeration advice on the forum but little based on regional experience.I partially agree with costs involving solar on large aeration systems but find solar systems feasable for small shallow ponds.
FWIW, a bottom diffuser aeration system alone will not prevent a fish kill under extreme drought conditions unless biomass can be careflly controlled.
I have found that a surface aerator can introduce more critcal O2 than a bottom diffuser system alone.
I have found that both systems running concurrently gives maximum O2 protection.
I have found that the economics of a small 1/4 hp surface is currently feasible.
Let me know if I can help – my solar knowledge comes from my freind and mentor Highflyer, who is setting new standards for solar pond aeration systems. He will likely respond to this post when time allows – he is very busy right now.
Good luck,
George Glazener
