Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Waterwheel powered aerator

I have about a 1 acre pond built in the 60's. It is spring/runoff fed. Deepest hole is 16', other than that, it's about 9'. It is well stocked with largemouth bass. I don't know that I really need to aerate (I don't have an algae problem or anything) but I have been thinking about it to improve water clarity, support bacteria to eat some of the muck, and to give the fish more O2.

I've looked at the different systems. Electric, solar, windmill. I'd rather not go with Electric. The pond is in the woods so solar and wind aren't my best option.

My question: Has anyone ran a compressor with a waterwheel powered by the water from the output/ drainpipe??

The drain pipe has constant water year round. It's a 3' pipe through the berm and comes out about 10' above creek level on the back side.

Does anyone have experience with waterwheel power? I was looking at a compressor from a windmill setup.

I really appreciate your ideas. I like thinking outside the box and off the grid. The less moving parts, the better. I need to figure out how to do the math to make the trompe work for me. I shared your video with a buddy of mine, he said "Unfortunately what you are trying to do would require about a 70 ft fall". I have to see how he figured that.

I would like for more people to chime in with their opinions.

Good deal that you have observed the "flood" flows. I didn't want your newly engineered project to get washed away after a big rain!

Sometimes the drain pipe is "over-engineered" for the safety margin. Sometimes I think it is because the farmer that built the pond already had some old 3' culvert available - and that factor set the size of the drain pipe.