Review: Kasco VFX Display Aerator - 04/26/17 01:58 AM
Purchased a Kasco 4400vfx display aerator for our recently renovated neighborhood pond. I also illuminated it with a Kasco 3-light thermoplastic LED kit (LED3125).
Pros:
1. The fountain is gorgeous, particularly at night.
2. No clogs or other problems after 2 weeks. Comes with a robust looking debris screen that completely encloses the 1hp pump.
3. Everything about this fountain is solid and well made.
4. 200gpm with an attractive display makes this a nice compromise between bubbling aerators and display fountains.
5. Kit comes with everything you need, including a timer with photo sensor that makes connecting the fountain and light kit a breeze.
Cons:
1. Assembly seemed a little harder than necessary.
2. Installing in the water from a boat is kind of pain. More on that below.
3. This beast is an energy hog! 12 amps for the 115v unit. Make sure you have adequate power supply - BEWARE VOLTAGE DROP!!!
Regarding installation, it was a little cumbersome keeping the fountain positioned in the middle of the pond while dropping and attaching the two cinder block anchors. I found that staking a guide rope from bank to bank and duct taping the fountain to the middle of the rope helped keep the fountain in place during install and also helped me move my inflatable raft back and forth.
I also learned a nasty and expensive lesson in voltage drop. We had a receptacle near the pond edge which I assumed we would plug into. What I didn't realize is that the receptacle was fed by a meter 200 yards away! That sort of distance (+ the 100' power cord) = massive voltage drop for something powerful like this fountain (12 amps, the equivalent of a hair dryer). The fountain would put up a pitiful display and then shut down due to thermal overload.
Fortunately there was a high voltage easement nearby, but installing a new meter and electrical service near the pond basically doubled the price of the project - $2500 for the fountain and another $2300 to install new service.
Pros:
1. The fountain is gorgeous, particularly at night.
2. No clogs or other problems after 2 weeks. Comes with a robust looking debris screen that completely encloses the 1hp pump.
3. Everything about this fountain is solid and well made.
4. 200gpm with an attractive display makes this a nice compromise between bubbling aerators and display fountains.
5. Kit comes with everything you need, including a timer with photo sensor that makes connecting the fountain and light kit a breeze.
Cons:
1. Assembly seemed a little harder than necessary.
2. Installing in the water from a boat is kind of pain. More on that below.
3. This beast is an energy hog! 12 amps for the 115v unit. Make sure you have adequate power supply - BEWARE VOLTAGE DROP!!!
Regarding installation, it was a little cumbersome keeping the fountain positioned in the middle of the pond while dropping and attaching the two cinder block anchors. I found that staking a guide rope from bank to bank and duct taping the fountain to the middle of the rope helped keep the fountain in place during install and also helped me move my inflatable raft back and forth.
I also learned a nasty and expensive lesson in voltage drop. We had a receptacle near the pond edge which I assumed we would plug into. What I didn't realize is that the receptacle was fed by a meter 200 yards away! That sort of distance (+ the 100' power cord) = massive voltage drop for something powerful like this fountain (12 amps, the equivalent of a hair dryer). The fountain would put up a pitiful display and then shut down due to thermal overload.
Fortunately there was a high voltage easement nearby, but installing a new meter and electrical service near the pond basically doubled the price of the project - $2500 for the fountain and another $2300 to install new service.