Hi folks, I love this forum. There is a ton of good info here.

I have researched a bit to figure out my needs and I have purchased a used 1/4 hp Gast rotary vane pump. Have not hooked it up yet but for $50 it is worth a shot.
I have also compared running electric to the pond (approximately $500 for 250' of 6 gauge wire) vs a large poly pipe (approximately $130 for 250' of 1.5" poly). It looks like running the poly pipe may be a better value and I can keep the pump up near my house. Here is the diffuser that I bought http://pentairaes.com/flexairr-9-disc-diffuser.html

Anyway, is there any problem running air through that large of a pipe?

I was worried about pressure loss in poly pipe.

Why use such large pipe? I know very little about the subject but seem to recall folks useing 5/8 and 3/4 or even 1" would be a one third reduction.
Where at in In? Glad ta have another Hoosier, welcome.

1.5" poly pipe should be fine. Bury it deep enough to prevent frozen condensation in the winter. I used 1.5" poly for a 600' run from my pond to my GAST 0523 in the barn. Be sure to put a check valve and pressure gauge on your pump. Doing so will prevent backflow and aid in troubleshooting any airflow problems. Protect your pump but give it good ventilation. And, put it somewhere its constant hum will not annoy you or your wife (the most important advice).
I recommend a simple pvc manifold at the pond, so you can easily balance pressure between diffusers should you add another in the future. I buried a lawn sprinkler valve box to house my manifold. Use weighted airline to run from the manifold to your diffuser. I also used some gray conduit to protect the airline because my water level changes quite a bit and the airline becomes exposed. I ran the conduit through concrete blocks to keep it on the bottom. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Well if you have not got the poly yet anything from 3/4 to 1.5 will work just remember don't freak out first time you kick it in it may take a while for your air to actually get to your fusers at that length and diameter of pipe. At the end of your poly run you can always reduce the size of pipe to fit the 5/8ths inch inside diameter weighted hose you should use to go out into your pond with. I wouldn't do it any other way...

DG8 makes a good point about the check valve but a lot of diffusers have them built into the fuser so you don't have to run a chk valve in the line itself. So it kinda depends on your fuser. For sure put a liquid filled 25 psi pressure gauge on your pump... I got mine from Mr. Bill Cody he may be able to get you one. Or know where to send you for one. Check Esshup out also another member on this site. He knows his stuff about air and has a lot of parts and things....

Good Luck sounds like your on the right track,

RC

Well my thought on the large pipe is that it is not much more expensive and if I ever decide to run electric down to the pond... I can push the 6/3 buriable wire through the 1.5" pipe without digging again.

I am in Southern Indiana just outside of New Albany. What part are you in?

Sounds great. I was going to put weight around the poly every 8' to keep the pipe on the pond bottom. I may look into the weighted pipe again but it was pretty pricy.

I will definitely have a manifold. I am starting with one diffuser. May add 2 more later.

Thanks for the help!

Thanks, I will look into the pressure gage. The diffuser says that it has a check valve built in. Is the pressure gage used to ensure you are not leaking air?

Pressure gauge is there more for if you were to have a clog or for some reason pressure is going through the roof.... A lot of guys will have a pressure gauge and relief valve so you don't mess things up to bad.. My pump runs at about 4 PSI but if I looked at my gauge and it said 15 or 20 something is WRONG!!! Just a helper so you know what your pump is doing....

RC

Clarification - The pressure gauge monitors the pressure in the system, alerts you when there is a too high or a too low of pressure problem, and then it lets you trouble shoot the problems when they occur. The pressure relief valve lets any excess pressure escape when there is a high problem. I call it an insurance item for the high dollar item of the aeration system - the pump.

Airline at 5/8" ID requires one half pound per foot of airline to keep it flat on the bottom. 100ft of weighted airline weighs 50 lbs.

Yeah sorry I need to use better wording sometimes... thanks Bill

RC

I have a 135 ft. run from my house to the edge of my 2.5 acre pond (7.5 ft' deep at the deepest). Will running 3/4" poly pipe from my pump to to the pond edge restrict air flow appreciably? I want to use 100 ft. of weighted hose to my diffusers.

Thanks in advance,
Socko

From everything I have read you should be fine. What type of pump do you plan to use?

RC

I seem to remember reading one of your posts recommending a pump....$100+? Still looking for that post. I think it recommended all the components and where to get them. Thanks for all your posts, great help!

Socko

FYI you dont need 6 ga wire. 10 would be more than ample.

FlowRoll, if you don't need electric at the pond the poly pipe is the way to go. You could run 1" for that length of run and be fine. That's a good price on that pipe.

I thought the same as you, all I need is air at the pond. Now I'm trenching in 150' of electric.......

I don't have any idea if you need #6 wire, but if you run #10 and decide in the future that you need to run more things at the pond side, you will be glad you ran #6.

10 GA Wire is good for a 30 amp circuit with a 1 ohm resistance at 100' of wire he should be good to run several pumps. They only pull about 5-7 amps right? I have 10 ga ran about 100' to my pond. I have never checked the amp draw but i do know i ran a 3/4hp septic pump and a 1/4 hp septic pump at the same time with no overheating issues ( on a 20 amp breaker) .