I all, I am new here. I was wondering if I could get some advice on an aeration system.

Here is an image of my pond about 2.5 acres as far as I can determine. I think the average depth is about 5 feet there are a few deeper spots perhaps about 10 feet.

[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/yqf6492c1qj7hgo/Craig%27sPond.png?dl=0[/img]

I am looking to get the best system for under 1,000 dollars. I have electricity by each building in the pic.

Any advice is much appreciated!

To get that big an area for under $1K it will have to be a DIY system. A prebuilt like Kasco or Vertex will be 2 or 3 times that much.

I am fine with a DIY system. I am just not sure what pump/diffuser combo I need.

Going to take a lot of research, but you need to be able to turn your water over once in 24 hours. The shallower the diffuser the more air and diffusers you need. Just a WAG, but you might look at a 1/2 hp Gast compressor, 3-4 diffusers(vertex makes a good one), weighted 1/2" ID hose($1.25/ft), and 4 valve manifold, plus cabinet of some kind to house it in.

Search the forum, several have built systems, and learn from their mistakes, and what worked. It takes a more info and knowledge to build and size one correctly.

Why do you think you need aeration for the pond? Fish kills? Water quality issues? To get the best aeration advice you need two things. 1. a depth contour map of the pond. 2. A temperature profile at 1 ft intervals at various depths such as 5ft, 8ft and deepest area where locations are marked on a pond map. Ideally, the water column profile should also include dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements.

I will work on a depth profile this weekend. What is the best method to get the temperatures at various levels? (What kind of thermometer).

Yeah I keep seeing the gast compressors, seems like many folks like them.

No fish kills, but I just shocked and restocked in May. So at this point lots of small CNBG and unfortunately still some gar that didn't die. But I do have an algae issue.

On eBay, Amazon and some big box stores (maybe WMart) they sell digital thermometers with a 10 ft long corded probe. Your temperature profiles may indicate you don't need aeration in 2.5 ac with most of the pond at 6 ft and less. You may be able to do well to just aerate the 10 ft deep section. If that is the case, the Gast rotary 1/4 hp or 3/4 hp will easily mix only the pond portion that needs mechanical mixing. Don't forget to make & provide a pond map showing the depth contours.

Gar have a highly vascularated air bladder that functions slightly similar to a lung which is why the gar escaped shocked (rotenone?) treatment.