Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,899
Posts557,051
Members18,451
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,407
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
2 members (Rainman, Bobbss), 458 guests, and 152 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#30310 03/09/04 11:37 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
I'd like to invest as little as possible on a bottom air diffuser system.

I have electricity within 30 yards inside my garage (where I could keep my pump and trench airline to the pond).

The pond is a small earth embankment pond that is about 14 feet deep and 30 yards by 30 yards in size.

I saw this pump on Auquatic Eco-Systems and I wonder if it will provide enough power. Any advie???

Here\'s the pump

#30311 03/09/04 03:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 969
T
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
T
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 969
You have approx .185 acre if my math is correct. I do not see what the cfm output of this pump is.It seems to be an import without a UL listing and a very limited warranty. Also I do not see what diffuser is being used. Try to find a pump with a 1.5 CFM rating like their fb109, it will not take much to turn your pond,Good luck Ted

#30312 03/09/04 08:32 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
Their site says that it's a "Deep Water Compressor" but it looks like an aquarium pump.

That gast compressor is a bit out of my price range. It is possible to go cheaper on this?

#30313 03/09/04 09:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043
Likes: 1
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043
Likes: 1
 Quote:
Originally posted by NyQuiLlama:
Their site says that it's a "Deep Water Compressor" but it looks like an aquarium pump.

That gast compressor is a bit out of my price range. It is possible to go cheaper on this?
I use the following 1/20th hp air compressor at .7 cfms for my 88 by 59 foot trout pond that is 9 feet deep. It produces good mixing in that size pond at that depth. I think it would be fine for your size pond.

http://www.stoneycreekequip.com/form/compress.htm

For the compressor alone the price is $195.00 and it has a warranty. I run mine 24/7 from April to October. I believe this is a good price for a quality air compressor. Not sure what Tea lea Forevergreen offers but this is what I use.

I occasionally order from AES but they seem quite high in price on many items and Stoney Creek is much closer for shipping. I also know the owner personally.


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






#30314 03/09/04 10:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
I you are mechanically inclined. Go to the junk yard and get an air conditioner compressor from a car. Connect it (belt driven) to a 1/4hp motor. It should make enough air to mix your small pond cheaply.


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
#30315 03/10/04 07:04 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043
Likes: 1
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043
Likes: 1
Bill,

How efficient and dependable will this set up be? Will this be an example of penny wise pound foolish? If it was me I would spend a little more for a commercial unit.


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






#30316 03/10/04 08:09 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 470
B
Member
Offline
Member
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 470
Another good source is

http://www.candhsales.com

They have a 1.5 cfm open flow compressor .39 cfm at 4psig that only draws 45 watts. The stock number is PC2050 and the cost is 39.95. I have done business with them for over 20 years and they are a great surplus electronics place. They also have many other Gast and other brand compressor motors of varying output for very reasonable prices.

#30317 03/10/04 08:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
Cecil - I never built one of these do-it yourself units; just heard about it. Since it is pretty cheap, a backup compressor would be a real good idea. I would think the electric motor would be pretty dependable and may not need a backup.

I'm not sure of the psi or cfm produced. I may check into this idea this summer with a car mechanic. I'm sure the air conditioner compressor has specs to give one an idea of what it can produce.


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
#30318 03/11/04 06:02 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,902
R
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
R
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,902
Bill,
Just a note .. The air cond. compressor is not oil-less. A very small amount of oil will end up in the pond.


Pond Boss Subscriber & Books Owner


If you can read this ... thank a teacher. Since it's in english ... thank our military!
Ric
#30319 03/11/04 08:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
Okay. Thanks for the tip. Then you would have to install an oil trap or filter to remove any oil as it enters the airline. How are car air conditioner compressors oiled? internally? As far as I know, Oil does not have to be added to them; at least I do not oil mine.

I also had a fellow use a compressor from a dehudimifier to run a pond diffuser. That did not use oil.


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
#30320 03/11/04 09:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,892
D
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
D
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,892
Bill, it is my understanding that car A/c is oiled by freon

#30321 03/11/04 10:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,902
R
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
R
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,902
Ok,
A/c & dehumidifier compressors need oil for lubrication. Refrigeration circuits of which the compressor is a part are hermetically sealed. The compressor is charged with oil at the factory. Unless there is a very serious refrigerant leak oil does not leave the ref. circuit and therefor it isn't necessary to add oil. Dehumidifier compressors are the same as a/c compressors.
Pumping air there will not be much oil loss but it could possibly be enough to cause problems in a small coi pond?
Dave,
Refrigerants (Freon is Dupont brand name) are solivents containing no lubrication properties. Manufactors have to match oils to specific refrigerants. If intrested I will elaborate but don't want to bore.


Pond Boss Subscriber & Books Owner


If you can read this ... thank a teacher. Since it's in english ... thank our military!
Ric
#30322 03/11/04 10:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 969
T
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
T
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 969
Would seem a lot easier to "bite the bullet" and purchase the correct pump or system and make your pond and fish "HAPPY" !! again just my 2 cents. Ted

#30323 03/15/04 11:13 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
Thanks for all of the feedback!

Assuming I use Bob's suggested pump...

found at the top of the page here.

What would you folks recommend for an eqaully low cost diffuser and tubing??

It's not that I don't care about my fish/pond. It's just that I figure SOMETHING is better than NOTHING. Unfortunatly "SOMETHING" is all I can afford. ;\)

#30324 03/15/04 07:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10
D
Member
Offline
Member
D
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10
Here's my 2 cents. I have looked at alot of diferent cheap ideas for aerating, and have come to the conclusion that cheap is not always better. I have tried cheap compressors from garage sales, cheap compressors from motor shops, and have found that they dont last running 24/7. I did however try an air pump that came out of a septic aeration system, it is also the same type of pump that comes off an automotive engine for pumping air into the exhaust. The problem was that it was noisy even after I put it in an insulated box.

#30325 03/16/04 09:22 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
The point is I can't afford anything over $100 for the complete system. I want to do something to help the ecosystem and the best thing I can do right now is aerate. This means that either I can say "Oh, I can't afford a quality pump, so I won't aerate," or I can say, "there must be something I can do for under $100, anything is better than nothing."

Can anyone suggest tubing and a diffuser?

Thanks!

#30326 03/16/04 09:31 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
Here is another look at the pump that Bob suggested from the Gast website. It is #1532. Any thoughts on this pump for my application?

Gast Pump for $40

#30327 03/17/04 10:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 356
W
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
W
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 356
The 1532 would easily mix your pond. I have a Gast diaphragm compressor, .9 cfm at 10 psi. I run 300 feet of 1/2" poly connected to a weighted garden soaker hose. My pond is a little larger than yours and my Rainbows did well through a hot dry summer. I ran it 24/7 until the heat of summer and then only when air temps were cooler than the water temp, usually at night or cool cloudy days. Since I have trout, I have to be careful with warming the water and my system easily de-stratified my small pond. The $40 price tag is too good to pass up. 3/4" black poly water line is cheap as is the soaker hose. Should work excellent for you. Btw, the soaker hose idea was from Bob Koerber, some time ago. This may not apply to you, but it didn't create enough surface boil to keep an area ice free this winter. No suprise for me. John

#30328 03/17/04 11:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 350
K
ken Offline
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
K
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 350
John , i don't know how the heck you people handle winters up there, summer must fly. my hats off to ya. \:\)


i only wanted to have some fun
#30329 03/18/04 10:00 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
Okay gang, I just ordered the $40 Gast Pump. Thanks for all the advice on that. Now I need to figure the best tubing and diffuser system to use.

My pump has a 1/8" female NPT output port. Does this mean I would need to use 1/8" tubing? Wood recommended using 3/4" tubing, would I need to increase the hose size from the port? I'm not sure where to look for these attachments.... would the hardware store have everything else I need if I just ordered 3/4" tubing?

Also, on the soaker hose, I have some. How long of a section should I cut? What about coiling it in a plastic bucket, filling the bottom with gravel, and sinking it to the bottom? Or, would it be best to but one of those fancy diffusers?

Thoughts and opinions are most welcome as I am a complete aeration newbie. Thanks!

#30330 03/18/04 10:09 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
I should also add that I live in Northern Wisconsin. I have about 30 trout (brookie and brown). I have several feet of ice over the pond right now. I hope the trout survived the winter.

#30331 03/18/04 12:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 356
W
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
W
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 356
Ny, I would buy an adapter fitting, 1/8 male to 1/2 or 3/4 female. The reason I suggested 3/4 poly line was to match your higher CFM compressor and to reduce air flow loss over long distances. If it is a short run to the pond from the comp. location, then 1/2" should be fine. Also purchase barb fittings (king nipples) that have 1/2" male pipe x 1/2" barb to fit into poly line and use a hose clamp. You will need a garden hose adapter at the soaker end to screw it on. I used a 16 foot soaker hose and suspended it off bottom with rope and javex bottles. Coiling it in a bucket may work well also, providing the hose does not kink and cut off air supply. You should look at putting an adjustable relief valve at the compressor end in case of blockage somewhere. This will require a few more fittings to adapt it. Hardware store should be able to supply everything for this job, or Revy if you have one there.

#30332 03/18/04 01:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 470
B
Member
Offline
Member
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 470
Hi Wood I have replaced my soaker hose with a tree soaking ring that I got from Home Depot, it already was in a circle and had all the fittings on it.

#30333 03/18/04 04:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
N
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
N
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 75
Thanks for all of the great help!

I'm curious however about the size of the bubbles from the soaker hose. I know that smaller bubbles move more water and add more air. And I've heard that larger bubbles are better for keeping ice off (it was debated in another thread, I'm not presenting this as a fact). Are the amount and size really that important? Would I be cutting the utility of my pump by using soaker hose or a tree watering ring as opposed to a mid-range membrane diffuser?

#30334 03/18/04 08:44 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 476
NQL - Basics of bubbles for aeration is smaller is best, but as the size of the bubbles is reduced to a certain point then diffuser clogging of the pores becomes an issue.

Two main things cause pore clogging. 1. Mineral deposits precipitate from the water at the pore location and 2. growth forms at, around, then over the pore. Growth is in the form of bacterial and or algae deposits. This happens even if air is coming out the holes 24/7.
Different materials clog at different rates and at different water chemistries and water clarities.

Quickest clogging materials we have found to be soaker hose then porus ceramic air stones. Slowest clogging materials have been flexable membrane diffusers. The more flexable diffuser "skin" the slower the clogging.

Clogging of the check valve at the diffuser can also be a problem based on structure and compostion of the check valve. To minimize problems and trouble free operation I recommend annual cleaning or at least annual inspection of the diffuser. .


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Rainman - 03/28/24 02:53 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by Mark Dyer - 03/27/24 10:18 PM
Reducing fish biomass
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:17 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:05 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:02 PM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by Bill Cody - 03/27/24 10:18 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by esshup - 03/27/24 08:47 AM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by esshup - 03/26/24 10:00 PM
Freeze Danger? - Electric Diaphragm Pump
by esshup - 03/26/24 09:47 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5