Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions DIY Aeration System

With all the current and past DIY aeration system discussions, I want to share my experience.

Some ~10 years ago I contacted Bill Cody about DIY aeration systems and he recommended a ¼ hp Gast rotary vane air compressor - best recommendatin ever!

That little pump is still running today 24/7 except winter months with NO pressure loss, housed in a Igloo cooler with NO cooling fan!
Only maintenance required is annual filter cleaning and occasional O-ring replacement
Low electricity usage!

Don’t know todays cost but best bargain ever for my money!

Nice. Is what you use in your 2 acre pond?

Al, over the years I have up-graded my brick loaded garden hoses with sinking hoses and added a dual Vertex air station to deep end of pond - same Gast rotary vane air pump just keeps on truckin'...

Added Kasco surface aerator for emergency hot weather periods...

This is neat to see, do the garden hoses sink?

Do you mind me asking how much you invested in this system 10 years ago? I guess it would be hard to gauge the the cost in today's money.

I have seen a 1/4 HP Gast Rotary Vane that has been in operation for 13 years, I know how long they can potentially last.

DanC, I used cable ties to attach bricks to sink garden hose for a few years but got to be a hassel - swapped some stuff for sinking air lines - probably about $300+ invested in original system -
Old outside in the sun Igloo cooler still working well ....!

Be careful when using garden hose or any other hose because some can easily develop kinks. Kinking of any airline will cause you lots of problems. Do types of weights and methods of attachment on airline that will minimize any kinking when the airline is lifted or moved around in the pond. Diffusers should be periodically lifted, checked, and cleaned to keep them working like new. Kinks in airlines are a big underwater headache.

It takes a lot of weight to sink an airline ... as always - heed Cody's advice.
Weghted airline was my first up-grade ....

For common black poly airline at 5/8" ID (sold as 1/2") plan on one half pound of weight per foot of length. One hundred feet of weighted 5/8" ID airline weighs 50 lbs. Weighted airline is very nice if it fits into ones budget. No kinks, no sharp edges, no snagging, quick installation, and easy installation. Hook it up and go.

george 1, or anybody do y'all know the mod # of this pump? I am looking for the elec. requirements for this to see if I can set up on a solar system for my pond.

Thanks,

Rob C

Fishtruck, I am some 80 miles away from our pond and can't check model # but it is a 1/4hp Gast rotary vane pump.
I bought it from Bill Cody so maybe he has the info.
Still running 24/7 - best pump on the market IMO.
G/

Nice looking system George. I've been thinking about some sort of aeration system. I don't know much about them. I was concerened about it stirring up my already muddy water.

Great george 1, I will check with him.
Thanks,
Rob C

What kind of depth can this pump push the air? I see they make a 3/4 hp as well. I have a rocker pump now that is pumping down 16 feet for me.

Thoughts?

Cheers Don.

DonoBBD - The Gast 0523-101Q-SG588DX 1/4 hp rotary (4.6amps) has max operating psi of 10psi for continuous operation. 05 is cfm, 23 is rotary series, 101 means oilless, Q means quiet,and SG588DX is the motor model. I don't like to run them over 8-9psi which pushes air 16-18ft deep and lengthens the life span to almost double. Your 'rocker pump' is an as good and dependable a unit or better esp when depth is more than 18ft-20ft. It is just a little noisier and a little more troublesome to rebuild the pump part.

Thanks Bill just wondering about the depth and volume. The little rocker works great don't get me wrong just wondering if more volume would help or not at all.

I put air to the vertex disks when not in the water and it puffed up like it was a soccer ball. Thought it was going to pop.

Cheers Don.