Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Valve Question

Last summer, I built a one acre pond and this spring I purchased a Vertex system from Ted Lea. I finished the install this week and I have a question, and sadly can't ask Ted.

He set me up with a Brookwood COM 106 which I keep in my horse's tack room. I ran about 300' of 1" PVC out to a valve box, where I tee off to 2 valves he supplied. I have two Vertex 2 disc shallow water aerators in the pond, about 100' apart, with one 150' from the valves & the other 250' away. Both are sitting in around 7' of water, which is about the average depth.

My question is, why the valves & what should I do with them? Right now, I have both opened up full & all seems well. I am VERY pleased! Should I turn them down or is it as both are in the same depth of water, that the valves really aren't needed? Would they be more used if one unit was deeper than the other?

Jim

The valves are to throttle one or both lines. If one diffuser is in significantly deeper water, it will take more pressure to get flow through it. If no valves, most of the air will go to the shallow diffuser. If your 150' and 250' runs beyond the valve are small diameter tube and line losses are significant, that can also affect the balance of airflow. So the short answer is, you close down a valve if the need arises. You take enough loss across the shallow/short leg to make flows equal, or pleasing to you.. which ever comes first.

Your compressor will last longer the lower its operating pressure. Closing down a valve increases pressure. Unless you want less air or they are unbalanced, I'd leave them open.

I figured the depth would be a factor but didn't think about the length of run. Now that I think about it, the unit with the longer run might have a little less flow. I might close down the valve on the shorter run just a bit.

Thanks.