Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations vertex disk?

I can't seem to find any info on how much air pressure and volume one vertex disk can take at 3 feet. I know my pump I run is about 2cfm at 25psi on two disks really blows them up like volleyballs.

I want to run one lower say at 3 feet but don't want to pop it.

Cheers Don.

Think I found it as 1 CFM per disk.

Any one confirm this for me?

The 1 cfm is the standard amount of air volume to get the disk to perform "normally". They will accept more or less air volume but then the efficiency becomes less due to larger or fewer bubbles produced.
Depending on the type of compressor, the PSI produced to the diffuser will, at a minimum, normally only be 1/2 the depth. Most standard aeration compressors will generate only what PSI that is needed to operate the system based on water depth, type of diffuser, airline restrictions etc. So higher PSI than 1/2 the depth means there are restrictions in the aeration system that require more PSI to get air out of the diffuser/s. The air gauge will measure the maximum PSI needed to run the deepest diffuser. All shallower diffusers will operate at less PSI than the deepest diffuser. As the PSI increases the air flow rate (CFM) almost always decreases.

What are you using to generate your air flow?

I am going to get a pump rated for this application. I am going to make a water lift with it for a grow out tank for some perch.

I am looking at a 12 foot round tank about 30-36"s deep. Not sure how many fish we can raise in it but it will be a start. I will be using a swirl filter for the solids and IBC tote media filter for this one 12 foot tank.

I would like to arrange the single 9" disk in the middle of the 12 foot tank inside a 5 gallon bucket then reduce the bucket down to 4". Mesh on the bucket to keep the fish from heading up. Then into a 45 gallon swirl filter then to the IBC media then back into the 12 foot tank on the side to make a swirl motion in the 12 foot tank too. This will pull all the solid waste to the disk and out is the thoughts.

Cheers Don.

Oh the perch will be coming from my buddys pond that has lake Erie stock with millions of 3-4" perch. I expect that if we feed at night with one small light we can train them to take pellets. It eat or die I guess.

Perch will train best when crowded while in the tank. To get air to the diffuser in the tank just bleed enough air(valve) from the pond system to operate the tank diffuser with as much action as you want by opening the valve to the tank.

The 3"-4" YP will not be attracted to the night light. Only YP at 0.5"-1" are attracted to light at night. They grow out of that response. I suggest you keep them crowded into one area with a net or fencing and at close to dark do the daily feed training for 4-7days then remove the crowding device and continue feeding at the same time and area. Try to not be a big physical presence when adding the food. Maybe toss the food in from a distance or up over the tank rim. Or put a cover over one part of the tank and add the food in an opening in the cover. Movement and shadows will scare them as they are quite skittish. PS - it will help with feed training success if you catch the 3"-4" YP by angling using small pieces of worm.

As always Bill your that man.

The YP will be trapped with minnow traps with the ends modded to about 1.25". We can fill a trap with over 100 in half a beer. To get 500 for our 2100 gallon pool tank will be easy.

Dono - Do some pictures for us beginning and end of tank project. It will be interesting to see how well some perch from over crowded conditions will grow when given adequate food. Maybe try catching some of them by angling. A fish that eats a bite of worm stationary has an innate tendency to eat a stationary pellet. Try softening the teacher pellets so the texture is similar to a live bit of food.

Another hint to get tank perch to pellet train is to add some of your smaller pellet eating YP that you catch with a pellet like bait from your pond. A small piece of worm should work. Your pond perch will be 'teacher' perch to show new ones that pellets are good eatin'.