Good morning
I’m trying to figure out a possibly design for a solar areation system for my pond. I'm pretty good at manual things, but I don’t know much about electricity.
Here you can see a satellite pic of my pond:
I would like to aerate primarily to facilitate the digestion of the organic substance on the bottom, adding also specific bacteria.
No need for winter aeration, my pond freeze 1 or 2 days per year.
The pond is at about a mile from my shed so solar is the only way. There’s a neighbour’s home at 850’ but it would be very difficult to convince him to supply the current for the compressor, as well as keep it close to his house with the noise that would make 24/7.
So from what I have read on the forum the steps are the followings:
1) calculate the total volume of water: 2.2 million gallons
2) consider average depth: 8’ of free water, plus a 40 years (I think) thik layer of muck I’ll measure this spring
3) consider shape: rectangular about 100’x450’
4) choose type and number of membrane diffusers: ???
5) choose the correct compressor to operate them: ??? AC? DC?
6) choose other components: ??? LCB? Charge controller? Inverter? Else?
7) choose number of batteries (100 Ah AGM): ???
8) choose adequate solar panels: ???
What I would like is a DIY solar system with batteries that recharge during the day and pumps air 6/8 hours at night, with a budget of MAX 1800 USD (if it isn't possible with this budget I would be satisfied, for now, of a direct solar system, but maybe already set to be updated in the future with batteries without having to change everything).
My main difficulties are:
- write the shopping list: what components I need and their technical specs.
- where to buy such components, in particular the compressor because almost all the ones I see used by you guys are not sold or shipped to Italy and, if they are, shipping and customs fees are very high.
If nothing really useful can be made with such a budget I will be forced to stay without aeration, keeping on culling as much undesired fish as I can and start adding proper anaerobic bacteria just to help the situation.
Thank you all
