Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions anyone have a diffuser with 5, stoney creek?

ok, i'm about to buy a diffuser aerator from stoney creek, big pump with five diffusers for my 7 acre pond (shaped like a swimmin pool, deep end, shallow end) i'm having an electrician come out to arrange the proper cable (230 volt/7amp running) today or tomorrow, then i'll buy the unit from stoney creek. $1080.00 or so. any last commments? does anyone have one of these? pros/cons/ noise/ cost per year for electricity/ etc. any comments appreciated. thanks mark

I have the Gast PA-50 from Stoney Creek. It is fairly quiet and I placed it under an Artificial Boulder. I am fairly happy with the system. I would suggest the weighted tubing if you can afford it. I got the non weighted and placed 2ft sections of 1/4" rebar every 8 feet or so and it did work, it was just a pain dragging everything in place. Also when you put it together make sure you place pipe dope on ALL the galvanized fittings. I didn't at first and after 1 day of running it was leaking like a sieve.

fozzy, did you get the 1 horsepower model with 5 diffusers? what price range did you pay? how much and where did you get the artificial boulder cover/muffling device? does it cause problems since these things are air cooled and need air? does it suffocate/overheat the pump? did you run 230 volt line out to the edge of your pond or put the pump near your house, and run the hoses out? i was thinking of having an electrician run and bury me a 230 volt cable out to a post at the edge of the pond, and plug the pump in there, then spread out the 5 different diffusers. what do you think (or anyone else with experience on this matter) oh, how hard was it to sink the unweighted tubing? i can think of other things to spend the extra money on...what probably an extra few hundred dollars for the weighted tubing per thousand feet (the amount that comes with the kit) someone suggested finding old bricks from a house and running the hose thru them, i thought that was a pretty good idea. how did you attach the rebar? sorry so many questions thanks. mark

No mark I only have the 1/4hp with two diffusers. I ran the power out to the edge of the pond. The Boulder (purchased locally at a Hardware store for $80)didn't have any air vents so I went to Home Depot and bought a package of plastic circular soffit vents and painted them to match the rock. They cost about $5 for 10 of them. I only used 6, two on the top side and four on the bottom side. I used 2ft sections of rebar attached every 5 to 8 feet with zip ties to sink the tubing. It does work but like I said it is a pain to put them all on and then drag the hose where you want it. If you have a couple extra people helping it won't be to bad. The rebar can be purchased at Home Depot also. My pump is 115 volt but we did run #10 wire to the area in case I ever sink a well to top off the pond.

I have several compressors and two different types of diffusers for my three ponds from Stoney Creek.

1.) You aren't going to crank it up full bore this time of year are you? If your pond is stratified you will be bring up anoxic water and may have a fish kill. However, hopefully you talked to the folks at Stoney Creek and you will be doing a gradual break in or you're waiting until the natural turnover this fall.

2.) Yes definitely the weighted tubing is easier to mess with. However, it does kink easily so you have to be careful. There is a weighted tubing available from another manufaturer that does not kink.

Mark,
I just completed a bottom membrane diffuser system, using bricks with electrical ties every 8 ft as per Bill Cody's recommendation. Easy to do, especially with a 12 year old grandsons help.
I would suggest checking with Bill Cody - he has the answers - maybe he'll chime in on this.
George Glazener

PS:
Mark, if you have not committed to a package aeration system, you can put one together yourself at big savings.

Bill Cody provided me with the information and components for bottom membrane diffuser aeration for about 50% of a package system.

I would not use the thin wall polyethylene tubing � I used heavy duty garden hoses for airlines and weighted with bricks as stated above - kinks were not a problem.

If cost no concern I would go with the non-kink weighted airlines.

I have pictures of components and pump cover if you would like to see them.

George Glazener

mark, i went with PA-50 kit too for acre lake. like fozzy i used rebar, but ran the whole length over laping at joints , put diffuser in boat was pushed out from shore , dropped in pond with rope for future retrieval . make sure to connect rebar to diffuser plate to avoid breaking fitting . was easiest part of job . trenching and installing the wire was a pain .

hey fellers, reviewed these old posts, and getting closer to purchasing an aeration kit. thought i'd check with ya'll and see if you are still pleased with your set ups, any probs. thanks for the info. oh, can you recall what your electrical cost was last year for it? 110/120 or 220 electril thingy? (or whatever the electrical terminology means?!! mark

i'm very happy with the PA-50 system , no problems yet , been running about year now. i ran 220v about 700 ft to 10 ft from the pond , installed pump on concrete , used the fake rock as a template , poured the concrete about 4" on the ground with old formica as forms , stops the rock from blowing away . the tabs suck , very easy to check things. i'm running it 6 hrs a day , 3 times. it ran the bill up about 7 or 8 $ a month , thats a 1/4 hp unit. 115 or 220 uses the same power. the pond has never looked this good. i'm sure the fish are happy lol

ken, thanks for the good info. looked at your profile, tried to click on your web pics. no luck, where did the pics go. also, gave you a good rating!

mark

Mark, when i put the air lines in i used 3/8' rebar 20' lengths , over lapped the joints bout a ft., make sure to connect the rebar to the diffuser plate or you could break the fitting , i just used plastic ties , nicer than bricks and no chance of kinking the line and small chance of snagging up on it. put some bricks on the plate. measured from pump to where i wanted them , cut the line and installed the rebar , put rubber membrane diffuser in boat and was pushed out from shore , real easy. your job lot bigger though lol.go to photobucket and type in kenspond , i couldn't figure out how to make it work from my profile page (duh).those pics are when she was built. when my lilies take off this summer i will post the finished pics. lots work , but i love it when i'm back there , my retreat from the world.

yes ken, mine too is my retreat (or my wife might tell you it is my second bride!!)

i can't remember who said it on this website, but it is one of my favorite quotes "my pond is my refuge". i agree

Mark, if you want to do it yourself you should look at "Will this pump work?" by NyQuilama. I think Bob Koerber was the one who gave a good website for pumps. You will have to do some research to match pumps with what you want but it will save you a lot of money. Even if you buy the kit there is lots iof good information there.
Sorry if I misspelled names!

thanks brian. mark