bobslp,

My setup is a lot like yours. I have a 1 acre pond, around 8-9 ft deep at deepest. I also have a Thomas compressor...2 actually! They are good pumps and are easy to rebuild. I just last week picked one up on eBay for $55 shipped - which I didn't need, because it turned out my capacitor was blown, not my pump. Now it will sit on my shelf as a spare. I had a flood take out my original pump last year and had to replace the bearings...but otherwise it's been running 24x7 all spring summer and fall for over 2 years.

If you are willing to put a little elbow grease in, you can do a lot better than the kit you linked to. I purchased a kit with a Thomas a few years back, and I'm in the process of replacing everything now (except the pump). I went with a cheap "kit" and now I'm regretting it.

If you buy a pump off eBay, you'll likely need to:

1) Get decent diffusers. The ones in your link look sub-par. As I understand Vertex makes the best. Ted Lea @ Forever Green is very helpful I just bought some there this week. http://www.cleanponds.com. You can also look at the "RC51" system in the aeration forum for some good ideas on other diffusers.

2) Make sure you have a capacitor and power cord for your pump (assuming you're using 115v). Generally they won't come with them unless otherwise stated, but you can pick one up for $10 and just cut up an old computer power cord.

3) Plumb a manifold on the pump that has a 30psi pressure gauge, a decent muffler, and a pop valve. It's also helpful to have a ball valve (or two, or three) depending on how many diffusers you need. Almost no pump you buy on eBay will have these (I see this one at least has the ball valves). Mine did not, and does not - I'm working on getting the pieces together now.

If you do the math on pump + capacitor + 200ft of weighted line, you're at $345. This leaves you some cash to set the pump up well and get good quality diffusers. You may not save a ton of money, but you'll get just what you need, and better stuff.

FYI - From talking with Ted @ Forever Green, if you have a Thomas pump you need more than 2 (vertex) diffusers else you're pushing too much air through them. You'll need 3-4 (up to 6 will work). I personally am installing 3 stations of 2 vertex diffuser pads. I can't wait to get my cheap "kit" diffusers out of the water!

Good luck! Happy ponding.


Straw