Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Quick aerator help please

So I finally got my aerator fired up this afternoon.. Now I have a problem..

When I kicked it on my compressor is revving up and down.. My pressure gauge is reading zero, and I'm putting out tons of bubbles,? What's the deal guys??

What do you mean by a ton of bubbles? Big bubbles? Foamy bubbles? If your pond is super shallow your PSI may be low, in which case it may not be registering. My experience it that PSI under 5 doesn't show sometimes. The revving up and down may be a voltage issue... are you able to test the amperage under load?

I can't test the amp load right now I don't have a tester.. I have about a 4-6' ring of kinda foamy bubbly bubbles lol I don't know how to describe them there's just a good amount.. I've got diffusers in 6' 8' 10' of water..

BGK,

Do you have a check valve installed? Any chance it could be the culprit? As in, holding pressure against the compressor, (slowing it down), then releasing the pressure, (speeding it up?)

I have a pop off valve on my manifold(not the problem I think). Then a one way valve on te intake after the filter... Then I have vertex diffusers which I think have built in check valves..

Actually now that I think about it I blew all the lines out for dirt and stuff before I hooked the bottom-lines to the actually manifold.. And it ran fine no revving..???

I'd check voltage. IIRC your electric lines going to the compressor are marginal for voltage drop (sized on the small side).

The vertex system that I installed a month ago is running 3 pairs of duffusers thru roughly 375 feet of air line in 7, 5 and 4 foot water depths and it showed 0 back pressure on the system.

It ran fine without the lines hooked up? And if my gauge is reading zero back pressure That don't seem right? No back pressure would mean no work for the pump so hy would that be any different than it running fine with no diffussers I'm running a 300' run 190' and about 175 roughly?

Also I put in a 15amp 2 pole breaker I think I needed a 20 amp.. ???

How high does your pressure gauge read? Is it sensitive enough to register a very low psi?

Can you hook up one run,(diffuser), at a time while monitoring psi?

Wow, those are some long runs. Do the vertex diffusers use a mechanical check valve, or do they rely on the elasticity of the membrane to settle closed and prevent water entry when they are in a relaxed, (no pressure), state?

I'm just envisioning pressure building in the lines and the diffusers until it overcomes the membrane's resistance, then exhausting, (bubbling), at a quicker rate than the compressor can replenish it. Then it builds up again and the cycle repeats itself.

If I barely crack each valve it will run normal, but no bubbles, if I open just the shortest run it revs up and down? I have a 3/4hp compressor one of the best possible it has to push this? I switch the 15amp 2 pole to 20amp 2 pole no difference.. It has to be in the diffusers or something..? My pressure gauge goes up to 30 psi in single increments I can close all valves and it does nothing? I'm starting to think my pop-off is leaking or something

Ok just checked it out. I let it run for about 10 minutes and it's very hot (compressor motor) also my pop-off is just blowing air and leaks off as I shut it down(maybe it is the problem)...

Im ready to just give up on this damn thing.. The lake hasnt been aerated in 30 yrs why am i doing this again..

Don't close all the valves, one should be wide open at all times. The deepest longest run should be wide open and the shallowest should be closed the most. These compressors can push air through thousands of feet of tubing. I'm sorry you are having such a tough time. I emailed Ted, hopefully he will get on the forum and help you. He is the best when it comes to knowing our systems inside and out. Don't get to frustrated... we will get your system up and running perfectly no matter what!!

I've been in email contact with Ted since the problem started lol..

I just talked to Ted ~ I didn't realize you had a do-it-yourself system 3/4HP rebuilt vane compressor, your own plumbing used with Vertex tubing and AirStations. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the Vertex components ~ if there is, rest assured we will stand behind our products 110%. I couldn't imagine anyone having so much trouble with our system, it is plug and play ~ so I was really freaking out ~ I hope you can figure things out. Good luck and if there is ever anything I can help you with, please feel free to call.

I never said it was one of your systems.. Nor was I trying to place the blame on your products? Just looking for a fix..

I know ~ I just assumed (never a good thing) that it was mine and was in a panic~ and I really do hope you get it running properly... aeration, regardless, is such a beneficial tool for your pond and I really am sorry for your fustration. Ted is helping you via email and hopefully between the two of you will get everything figured out.

Lol.. I'll get it figured out, I'm gonna get a tester hooked to it tomorrow and see what it's drawing.. It's only suppose to pull 4.5 amps per leg I have 20 amp breakers and every calculator I checked says max I could lose 11.5 amps which leaves me twice the amount of amps I need. And in the calculators I put in the whole run under 12ga wire when most of mine is 10 gauge so I'm thinking I might be losing 10 amps which still leaves me 10.. I don't know it's frustrating and if I have to run new wire I might say F-this lol

Here's the latest pics

BGK....need a hand Buddy? Call me if you do.

I'm at a stand still my friend.. My testers at work.. See what it says tomorrow.. I'm gonna be so pi$$ed if I have to upgrade that last 250 or so to 10ga..

I think if it were me, I'd pull the air filter and block the pop-off closed, then retest. Is the check valve located after the air filter a requirement for proper pump operation? If so, is it working? I'm thinking in terms of something restricting the incoming air flow, or allowing leakage back through the filter.

Definitely check your amperage draw, but it just sounds like a low pressure problem to me. What kind of shape is the pump in?

I just rebuilt the pump, I didn't put a new vane body in it, but did vanes, filters, rings and seals.. The filter is a hi-flow material and the Check valve is not really restrictive at all but easy enough to test with it out.. Good ideas please keep them coming, I just don't want to believe it's an amp issue according to the drop calculators I used I should be good.. And the rev up and down does seem like it's building then dumping building then dumping but my bubble pattern don't change (not sure it would anyways)..

And it's runs perfect free flowing which don'tean much..