Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Running electricity to the pond

Meadowlark or Bill Cody
Im new here and had my first pond built last summer. I want to start aerating it this year. I would like to do the pvc line for the air that you mentioned and have a few questions. Do i use the regular pvc and glue it together, i have about 400 feet to run it? How do i make the transition from the pvc to the underwater tubing for the difusers?
I think this pvc air line idea is brillant!
I would appreciate any tips you can offer.
Thanks

btbubba- You have to glue it together if it has to hold pressurized air. If you are using it to just encase and protect an inner airline then glueing is not necesssary.

I have never used pvc pipe as an underground airline but it has and it can be done. I have always used the black polylethylene water pipe; primarily since it is cheaper.

When using the pvc pipe, I prefer to use the white pvc vs the cream colored pvc. If using white pvc they make a glueable end coupling for the pvc that is either 1. female to slip over the pvc pipe with other end female threaded (female adaptor-SLIP xFNPT) or 2. female slip for pipe and other end is male threaded (male adaptor- MNPTx SLIP). There are then fittings (usually gray color)with 1a one female threaded end and other end is a hose barb or 2a male threaded and other end hose barb. Screw appropriate one in the fitting that you have glued onto the pvc; slip your underwater airline onto the hose barb. Parts 1 and 2a should be the easiest to find in Home Depot or Lowes. Part 1a is often hard to find at most stores. NOTE the hose barbs are most commonly stamped w/ 1/2" which is truly a 5/8" hose diameter. However the 1/2" black poly fits these 1/2" hose adaptors (5/8" garden hose also fits these 1/2" hose adaptors). It sounds confusing and it is, the plumbing industry has mixed sizes for different styles of pipe. Make sure the fittings will match your airline. Take a piece of airline with you when shopping for parts.

Bubba,

What Bill C described is exactly what I installed in one of my ponds last fall. I only had to run about 20' of PVC from the barn to the pond. The system ran trouble-free for about a month till I shut it down for the winter.

Bill's comment about the sizing of the barbed fittings is right on the mark. Bring a piece of tubing with you when you go.

Russ

bowtiebubba,

I used 3/4 inch pvc with standard fittings. Transitions are easy just get the correct fitting and glue it. The pvc is far better than the plastic because the plastic may have pin hole leaks that you can't see without pressure testing and also because of the durability of the pvc vs the plastic. It costs a little more but is well worth the cost.

Thanks guys. I think im goimg to go with the pvc.
Thanks for the help.