What is the difference between bottom areation and a foutain areation, won't the fountain do the same for you as a bottom?

A fountain just mixes the top 3 or so feet of water, and can leave bottom water devoid of O2. A properly sized bottom aeration system will mix the entire volume of water in the pond.

IMHO fountains have a place as emergency aeration in addition to their ornamental value.

So does the fountain not have a tube hooked all the way down to the bottom to pull water up?

IIRC it normally does not.

Even if the fountain lifted bottom water, it won't lift as much as a bottom diffuser. It is much easier to pump air (and let it lift the water) than to pump water.

The suction of a fountain could be placed at the bottom of a pond & would/could provide the same water movement as bottom diffusers. Just at greater cost. If I was going to have a fountain anyway I would definitely pipe the suction on the bottom as it does not increase the lift to do so.

Thanks guy's!!! I have been reserching them, and I am leaning on going with a Vertex air 1 plus system I think. i was just curious the difference in areation between the 2 types!!!

When I was researching areation,I made several calls,and Ted Lea seamed to be the most helpful IIRC.You might give him a call,he's not pushy and he's real smart.

Thanks Tom I actually already talked with him , he was very informitive, and helped me a bunch!!!!!

Jason

He tries not to push sales,but if you go with bottum diffusers,GET THE SELFSINKING HOSE.I didnt the FIRST time.

Wow, I don't think you guys need us "aeration experts" anymore!

Sue,let me have a couple beers and I'll have forgoten everything I know.Besides,most of my advice is always wrong anyway.

So far so good Tom! Ted is a great resource for aeration info - he is honest and has a lot of experience with many different types of systems! The last advice you gave not about the sinking vs. polytubing is so true!! It is worth the little bit of extra money spent on the self weighted tubing not to spend all the extra hours for installation, maintenance, and fustration! You'll end up buying the weighted tubing eventually!

I may not ever replace my existing airhose with self-sinking, but all the rest of it I will ever buy will be self-sinking.

I think somebody needs a hug.

Definitly going with the sinking hose!!!

so the advantage of the stone difussers vs the EPDM membrain that Vertex uses? Sue?

Long ago Vertex used stone diffusers and therefore we have experience with both type. Through independant testing as well as years of experience, it has been our finding that Membrane diffusers have countless advantages over the stone type. First, EPDM Membrane diffusers move more GPM with less CFM (thus energy/power consumption). They are much, much, much less maintenance labor - no need for acid baths which for stone diffusers can be needed as often as every other month in hard water conditions.
Membrane diffusers last longer and often carry a much longer warranty. Disks also release all the force of the bubbles in a flat upward direction rather than in all directions like stone and tube style diffusers. This helps to prevent distubing the bottom sediments.
Most aeration manufacturers have followed our lead and have switched from stone diffusers to membrane diffusers.

Sue, thanks for the feedback and that makes perfect sense. I was concerned with stone difussers getting clogged much like they do in a fish aquarium. I live in Conroe, Texas. Can you give me the closest dealer? Thanks again you have made my mind up!

Sue can I send a dimesional drawing of my lake so you can help me determine which Vertex Units is best suited? I think the V4 may be the best.Want you input.

Sure! Just email me directly at sue@vertexwaterfeatures.com