Hello,

Longtime lurker first time poster. I have a 1 acre pond that I may dig out to 3-4 acres in Central Texas. It’s 12’ at its deepest. Closest electricity is over 1000’ away. I figured I could just trench an Airline as I have a water trench halfway there. The alternative is solar but I think even with a long airline run I would have a better system that’s cheaper.

So what size airline do I need? 3/4? Can I use a poly irrigation type line that comes in 500’ spools?

Any recommendations on pumps or can I spec a tub of the mill Hiblow 150 or something?

I ran 600+ feet with 1" black plastic water line and it works okay. I would stick with 1" or bump up to 1 1/4" for 1000 feet.

Burial cost is the same for different diameters, unless you go too small and have to do it over.

Any watertight line should be fine, provided you can make the necessary connections at each end with available adapters.

I'd go 1 1/4". Use the longest lengths possible to minimize the number of connections underground. I would also put a stake where those connections are for future reference. I've had a 1" line pull apart due to heat/cold cycling. That had a hose clamp on it, but no glue.

The last time I priced the poly irrigation type pipe (pre-COVID), the cost difference between 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" was not very great. Especially, compared to your installation costs and time.

Running the larger line can't hurt your designed air flows, but running a line that is too small can increase the cost of electricity at your compressor as you have to push harder to overcome the frictional pipeline pressure drops.

Pro tip - taking advice from Theo and esshup is a good way to design your project.

FYI, switching from 3/8" poly (with barbed fittings connecting 100' lengths of tubing together) to 1" poly dropped system pressure by 5 psi. in a 600 foot run. Customer had a leak in 3/8" line (after years of fighting condensation freezing in the line) and the leak was in an area of tube that was not easily bypassed. We used a vibratory slitter and a directional boring machine to install 1" poly tubing to "repair" it.

The largest HiBlow that I am aware of is the HP-200 and it is only recommended for up to 2 acre ponds by the manufacturer. It's max depth is 10' and the flow at 10' is about 3.5 CFM (good for 2 to 4 diffusers). Their pump chart suggests that this should only be done "intermittently" at this depth, as well. I don't think HiBlow has a pump for your size pond.

My quick estimate would be that you would need, at a minimum, 5 diffusers in the system. This estimate assumes one complete turn over per day...running 24 hours a day...and a rather round or square pond with an average depth of 7' with all the diffusers at 10 foot deep. I like to size them to do a full turn over in, at least, a half a day, but some do not find this necessary. Cutting the runtime of the pump in half would double the number of diffusers needed (thereabouts).

The pump you would be looking for should be able to pump 1 CFM per diffuser (maybe up to 2 or 3 CFM depending on the diffusers you go with) and be able to do that at 10-12 foot depths. This flow rate will be affected by the line lengths and sizes, so don't just go by the maximum flow rate of the pump. That maximum flow rate is typically without anything hooked to the pump. Once you start adding lines, fittings, diffusers, and water depth...that flow will lessen.

A Gast 1/2 and 3/4 HP pump should be close to the right sizes (Gast 0823 & 1032 models) for the 24 hour runtime. I say "close" because it all depends on the size and lengths of line you choose to use. The longer and/or smaller the lines...the more pump you need. There are other types of pumps to chose from...I just happen to be most familiar with the Gast brand. I would consider using 10 diffusers and 2 pumps. This would allow you to only run at night (half day) and would allow for one system to go down and still turn the pond (in a 24 hour run). This would be a bit of and overkill if the budget is tight, but could be very flexible if the budget was there.

QA, does Gast make a 1/2 hp rotary vane? The 0523 is 1/4 hp., 1023 is 3/4 hp.........

The 0823 model is rated at 1/2 hp...EDIT: please note that the below spec sheet states it to be a 220 or 440 volt motor.
The 110 version of the 0823 model is rated at 3/4 HP.

That is some strange stuff, Noel.

Quite odd from an engineering perspective to have your higher voltage models designed to be LOWER horsepower.

I guess the lesson is to always use the manufacturer's motor and compressor charts to design your system.

I have to admit it is rather strange. I suppose it could be a typo, but why have the 0823 and the 1023 in the 3/4 hp. You do get more CFM with the 1023 across the same pressure range. Either way, there could definitely be reason to need, or not need, that extra flow for an aeration system.

It makes more sense to concentrate on the flow capabilities from the charts rather than the horse power.

Agreed!

Thanks!! Maybe that is why I never knew about a 1/2 hp one, I was strictly looking at 115v.

Just wanted to follow up. Sorry I went awol work picked up.

First I’m a bit of an idiot. My pond is really closer to half an acre. Like I said I just got the place and was going off the realtor listing when I said one acre. I went and measure it and that’s where I came up with 1/2 acre figure.

I ended up trenching everything last week. I’m using 3/4 Poly line since my aerator requirements should be lower. Plus it’s what I was able to source at a reasonable price. I checked multiple places and 1.25” was more than double.

Where can I find some good diy air diffusers? Or are there forum sponsors that have good products to purchase from?

I think two to three heads would be enough.

I got my Vertex Diffusers from Hoosier Pond Pros (the business owner, esshup, is a very active PB member)...

https://hoosierpondpros.com/

They have been in my pond for 4 or 5 years now and have performed very well. The ones I bought were just the head and needed to have the base added. Here's a thread with a few ideas...

https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=525288

I used concrete and have since added an eyebolt to the concrete base to pull it up from the bottom. Originally, I tied the rope to the pvc plumbing and I was afraid of breaking the plastic pipe works.

I also bought my weighted line from there too.