Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water Diffuser kicking up clay particles

I installed a new aerator this year, a 1/3 gast rotary vein and used four membrane disc diffusers set up in one spot on top of a milk crate. Worked great until my pond got extremely muddy. I collected a jar of water and left it sit a few days to make sure it wasn't suspended algae, and after a day the sample cleared up with a sediment at the bottom. So I added another milk crate and the water got clearer. Is there a better way to keep the diffuser from stirring up the bottom? I hate to not have it in the deepest part. Thanks

Several questions for you:
1. How old is the pond?
2. HOw big is the pond?
3. HOw deep is the pond?
4. HOw long you running the compressor?
5. Does pond have any critters including fish that would be "working" in the bottom to get clay/silt roiled up off the bottom where mixing currents could further carry the colloidal clay up to the surface?
6. What type of submerged vegetation does pond have and how much?

I use a Blitz brand oil drip pan under the diffuser assembly. You need a solid base extending at least 4" beyond the diffuser edges to prevent sediment lift.

A milk crate can not only tip over, the open holes allow currents to pull sediments directly from the bottom as the crate sinks in.

I have a 1/4 HP Gast Rotary Vane and a 5 head Vertex diffuser that was sitting on a foot of muck, 9 feet down, it never kicked up any sediment or clay. I get a good strong boil with it too. Are you sure you don't have a leak or bad connection at the diffuser? Maybe your pump is too big and you need more diffusers.

The pond is about 3yrs. old and about a 1/4 acre. The max. depth is about 10' which is where I have the diffuser. Prior to this aerator I had a linear compressor with an air stone. I run the aerator 24/7. I move the diffuser to shallower water in the winter. I have a couple of cc but I think only three. Not enough to churn up the water. I had alot of pond weed that started this year, but when the water got muddy it actualy killed most of it.

KENZ,

You may have to many diffusers running for that small of a pond? I have almost 1 acre and I only have 3, 9 inch fusers running 6 hours a night. This is just my 2 cents but you may have to tone it down a little....

Kenz, It sounds to me like you've got too much air going to your diffusers. When a diffuser produces a bubble that is less than 1/8th of an inch in diameter or less it creates a gentle laminar flow of bubbles which will not disturb the sediment even if sitting just barely off the bottom. Membrane diffusers come in a variety of bubble sizes (course, fine, etc..)with fine bubble being the most efficient at circulating water and oxygen transfer between the bubble and water. But, the benefits of a fine bubble aeration system can be undermined by supplying too much air to the diffuser, effecively turning it into a course bubble diffuser. In this case, the bubbles can immediately coalesce creating larger bubbles that move quickly and have a lot of side-to-side movement which can scour the sediments around the diffuser. Furthermore, these larger bubbles will not create as much vertical circulation as fine bubbles. There is a place for course bubble diffusers but a pond is not it. They are generally used in certain wastewater applications where you actually want to lift the bottom sediments. Try to decrease your airflow and see what happens. Good luck.

Good post Dennis.

I have had the same problem in my pond. I think I'll try the oil catch pan. I like that idea because I can tie wrap the difusser to the pan and then drag it along the bottom to its location

I was using the same compressor with 3 membrane disc diffusers and had the same problem. I raised them from about 12" off the bottom to about 18" and the problem did go away.

I use garbage can lids and slide them out into position slowly to prevent any turn over. I tie a nylon rope to the edge of the garbage can lid and pull it out with the air turned from the other side of the pond. The air turned on will keep it upright and show you where it's located.

I attach the diffusers via zip ties after I punch holes in the garbage can lid. I also cut a slot on the edge of the garbage can lid for the hose to lay flat.

Also attach a couple of bricks with zip ties.