Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Raising and Lowering Diffusers

How are you all installing your diffusers so that you can remove the diffusers for maintenance easily? I would assume using the air line hose to raise and lower the unit would be hard on the hose. Are you attaching the diffusers to a rope of some sort as well?

Thanks!

Hi Tyler--

I have a metal-base diffuser and tie a rope to the base. Initially I used pool noodles to suspend the rope for easy maintenance. The pool noodles, however, don't last very long in the sun and elements and must be replaced every season in my situation. This past Fall I decided that an upgrade to the pool noodles was needed. I found some relatively inexpensive plastic, floating duck decoys to tie to the end of the diffuser ropes. They look much nicer (IMHO) than any pool noodles and they're made of a moderately hard plastic for an outdoor application. They've been in the water a few months now and look the same as they did when I first placed them. The diffusers are in 3' to 4' water depth, so I access the diffuser ropes with a small kayak. I used a couple small, metal quick release snap hooks to connect the decoys to the ropes. Should make maintenance a bit easier. Just my solution.

I offer 3 options to our customers. 1) Duck decoys that have to be replaced every 2, maybe 3 years. 2) Boat bumpers that last longer than duck decoys but don't look as good. 3) Nothing - a grappling hook can be used to lift it at the risk of breaking the manifold that the diffuser disc screws into. That option is least popular because the customer is responsible for replacement costs if the manifold breaks.

I have a rope to each of the four corners and then a plastic pop bottle tied to that. Since it doesn't see sunlight unless the pond is really low, it has held up for several years. It is now a black pop bottle due to the iron stain of the water and silt. I turn the plume on, go out with my boat and use a bow rake (dirt rake) in the plume and eventually the tines grab one of the 4 ropes and I pull it up that way. I know the pond is really low if i can see the pop bottle when the diffuser is off.

Honestly, I have used duck decoys on my diffusers and ALL my manmade structure to locate easily in my 2 acre pond. I have NOT had to replace a decoy yet after 7 years so far here in deep east Texas. Maybe No pond freezes has helped to preserve my decoys longer?

This has worked well for me. This will be year four with the same setup.
It's a little heavy pulling it up into the boat at the end of the season.
One full block would have been plenty to hold it down and keep it standing up straight.
I figured out at the end of the first season that using the pool noodle stuff is a waste of effort.