Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Aerator

Good Afternoon,

We are going to add an aerator to our small pond and need some help with the design. The pond is located about 80 feet behind our garage.

I've been hearing different methods of setting up the system. Some recommend placing our pump inside the garage and running the airline to the pond and aerator...Some recommend the pump close to the pond. Either way we would need to run an underground line, either electric wiring or the airline. Whichever way we go, the line would be run inside pvc.

Any pros or cons for either method? Preference?

Thanks in advance, Tim

Running electrical wires costs more due to the cost difference between wire and air line runs and the added electrical components at the pond (GFCI outlet at a minimum, maybe a switch too). The labor costs for the trenching is the same. I ran electric to the pond (about 175 feet) in case I ever wanted to charge a phone, have night lighting, add a fountain, etc. That was the deciding factor for me and that my garage would not have the added hum of the pump. I have not used the electric at the pond for anything but the air pump, but I am happy with my decision. I keep a drop light in the pump house in case of after dark trouble shooting.

The only con I can think of besides costs is that a pump would like the more consistent atmosphere of an attached garage more so than out in a box or pump house at the pond. Less humidity/temp changes it the garage if it remotely climate controlled. Not a big deal IMO.

Wecome to PB, BTW!

Tim:

You can do a direct burial of 1" black poly tube, no conduit needed. We have had the tube directly installed a few ways, trenching is the most disruptive to the landscape, we have had a company use a vibratory slitter and pull the tubing with virtually no disruption to the landscape and we also have had a company that does directional boring put one in where it had to go under an asphalt driveway.

Thank you both for the answers. Now, my next question! What type, size of pump should I be considering. Our pond is small, about 1/10 of an acre and is spring fed. We had settled on a HQUA PAS10 with a single diffuser but now think this may be too much pump for that small of a pond. Plus, it's about $550 for the setup.

The pond is @ 8 feet deep. It there a more economical setup we should be looking at? One that can be more easily maintained/rebuilt?

Thank you once again.

If you buy and use "too much pump" in a smaller pond this means you can mix the pond or turn it over quicker and do not have to run the pump 24/7. Ponds with oversized pumps / aerators may only need to be run 1 to 6 hrs per day depending on size of pond, size of aerator, organic condition of the pond (biochemical oxygen demand) and amount of water pump mixes per hour. IMO it is always better to have "too much pump" compared to just enough pump or too little pump. When buying an aerator it is important to know the volume of pond water and how much water the aerator mixes per hour.

Thank you!

If at all possible I would put the pump in the garage or shed. It will be less likely to over heat esp if the fan dies, experience less weather conditions, be easier to monitor its activity, and IMO last longer. Having an aerator one should periodically and routinely check the start up air pressure to monitor the amount of clogging that is happening on the diffusers. You are less likely to do this if the pump is in a remote shelter. Neglect is a big cause of aerator problems.

Having the pump at the pond means you either need to build or buy a shelter for it which could be $$$.

Don't forget to periodically check/clean the air filter on the compressor too, say every 3-4 months.