Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Aeration question...

I'd like to aerate my pond and have a boathouse to house the compressor. I was wondering how many HP anyone with any knowledge would recommend. I'm going to need to push the air a fair distance, 200 feet or so @ a depth of 12-15 ft. I'd also like to be able to run two stones off the compressor.

You don't need a lot of Hp to aerate your pond. Depending on the diffuser type and required cfm, you could aerate your pond on 1/3 Hp piston compressor. You might want to consider using a membrane type diffuser rather than air stones. They require very little cfm and maintenance. What is the size and depth of your pond?

KC Also consider a 1/4hp model 0523 rotary vane compressor. It not only makes more air/hp as a "piston" compressor, it runs much quieter and is easier to rebuild or refurbish when necessary. The 0523 rotary vane makes about the same amount of air/hp (cfm) as a rocking piston compressor at depths less than 18ft. Again the rotary vane is easier to rebuild than a rocking piston compressor. Price of the two compressors per cfm and hp are similar. Rocking piston compressor is most beneficial in water deeper than 18ft.

KC The 1/4 hp 0523 rotary model will operate six or eight 6" long air stones. Air stones are more maintenence in harder waters than membrane diffusers.

Our corporation is running 8 diffusers off of six pumps. Four of the pumps are 1/3 hp and just run one diffuser each. The two other pumps are 1/2 hp 220 volt. They run two diffusers each. All are vane type pumps. The diffusers are in water 10-20 ft. deep. What we have been told is not to put any diffuser in water less than 10 ft. deep with the best results in the deeper water. Over the years we have expermented with different diffusers and have setteled on the membrane type because they are easer to maintain and also to kick up in the early spring. They seem to clean themselves. A rule of thumb that we go by is to kick them up when the water gets 60 degrees and turn them off at the end of October. We may kick one up in the shallow end in the winter time to keep the lake open if ice forms. Then turn them off when it clears. If you have one going in the deep end in the winter it circulates the water to much and keeps the lake colder for the fish.

Thanks much for all the responses. Our pond is roughly 8-10 acres in size with an average depth of 6 feet though we have a large shallow flat that gets very weedy in the summer.

The vane compressor sounds intriguing due to maintenance and noise concerns, compact build would also be a plus. Any leads on where to order such a system and what brand rates the best?

KC,

Over the years, the board has had a number of good discussions pertaining to pond/lake aeration. Lots of questions related to pumps, tubing, diffusers, setting depths, aeration effects etc. There is a whole "AERATION" topic that will give you lots of good info. If you don't see the answer to your specific question, post there (someone may not see your post here in "Questions and Observations)and I'm sure one of our experts will try to help. Welcome to Pond Boss, you've got a great looking place!

Russ

Kentucky C. In a pond (lake) your size and depth a single Gast rotary vane (0523) may (will) come up short on aeration.This depends on your BOD and goals in general Also the same size piston pump will be no different. I sell both and this is where sizing comes into play. Diffuser type and placement is critical in a large body of water with shallow depths, Deeper ponds turnover more water per surface acre than shallow ponds. Consider having an aerial view and sizing map done. This service is free and easy and available through my wedsite under the "getting started" section on the homepage. You may also want to go to the Vertex Water Features website and fill out the same information and Sue Cruz will size you a system with hose layout and all the details. Again there is no charge.Your comment about wanting two diffusers lead Bill to mention the 0523 and that is a great pump for two diffusers at your depth, but perhaps not the system of choice for your lake. Bill would be the first to suggest a larger Gast rotary vane for more diffusers than two if needed.As far as noise goes if the two pumps are in Quiet Air cabinets side by side they is no difference in the noise as I have those two systems in a display setup. I have rebuilt both pistons and rotary vanes and find either pretty simple to work on with the piston needed about an additional 15 minutes of labor on the average, Average rebuild time on a Gast is about 30 minutes.Continue to do your research and you have found a great site in PondBoss to do just that Ted

Thanks for the link Ted. I've sent you my address, the large pond is obviously the one we are interested in aerating. I'm curious as to how recent you're aerial data is as the pond has been expanded over the past 5-7 years.