Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions "Homemade aeration on the Cheap" by Christopher Potts

Hello Dick Faurot,

You might be surprised at which 'better' aka more expensive pumps actually produce less pressure and air-flow. Rena-400 for example is only good for 0.078 cfm whereas the cheapest I mentioned in the article puts out .155 cfm per port and in the neighbourhood of 4-5 psi.

If you can barely get a few bubbles with the hose just under the surface then either your pumps are faulty or there is some kind of blockage/leak. When there is very little depth it takes very little pump to move the air. You might want to remove the air-stones and see if it is passing air through, just in case they are the problem. Check for leaks at any connections and or kinks in the lines. The Rena-400 might not push much air but it should push enough to see just below the surface.

*Note that through the winter I run a $20 pump through about 150 feet of line to two 12" air stones at 4-5 feet deep. Keeps a 10+ diameter hole open. Sometimes you get lucky with these type of diaphragm pumps and sometimes not it would seem. I might suggest a Hagen Optima single outlet pump... 0.177 cfm at 4 PSI or use the same set-up but with a GAST pump or Dynamaster 2 pump.