Pond aeration questions

[LD1]

Well, this is kinda a follow-up on my pond building seen here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/249222-my-pond-building-pictorial.html

I have been doing a TON of reading and searching on fountains and aerators.

I basically have 3 options.

1. Do nothing like several other ponds around that I have always fished in, and rely on nature.
2. Fountain pump of some sort.
3. Aerator

I really dont like option 1 because this will also be a swimming hole and I would like the water to stay somewhat clean.
I dont like option 2 either because they are more costly to run, and just something about having a power cord in the water :EEK:

So I have pretty much settled on an aerator, and I will outline my plans and what I plan to buy, and I am looking for some constructive criticism and suggestions.

For starters, the pond is between 1/4 and 1/3 acre with a max depth of 8' and an average probabally around 4. Rough dimensions are 150' long, and kinda oval shape with one end larger than the other. About 80' on one end and 100' on the other.

Here is what I plan on buying mdpnddesc

Seems to be the best price around and made in USA:thumbsup:

Since air hose is just as cheap (or cheaper) than electric wire, instead of locating the pump out at the pond and having to build a box around it:confused2:, I think I am going to locate it in the garage about 100' away and buy air line instead. Good Idea or bad??? This way, everytime I am in the garage, I will know weather it is working or not, Plus with it being in a "controled-climate-evironment" I cant help but think it will be better for the pump.

Another option I had was to possibly buy a Chinese knock-off compressor for 1/10th the money, and buy a diffuser separatly. Like this one https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=4-1586&catname= or similar. But what concerns me is that it is the same 1/20 HP, but is only about 1/4 the CFM But it doesnt show that it is continuous duty either. I could also step up to 1/8HP like this one https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=4-1854-A&catname=, but it still isnt rated at as many CFM as the small one I first listed:confused2:

So lets hear it guys. What would you do?? or what do you currently have if you have a pond???

 

[murphy1244]

Right now I use a windmill type pump on my half acre pond. I will be adding a double pump system. Try Jones fish.

 

[LD1]

Right now I use a windmill type pump on my half acre pond. I will be adding a double pump system. Try Jones fish.

I did check them out. Their cheapest compressor is still $600. And their cheapest system is still north of a grand.

I would like to keep it $300 or under. It may not be the best at that price, but it is better than nothing. But thats all the budget will allow at the moment

 

[murphy1244]

you could dye your pond too. that should slow down the growth.

 

[LD1]

you could dye your pond too. that should slow down the growth.

I plan on doing that as well:thumbsup:

 

[speedbump]

These style blowers come into our shop a lot for motor bearings. Usually after about 7 years of outdoor service here in Florida. Fish farmers use them exclusively. They make lots of air, last practically forever, but aren't cheap. The ones you gave links to won't make 1/100th of the air that these will make. Not enough air, lots of algae. The life expectancy of the China stuff probably is less than a season.

 

[wjmst]

I have looked into this as well for my pond, which is about 100ft x 100ft and avg 5 ft deep. I just couldn't justify the $1000 price tags of most systems.

At one point in time, I acquired a small air pump. It almost looked like it would be used on a large aquarium. But I set it up and ran it for about a year. I can't say I really noticed much of a difference, but there could have been a slight improvement in the area it where the air stones were located.

So whatever you end up trying, keep us posted! I am very interested in a solution that would be under $500 as well.
Wes

 

[murphy1244]

Your biggest problem is the shallow depth you have, need more deffusers spaced out.

 

[rjok]

I would suggest you visit Pond Boss.com. In their forum they have a section on aeration. They also have a list of suppliers. We have a system from a vender in western Ohio. Works real nice. Also I believe there is an active member of the Pond Boss community that lives in central Ohio. Good luck. Rick

 

[LD1]

I would suggest you visit Pond Boss.com. In their forum they have a section on aeration. They also have a list of suppliers. We have a system from a vender in western Ohio. Works real nice. Also I believe there is an active member of the Pond Boss community that lives in central Ohio. Good luck. Rick

Already been there and read till my head hurt.

The system I linked was through one of their "resources" links.
Home to be exact