Trying a new air diffuser

[Telkwa]

Our pond is about 3' deep. We're using an Aquascape Aerator 4, with the stones set about 1 1/2 feet deep so the pump doesn't work too hard.

I've been curious about the EPDM bubblers like the Matala.

I decided to try the poor man's version.

It works like a champ. The original airstones made a decent batch of bubbles. The new diffuser, set at about the same depth as the stones, makes a healthy froth. There's supposed to be less backpressure with these diffusers so it's easier on the pump.

I used a black 5 gallon bucket to mount the diffuser. Drilled a hole thru the center of the bottom of the bucket just big enough to accept the fitting that comes off the underside of the diffuser. Dropped the diffuser onto the bucket. Reaching inside, I screwed a female-to-female adaptor onto the diffuser fitting, which snugged the diffuser to the bottom of the bucket. Drilled a couple of tiny holes right along the bucket's bottom edge so that air could get out when I tossed it in. Drilled a bigger hole at the top of the bucket to let the air tube pass thru. Of course, since the bucket was going into the pond upside down, the "top" of the bucket would be at the bottom of the pond. I drilled a few small holes into the side of the bucket and zip-tied a few rocks into the inside as ballast.

So the bucket sets upside down in the pond, the diffuser faces up, attached to the bottom (top?) of the bucket, and the stones inside keep the device on the bottom. I'm using one piece of black tubing to supply air instead of the four white tubes like with the original airstones. Pretty happy with the results so far.

 

[vertigo72]

I have an even poorer mans version:
http://www.mitchkoi.co.uk/air-pumps...lat-round-air-disc-diffuser-200mm-p-4483.html

Im not sure what the advantage or disadvantages of membrane vs ceramic disc are, but I couldnt be happier with it. I even added a 4 way regulator to restrict air flow to it somewhat as it would cause such a strong stream of tiny bubbles pushing surface water towards the edges that my lillies didnt like it (using a 160liter/min pump). The other outlets go to stones in my biofilter.

 

[addy1]

Telkwa
So you took one of the round diffusers and mounted it in the bucket? not enough coffee yet , getting brain going here lol.
The air from the diffuser escapes the bucket, I think

 

[Telkwa]

Hi, addy -
This is definitely a case where a picture would be worth a thousand words. The diffuser I bought has a 3/4" barbed fitting sticking directly out from the bottom. I drilled a hole thru the bottom of the black 5 gallon bucket. Stuck the diffuser fitting thru the hole, then attached the coupling from the inside of the bucket, which sucked the diffuser down to the bottom of the bucket.

If the bucket was set on the ground like you would normally set a bucket on the ground, the diffuser's face would be in the dirt. But the bucket was set into the pond upside down, so the diffuser face is looking up. The only things "inside" the bucket were the two rocks that I zip-tied to the inside, and the air hose. The air hose leaves the bucket via a big hole I drilled near the top of the bucket. Since the bucket is upside down now, the hole where the air hose gets out of the bucket is near the bottom of the pond.

If I pull the thing out of the water for any reason, I'll take a pic or two and post them.

vertigo, your diffuser looks like it's still a stone? The two I linked to use a completely different technology.

 

[vertigo72]

vertigo, your diffuser looks like it's still a stone? The two I linked to use a completely different technology.

Yes, its ceramic, pretty much like a regular aquarium airstone I think, just way bigger. I have no clue how that is better or worse than those membranes. I just know it produces a sh*tload of bubbles :twisted:

 

[addy1]

So you did this to get it off the bottom of the pond........got it. Thanks telkwa
I have the small diffusers, little air stones, and the disc. Both throw a lot of air. At this moment tossed in and sitting on the bottom of the pond.

 

[Telkwa]

At this moment tossed in and sitting on the bottom of the pond.

If your air pump is strong enuf, might as well go for the bottom of the pond and give the air maximum contact time, eh? The little Aquascape 4 is not an industrial strength air pump, so I decided to give it a break. As it is, the Aq 4 has only been in service about one year and one of the four diaphragms tore a few weeks ago. When I ordered new pump parts I also ordered that new diffuser.

 

[addy1]

i just threw them in and they produce a lot of nice bubbles.................... but it is a good strong air pump, has a valve to run 6 air stones, or just one.

 

[j.w]

I need to invest in a nice big air pump w/diffuser too. Lots of bubbles would be good and the fish would surely like it also :regular_waving_emot
All I have now for air is a small left over aquarium pump w/ an airstone attached but it does provide some bubbles and even keeps a hole open in the ice when the pond freezes over at times

 

[addy1]

Not to expensive jw, and the cost of a light bulb to run. 20 watts for the one with 6 ports.

http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_kw=C...T+-+HYDROPONIC-AQUARIUM-POND&_id=180561225877

 

[27goldfish]

what kind of lpm would I need for 3000 gallons?

 

[j.w]

Thanks addy, is that the one you have? Can I just stick aquarium tubing on the ports and use cheap little aquarium air stones?

 

[addy1]

Yep it is jw, the 6 port one, used petsmart tubing stuck air stones on it, lots of air.

Nice because you can turn off a port if you do not want to use it.

 

[j.w]

Cool then I'll check it out