Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I searched the site, may have missed it, about making an air diffuser vs buying air stones. I have a 100 LPM air pump for my two IBC FT's and want to make an air diffuser say from PVC pipe. The outlet of the pump is 3/4 inch. The smaller the bubbles the better design. Doesn't have to be PVC. Bucket of rocks with air flowing through them? Any Suggestions? TJ

Just buy a diffuser....

Come on Rupertofoz that's to simple. What do you think of this? A .750 outlet has an area of .4418 so as long as you don’t go over that with the holes you drill you should be able to stay at 26 GPM, approx. 9150 cubic inches per minute.

3/8 drill= 4 holes

3/16 drill= 16 holes

1/8 drill= 36 holes

3/32 drill= 64 holes

5/64 drill= 92 holes

1/16 drill= 144 holes

3/64 drill= 256 holes

If you can use a smaller drill without breaking it then that would be even more holes. I would just stick with ¾ inch PVC. I don’t think you are going to gain anything with 1 inch.

You lose .43 psi every vertical ft. so at 3 ft. you are going to be at approx. 4.7 psi and the GPM is going to drop to maybe 22 GPM. I think the depth is the only thing that will hurt you. I don’t think length matters once you get to the depth you need.

What about those black water hoses with all the tiny holes in them for watering a garden? Wonder how many holes there are and how many there are. Could just keep cutting it down till you get what you want, unless the holes are so small that you need a lot of hose.

This was a response from someone who hasn't a clue about aquaponics. What do you think? TJ