Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

OK so I've been Ebay-ing...

A few days ago I ordered an airpump - 4x360L/H outlets.
13W and only about $30.

However...

I've now seen 38L/min (2280L/H) electromagnetic airpump which is less than $60, and is 18w.

Both appear to be pretty generic Chinese imports, but my question is based less on brands, and more about how much air does one really need, and can you in fact have too much air?

My tank is 1500-1800L, about to have 1000L wet media added. It's got at least 4000LpH pump with about 50cm head height.
The pump came in an 8000L Pondmax box but the guy I bought it from thinks he was duped and says he is sure he saw 4000L written on the actual unit somewhere - I haven't checked for myself as yet.

The water will return to the tank via a number of fountain heads (4 or 5), dropping about 30cm in height, which I hope will contribute some extra aeration.

I know Pump #1 will be plenty sufficient for extra/backup aeration for the few Koi and 25ish Silver Perch that I plan on having for a while, but I do hope to have trout one day too. Is pump #1 going to give them enough extra air, or do I really need to be going with Pump #2 for trout? Or is pump #2 just far too big for my system anyway? The idea of having more air in my system than water (I know that's a terrible way of looking at/explaining it, but I hope you know what I mean) seems strange.

Even if I add extra growbeds down the track, I don't believe there will ever be more than 25 fish in the pond, of any species.

Interested to hear anyone's thoughts on this

Thanks

water braking the top of the tank water gives more air than bubbles coming up from below so the more water squirting into your tank the more air in your water but it still doesn't hurt to have bubbles coming up as well

There's no such thing as too much air as there is a saturation point. Although, you don't want to be wasting money on power if you don't need to obviously. Without a DO meter you would never know what your achieving so we tend to over aerate to give us comfort, like RB mentioned most happens at the surface so in a safely stocked system the returning water is usually suffice. You have a well designed system with a good water pump with silver perch so you would be fine without additional aeration, if you had trout I'd use the air pump just to be sure.

Sounds like you bought the same pump I just did yesterday for my floating raft bed

ok I am an ebay addict as well.

ok I am an ebay addict as well.

Phew, thanks guys - I feel better now :-)

I haven't really used Gumtree or eBay much before now and I think I overwhelmed myself with the endless possibilities that seem to exist for every conceivable idea I've ever had haha.

I'll stick with having as many points of return as I can manage then and keep my air pump in it's box 'til trout time unless it looks like I need it.

Thanks again fellas :-)



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