Homemade pond aerator
To saturate the pond with oxygen, it is necessary to connect the aerator to a pump supplying water to the artificial cascade. Aeration is carried out in order to provide oxygen to the plants in the pond. Fish also need air circulation. Without aeration, the water in the pond will "bloom".
In order to provide a comfortable environment for all inhabitants of the pond, connect to the pump aerator... If you can't find a suitable device on sale, you can make it yourself. A home-made structure made of high-quality materials will perform the function of oxygenating water no worse than a factory device.
Principle of operation
A homemade aerator can be made based on a Venturi injector. The principle of operation of this injector is based on the "Venturi Effect".
It consists in the drop in pressure when the flow of liquid or air passes through the constricted part of the injector. As a result of the pressure drop, air is sucked in. This principle is used in burners for mixing gas and air, as well as in water jet pumps.
Device and assembly of the aerator
To assemble the aerator you will need:
- A tube machined from an aluminum alloy with a neck diameter of 3.5 mm and a length of 4 mm. The tube diffuser can be reamed with a stepped drill. The cone length is 40 mm and its maximum diameter is 18 mm. On the water supply side, the tube should taper from a maximum diameter to 3.5 mm. The height of the taper is 20 mm. For air intake, three radial holes with a diameter of 2.5 mm must be drilled at the middle of the neck.
- A polypropylene sleeve that will serve as the outside of the air chamber housing. You can use a socket for a pipe with a diameter of 25 mm. A threaded hole must be drilled in the wall of the coupling to screw in the fitting. It will serve for air supply.
- Mesh with a plug. You can use a water filter mesh.
The outer casing of the aerator is put on an aluminum tube and the parts are held together with a sealant. A mesh with a plug is installed at the outlet of the aerator. A silicone tube is put on the air connection through which air will be taken.
The structure is connected to a water pump and lowered into the reservoir. The end of the silicone tube should be above the surface of the water.
When using this aerator, there will be little water movement. The fish will have enough oxygen for life.