DIY Solar Pond Aeration Project - Improving your Pond Quality
Channel: Midwest Hunting & Outdoors by Two Dumb Asses
Date: 2020-10-05

Tips and Tricks #3 by 2 Dumb Asses
In this episode we explore how to aerate your pond by means of solar power generation.  This is a DIY with lots of learnings along the way.   Many of you that have ponds, may have one that is stagnant, smells and potentially has a lot of harmful algae blooms.  Aeration is the single most important thing you can do to you pond to improve it, this also includes improving the fishing in the pond as well.  Enjoy the show.

Disclaimer:  At the time of the video production I was aiming for a 24/7 creation system. I had some serious miscalculations.  That stated this set-up currently only aerates approximately 12 hours per day.  I was attempting to get it completed overnight, but I lose the excess energy the solar panels are producing during the day, so I ended up leveraging daylight hours for my aeration.  I want to aerate 24 hours per day as stated, so I am in the process of testing 4 panels instead of 2.  The inefficiency of the controllers, panels, resistance of the cords all contributes to energy loss.  Also, the fact that I installed in during the fall when days of sunlight are getting less is contributing too, but I should of accounted for that.  Where may pond is located, midwest, the amount of maximum sun hours per day is approximately 4.5 hours on average, in the winter,  accounting for cloudy days, etc.  So take that into consideration when installing yours.  Let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them.  Also, if you are in an area where the pond will freeze, install a check valve on your hose between the diffuser and the air hose so that it doesn't freeze up on you.  I did not think about that until afterwards as well.  This is particularly important if not aerating 24/7.  

Update:  Winter daylight hours for solar are less than what I had expected.  In the depth of winter I was not getting my battery up to full charge.  So I decided to turn it off for the winter.  I am expecting 3 months of no pond aeration.  Also, depending where you live, not sure I would put the diffuser in the deepest part of the pond.  During the the hottest part of there months, the deep end is where the fish can escape to from a cool water perspective.  So, if we are pumping hot air into the deepest part of the pond, we will be raising the temperature of water.  Similarly for when the environment is cold.  Just something to think about.  Depends a lot about your ponds structure, size, layout and depth.

All in all, I would still go the solar route, just adjusting my expectations a bit.

Equipment for system:

Pump:  https://www.hiblow-usa.com/applications-guide/pond-aquaculture/
Hose:  https://www.septicsolutions.com/septic-parts/pond-aeration/pondplus-sinking-hose
Membrane Diffuser:  https://outdoorwatersolutions.com/products/aeration-accessories/air-diffusers/
Solar Panels: https://www.renogy.com
Solar Inverter:  https://www.amazon.com/Inverter-Charge-Controller-Remote-Control/dp/B07RSB6PMN/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Solar+Inverter&qid=1642348848&sr=8-3
Battery:  https://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Batteries/MIGHTY-MAX-BATTERY/Solar/N-5yc1vZc28mZojvZ1z1a3l5

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