Q1. Given that our water level fluctuates from season to season, is there an ideal depth for the diffusers?
A. The air diffusers should be located in the deeper areas of the pond – they will not be affected by the fluctuations of water levels.
Q2. Given that we will have some sedimentation over time, how do we prevent the diffusers from being buried?
A. The air diffusers are placed into 5 gallon buckets and you put gravel in the bottom of the bucket and the air diffuser on to. The bucket keeps the air diffuser off the bottom of the pond and it remains nice and clean. The air diffusers that we use are industrial strength self cleaning air diffuser so you should not have to worry about this. You attach a rope to the bucket and a rope with a buoy that floats on the water. you simply sink the bucket with the air diffuser in it to the bottom of the pond.
Q3. How do we know, at any point in time, if a diffuser is operating properly?
A. These air diffuser produce a lot of oxygen bubbles that shoot up through the water – when the wind is going you will see a large amount of bubbles – similar to a hot tub coming up to the surface of the water where ever you have the air diffusers placed. You will know if they are not working.
Q4. How much wind is optimal for operating the fan blades? How much is too much? Can they be turned off in extremely windy weather? Should they be?
A. The windmills will operate in very low winds, as low as 3-5MPH and right up to almost 30MPH – the windmill is on a swivel head bearing set that allows it to track the wind and move itself out of the wind once the winds approach the 30MPH threshold. You do not have to turn on or off anything – these units are self operational. If a hurricane or Tornado is coming through you can always tilt the windmill down but other than that you have nothing to be concerned with.
Q5. How many hours per day/days per year should the diffusers be operating?
A. Depending on your winds the windmills will operate for a number of hours per day – 365 days per/yr. Some seasons more than others but at the end of the day they will provide your pond with ongoing aeration in order to provide it with additional levels of oxygen commonly required to help improve the health of ponds today.
Q6. Should the system be operating in the winter, when we’re most likely to
have fresh water entering the pond?
A. The windmill should be operating all year long and is built to operate in very cold and very hot temperatures. In the winter it keeps an area of the pond open so that the pond can vent. This is healthy for the pond and any fish that are in it. Dramatically reduces any possibility of fish kill.
Q7. How far away from the pond should the tower be positioned?
A. The windmill can be as far as 1000 ft from the pond. Look for an elevated or open area within this distance that attracts the majority of your wind.
We got our windmill aeration system set up a couple of weeks after receiving it from you. Last week it was -17 below and the lakes were all froze up around here. Despite the cold temperatures our lake had two openings in them at all times.
