In garden ponds with insufficient circulation, fish die due to a lack of oxygen dissolved in the water. This problem is solved with an aerator, but, as a rule, such a device is excessively productive for small bodies of water, and is also expensive. It is much more profitable to make it yourself and connect it to a cheap Chinese 250 W pump.
Materials:
- PVC pipes 1 1/2 inches, 3/4 inches;
- PVC nipple 1/2 inch;
- PVC reduction couplings for gluing 1 1/2x3/4 inches – 2 pcs.;
- PVC reduction coupling 1 1/2 inches with external thread;
- glue for PVC pipes;
- epoxy adhesive.
Aerator manufacturing process
A 3/4 inch piece of tubing must be glued into the reducing coupling for gluing 1 1/2x3/4 inches. Its protruding part is cut flush.
In the second similar coupling, a hole is drilled on the side for gluing a 1/2-inch nipple. At the narrowing inside there is a step that must first be ground off with a file. Then a shortened nipple is glued into the hole made using epoxy.
The first coupling with a 3/4 inch tube glued inside is inserted into the second coupling. Their joint line needs to be soldered with a soldering iron to melt the plastic around the entire circumference. Then it is covered with epoxy glue on top.
A 1 1/2-inch tube is glued into the resulting structure with PVC glue.
It is needed to glue the adapter onto the 1 1/2" male thread. This allows you to screw the aerator to a 250 W submersible pump.
Now all that remains is to install a tube or hose on the nipple, and then lower the pump into the pond.
When it starts, the flow of water will draw air through the tube protruding above the water, thereby becoming saturated with bubbles. Such an aerator is guaranteed to protect the fish from death. To save electricity, the pump can be connected via a time relay so that it works intermittently.
