Aeration to Raise PH - Linear Diaphragm Pump ?

Puertex · Mar 16, 2024

Has anyone tried using a pond diaphragm pump to inject air bubbles into the pool to raise PH?
Presently using my pool water feature (scuppers) to create aeration but it uses 2 hp of electricity 12 hours every time I want to raise PH from 7.0 to 7.8 to allow another round of muriatic acid use.
I have been considering getting a diaphragm pump to inject about 80 liters/min of air using an air diffuser that creates small bubbles.
This pump is similar to what is used on aquariums but bigger in size.
It weighs 15 pounds and uses 75 watts instead of the scupper pump using 1491 watts.
It is hard to justify the investment of near $500 since it will take maybe 5 years to get the payback but it has the potential of more efficient air injection.
What do y'all think?
Thanks,
Puertex

Newdude · Mar 16, 2024

Skip the pump and build a simple PVC contraption that goes into your return and use it in your normal pump runtime.

Simple, Easy and Inexpensive Aerator Using a Venturi

Here is an aerator/bubbler that will run off your water return. Parts are cheap and ubiquitous. A plethora off bubbles! Exploded view of parts Parts List NIBCO® 1-1/2" MIP x Socket PVC Adapter NIBCO® 1-1/2" Spigot x 3/4" Socket PVC Reducer Bushing 1/2" pvc pipe (Length depends on depth of...

www.troublefreepool.com

Option 2

Option 3 also an evaporative cooler

With SWGs most of us are dealing with 7.8+ PH. How's yours always 7 ? What's your TA ? Is lowering a high TA the reason behind this ?

Puertex · Mar 16, 2024

Newdude said:
Skip the pump and build a simple PVC contraption that goes into your return and use it in your normal pump runtime.

Simple, Easy and Inexpensive Aerator Using a Venturi

Here is an aerator/bubbler that will run off your water return. Parts are cheap and ubiquitous. A plethora off bubbles! Exploded view of parts Parts List NIBCO® 1-1/2" MIP x Socket PVC Adapter NIBCO® 1-1/2" Spigot x 3/4" Socket PVC Reducer Bushing 1/2" pvc pipe (Length depends on depth of...

www.troublefreepool.com

Option 2

View attachment 558762

Option 3 also an evaporative cooler

View attachment 558763

With SWGs most of us are dealing with 7.8+ PH. How's yours always 7 ? What's your TA ? Is lowering a high TA the reason behind this ?

Hello, yes, to lower high TA...During fall/winter, I installed a whole pool cover and stopped using the SWG but my TA went up to 110.
I stopped using the SWG because we were getting so many rain events that resulted in my pool overflowing and losing chemicals that I decided to take a break.
So, in preparation for the new pool season, I want to lower TA to 80 and that will involve several cycles of Muriatic acid addition to lower PH and TA followed by aeration to increase the PH back to 7.8 - 8.0 etc.
With this PVC contraption that is attached to a single return, do you have enough pressure connecting it to one of the returns while the others are open?
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas...
Puertex

Newdude · Mar 16, 2024

Puertex said:
With this PVC contraption that is attached to a single return, do you have enough pressure connecting it to one of the returns while the others are open?

GREAT question. How many returns do you have ? With 2 it probably works great. With 8, maybe not so much and you could plug as many as needed.

Are you going with liquid chlorine or a combo with pucks ? (Sole puck use jacks the CYA too quickly).

Puertex · Mar 16, 2024

Newdude said:
GREAT question. How many returns do you have ? With 2 it probably works great. With 8, maybe not so much and you could plug as many as needed.

Are you going with liquid chlorine or a combo with pucks ? (Sole puck use jacks the CYA too quickly).

I have a SWG. I maintain CYA separately... But that is my concern with these contraptions attached to the return because I have several return and I am sure these contraptions need a decent backpressure to operate...It is certainly a good idea...
Thanks,
Puertex

Newdude · Mar 16, 2024

Puertex said:
I have a SWG

Ahhhhhhh. So you 'stopped using the SWG' (past tense).

Welcome back to the club.

Puertex said:
I have several return and I am sure these contraptions need a decent backpressure to operate.

6 threaded plugs for $7. I bought these and they are chintzy but will work plenty fine for this purpose. Experiment and add as many as you need.

Option 4 : 4500 GPH pump on the cheap and build the PVC contraption on the 1.5 inch discharge.

Puertex · Mar 17, 2024

Newdude said:
Ahhhhhhh. So you 'stopped using the SWG' (past tense).

Welcome back to the club.

6 threaded plugs for $7. I bought these and they are chintzy but will work plenty fine for this purpose. Experiment and add as many as you need.

Option 4 : 4500 GPH pump on the cheap and build the PVC contraption on the 1.5 inch discharge.

Thanks for the additional option!
Definitely something that can be considered at a lower cost.
Puertex

JamesW · Mar 17, 2024

In my opinion, aeration is vastly overrated and almost never necessary.

You can get an acid feeder if you need to add a lot of acid due to high TA.

What is your CSI?