Solar powered aeration system with battery back-up:
If you want your solar pond air pump to run most of the day, then a battery back-up system is necessary. In addition to running the air pump, the solar rays charge the batteries in the cabinet. Once the sun goes down – or if it is a cloudy day – the pump will continue to run, on average a total 16-20 hours a day. The downside is that these systems are significantly more expensive than direct drive solar aeration systems. They require batteries, a charge controller, and other components not necessary in the direct drive system. Considering the number of components, maintenance can be costly long-term. Initial set-up is also much more complicated and time consuming.
Direct drive solar aeration system:
Direct drive solar aeration systems use the suns energy to run the aeration system without the use of batteries as a back-up. As a result, the solar pond air pump only runs when it is sunny – about 8 hours a day in most locations. Of course, latitude and the time of year can impact the runtime. The major advantage of this type of system is that the initial set-up cost is significantly less than a battery back-up system. Additionally, the system will require less maintenance as there are only a few components that may need to be repaired/ replaced over time. The downside is that the pump will not aerate the pond 24/7. However, there are professionals in the pond industry that believe 8 hours is enough to turnover and increase oxygen levels to clear up the pond and provide a healthy environment for fish.
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