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Thread: DIY Air lift

  1. #1
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    DIY Air lift

    20221007_131220.jpgAttachment 40873Attachment 40874Attachment 40875

    Attempting to do an airlift,now as my pond is 4ft deep so not deep enough for an airlift I have to do it outside the pond and pic1 shows the hole dug out even though it's now full of water.

    So I have to use a water chamber and pic1 shows the 225mm 2mtr long pipe.
    I am making a stop to block off one end which pic2 shows and pic3 is the finish,you can see it is the bottom of a bucket cut out and strengthened with some s/s bar.


    Now the airlift,useing Twns idea with the two 110mm to clay boots and a short piece of 125mm pipe.
    Drilled 100 small 1.5mm holes for the air,is that enough?

    Tring to sort the air feed,thinking of useing a 35watt airpump is 16mm air line ok?

    Alot of info from Twns and UK zero so thanks for that,any help appreciated.


    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Looking good John. DIY Air lift

    That water container will be holding a very heavy amount of water. I'd try and reinforce the bottom more if you can.

    How I did my holes, I drew 4 lines around the pipe, 1cm apart. Then drilled out a hole at 1cm intervals along each line. Although I alternated them so they weren't directly over each other.

    So, if 110mm waste pipe is just over 34cm in diameter, that works out to be around 136 holes I drilled in total. So you might want to add more. But....

    If the air lift can be lifted out of the container, maybe do a dummy run with the 100 holes first, it'll probably be enough. And if you think it needs more, you can always add more later.

    I reckon 16mm airline would be fine.

    I used 3/4" pressure fittings from the bottom of the airlift up to above water level, then glued a nipple onto the end of the pipe then attached 12mm air line to that. But doubt it'll make a difference if you run the air line down to the air chamber.

    Keep us posted how you get on.



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    Last edited by Twhitenosugar; 07-10-2022 at 04:22 PM.
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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    How are you planning on exiting the airlift from the container?

    That for me was the biggest challenge to over come if having a separate vessel to sit the air lift in.

    Will the airlift just come out over the top of the container?

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    Last edited by Twhitenosugar; 07-10-2022 at 04:33 PM.
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Also, at the bottom of the air lift, will the. Bottom be suspended off the bottom of the container, or have you created a way to support the air lift without it touching the bottom (and blocking flow)?

    One simple solution I found was to cut the bottom of the pipe at a 45 degree angle. That way the air lift can rest on the bottom of the container, without blocking flow.

    Then to adjust the height trim the excess off the top of the air lift.

    Although I appreciate it's probably a bit late to do that if you have already drilled your holes out for the air to get in through.

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    Last edited by Twhitenosugar; 07-10-2022 at 04:28 PM.
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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Much appreciate your replies Tsns as this is very new to me.
    Agree I think I need some more reinforcement on the bottom but will have to think on that as it will be very heavy water in there.

    Exiting the chamber to the return, I plan to go through the side of the chamber through the pond wall to return,does it need to be top of 4ins return below water level?

    This maybe a problem getting through the chamber wall towards the pond.
    If a 90deg fits in the chamber?
    Waiting for goods to arrive.

    Can drill more holes for the air,am useing 1.5mm as 1mm wouldn't fit in my drill !!!

    Air lift off the bottom will be a birds thingy on order so ok there.

    Any more suggestions welcome,not sure on reinforcing the bottom as maybe more s/s across.
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Maybe a couple more bars running parallel to the existing bar will be enough for the bottom of the container? If it's sat on a solid base that should help take the weight of the water.

    Will the ribbed walls of the container not make it hard to seal the outlet?

    I used radial tank connectors to make the inlets and outlets, I'm not sure they'd work in your set up as your container is much narrower than the one I have. Hopefully you have a solution for that?

    Yep, the top of the 4" pond return needs to be near water level. It doesn't matter if it's a bit below, it should still work fine. From memory the top of my pond return is about 15 - 20cm below water level.

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    Last edited by Twhitenosugar; 07-10-2022 at 11:47 PM.
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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Thanks Twns, must admit I am a bit concerned about the bottom and had thought a few more s/s bars across would do it.
    Like you say as its sitting on the bottom of a hole it would get support there maybe if I concreted the bottom of the hole would help as well.

    Think maybe the ribbed walls of the pipe will make it hard to seal so maybe have to grind them a bit,dont really know yet.

    Was planning 2 x 4ins inlets and forgot about my UV, would 1 x 4ins and 1 x 2 ins be ok?
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Once you get your extra s/s bars in, I'd definitely stand it up right and get a few litres in there to check that it's water tight before dropping it into the hole.

    I made a concrete base for mine. But the container for my air lift is a 720l water tank, so weighs 700kgs+ when full, so i really needed one.

    I'd suggest making a concrete base if you can. But if the hole is full of water that won't drain away, it may be impossible to do.

    I don't get the 4" and 2" outlet? You'll only need the 4" outlet/pond return for the air lift. Having 2 X 4" inlets to the container (from your filters) is a good shout, as it'll mean the flow in the air lift is not restricted by pipework.

    If you need to incorporate a UV, ideally dropping an immersible amalgam UV in the container (ideally on the side where the inlets are) would work well.

    John, if the whole container thing doesn't pan out. Don't worry. As a plan B, you could just make a big u bend out of 110mm solvent weld waste pipe, drop that in the hole and drop an air line down the u bend side closest to the pond.

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Ukzero made some tank connectors for his set up by warming in the oven to perfectly match the curve of the large pipe chamber he talked me though it step by step when I pm Ed him mate give him a shout John. .

    But as twns says the u bend as a back up plan am on putting bits together now for pretty much that my self

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    It's the stop end which is a pain in the ar##.
    Had all the bars in and put a little water in and it leaked.
    Stripped it all down and just resealed it so wait till tomorrow to test it.

    Was thinking would a drain bung hold with some rebar underneath it?.
    Dont know if the rubber would perish eventually but they seem very strong as I have some 110mm ones,but I would need 225mm.

    Hole all dug now and concrete in the bottom,there was some water in the bottom so I poured in a dry mix but looking ok.
    John

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    The U bend sounds a good plan,but dont think I will have the room.
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    I know you have already forked out for the container... but how about something like this john?

    https://www.directwatertanks.co.uk/v...res-water-butt

    The flat sides will make it much easier to attach tank connectors to.

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    To be honest Paddy on here got me the pipe which was great of him as he has access to building areas with his scaffolding business.
    The pipe is great really strong and I am sure it can be sorted.

    Dont think the tank connecters will be a problem ( famous last words )
    But we will see.
    John

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Been thinking about the U bend lift and seems easy enough to do and cant see why it wont work as basically the same principle.

    Could you still have an air collector box on the lift side and could the inlet be shorter and just going to a bend to bio?

    No need for tank connecters.
    John

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Attachment 40922

    So would this work?
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Hope so mate as that's what am doing . Apart from your air box am gunna do twns idea and put a t in there with one end blocked off to use a a pocket for the air stone

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Good idea that,as I allready have the air box stuff may as well use it.

    Redone the chamber and put a little water in and no leaks,so did all the rebar and more gunk on,leave it till tomorrow and fill it right up!!!

    The U bend really appeals to me now as no tank connecters to do and just fits together.
    If I go that way I will have to widen the hole a bit.
    John

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Wher you getting the bends etc from Johnathan?
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Hi John, the difference in height on the inlet and outlet won't affect anything, as long as they're both submerged.

    If anything, the inlet needs to be lower than the outlet as once the air lift is running, the water level on the inlet side (i.e. your filters) will be lower than the outlet side (i.e. your pond water level). On my set up, the inlets are about 30cm and 60cm below the inlet water level and the outlet is about 15cm below the pond water level.

    In terms of the air chamber, you can do it as you have drawn. It would work. Just bear in mind that you won't be able to easily access it (especially if you back fill around the u bend). So if the rubber boots on the air chamber ever split, you'll have a job to get them out.

    To overcome this, if the inlet and out let pipes are attached to your existing pipe work with straight rubber boots, that would mean the entire air lift/u bend could be lifted out if needed?

    I've attached the sketch i did for Jonathan.

    Excuse the poor artwork, but hopefully you get the idea.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Hope so mate as that's what am doing . Apart from your air box am gunna do twns idea and put a t in there with one end blocked off to use a a pocket for the air stone

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    How are you getting on with your airlift?

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    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

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