Airmax Pond Aerators
Airmax pond aerators ship as complete systems. The compressor, weighted airline, and diffusers arrive matched and sized to work together. Pond Haven carries all four Airmax lines: PondSeries for water deeper than 6 feet, the Shallow Water Series for 6 feet or less, SolarSeries for ponds with no shore power, and the EcoSeries aerating fountain. Depth picks the series. Acreage picks the model within it.
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AIRMAX AERATION SYSTEMS
Choose Airmax by depth, acreage, and power source
Frequently Asked Questions
What size Airmax aerator do I need for my pond?
The Airmax PS10 covers ponds up to 1 acre, the PS20 up to 2 acres, and the PS40 up to 4 acres, with depth deciding which series you size within. Ponds deeper than 6 feet use the bottom-diffused PondSeries; ponds 6 feet or less use the Shallow Water Series, where the SW20 covers up to 1/4 acre and the SW40 up to 1/2 acre. Irregular shape, coves, and a heavy fish load all increase the diffuser count, so match acreage, depth, and layout to the model specs before ordering.
Should I choose an electric or solar Airmax aeration system?
Choose an electric Airmax system if your pond has shore power within reach, and a solar system if it doesn't. Electric diffused systems cost less to buy and run and deliver the most air per dollar, but they need a wired outlet and a cord run to reach it. Solar pond aerators skip the power bill and trenching, but come with a higher upfront cost. One caution for stocked ponds: the direct-drive SolarSeries runs only when the sun is on the panel, so for fish, choose the battery-backed version, which runs overnight, or an electric system.
Are Airmax pond aerators worth the price compared to cheaper compressors?
Airmax pond aerators are worth the price on a pond you will run for years, because the kit arrives as a matched system. The compressor, weighted airline, diffusers, and protective cabinet are sized and warrantied to work together, and the rocking-piston SilentAir compressors are rebuildable rather than disposable. A cheaper compressor can move air, but you source the airline, diffusers, and housing separately and match them yourself. A quarter-acre pond can do fine on a basic compressor. A half-acre-plus pond you plan to run for years is where the complete system pays off.
How much does it cost to run an Airmax aeration system?
An Airmax aeration system's running cost depends on the compressor's horsepower and your local electricity rate. To estimate yours, take the compressor's wattage and multiply it by the hours you run against your utility's per-kilowatt-hour rate. The diffused systems all use fractional-horsepower rocking-piston compressors, so continuous operation is standard, and the cost stays low relative to the equipment. A solar system has no running cost once installed.
How long do these systems last?
An Airmax system lasts as long as you keep the compressor serviced, since the compressor is the only part that wears out. The warranty tiers show a split: 3 years on the compressor, 5 years on the diffusers, and 10 years on the cabinet, with a 5-year airline warranty on the Shallow Water Series. The rocking-piston compressor is rebuildable with a replacement kit rather than being replaced as a whole unit, and diffuser membranes and the airline are stocked as parts.
Are Airmax pond aerators quiet enough to run near the house?
Airmax diffused systems are quiet enough to sit near a house, but they are not silent. The compressor runs in a vented cabinet on shore and makes a low hum, while the diffusers underwater make no sound. Most owners set the cabinet a short distance from patios and windows, which keeps the hum in the background. A surface fountain like the EcoSeries adds the steady sound of falling water, which some owners want near seating and some place farther away.
Does it come with everything needed for installation?
An Airmax aeration system ships with everything needed to run it except the electrical hookup. The compressor, protective cabinet, weighted airline, and diffusers all arrive sized to match. Electric systems need a grounded outlet, usually on a GFCI circuit, within reach of the cabinet, and you supply the cord run and any wiring to it. Check whether your model is 115V or 230V, and how far the cabinet will be from a power source before you order, since the airline length and outlet spacing determine where the cabinet can go.
Can I run an Airmax aerator through winter to keep a hole in the ice?
Yes, a bottom-diffused Airmax system can keep a hole open in winter ice, which vents gases and holds oxygen in the water, allowing fish to survive under the ice. Set it up differently than in summer: move the diffuser to a shallow shelf or raise it off the deepest point, and run less air. That keeps an open hole without pulling warmer bottom water up into the cold and chilling the whole pond. A surface fountain like the EcoSeries should be installed before the first hard freeze, since ice can lock around the pump and damage it.
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