Air lift pumps in Aquaponics

[Glenn Martinez]

I have been working with air lifts in Aquaponics and wondering if anyone else is trying them. 

We first tried the air lifts to deal with a problem of theft at school locations. Submersible pumps were being stolen regularly. So we put the air pump in the class room, a super quiet model, and ran the air line out the upper window to the fish tank. We had to invent our own pump because we could not find a commercial model.

If anyone is interested I will email them our manual for building several models.

Some of the advantages are....much less electricity. 

The piping does not clog, like the filters on submersible pumps or external leaf filters.

The air lift picks up the fish solids and pumps them to the cinder bed were the Indian Blue worms eat the fish waste.

There is NO electricity in the water.

Since the air pump is located inside the building or a dry location, no GFI outlet is required.

The air pump super aerates the fish water on its way to the cinder. Most of our systems have no additional air pumps or air stones. 

We have never cleaned or had to clear a air lift pump. No clogs. 

The air lift is not bothered by sand or corrosive salt water or gritty water. Since we use volcanic cinder that gets sanded, this is a big deal.

We are pumping 150 gallons of water with 24 watt air pump, 24 inches high.

with a 38 watt, I can pump 300 gallons per hour at 24 inches head, and at 36 inches head only drop down to 200 gallons per hour. 

I will post some pictures ASAP.

Aloha,

Glenn Martinez

[Chris Carr]

A great design for aeration and circulation but I assume this doesn't lift more than a couple inches correct?

[Terri Mikkola]

@Glen, I loved your air lift display at the conference and the video of the pump in action. I was amazed with the lift.

Earlier this year I built this high output air lift pump (3000 gph / 20 lpm of air) for a commercial AP system based on the design shown in the video . Unfortunately, the company decided not to use it. It needs to have a sump between 5.5 and 6 ft deep to run efficiently.  I don't have access to a sump or tank that deep to test the output.

@ all - Contact me if you would like a copy of the specs or if you're interested in purchasing it.

Air lift pomp from aquatechnobel.be on Vimeo.

[Albertus W]

thank you very much. cool design

[Steve Olson]

Manual sent to Albertus W on 25Sep2012

[Albertus W]

I tried to go to http://aquaponicscommunity.com/page/glenn-martinez-aquaponics-manual but always redirect back to http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/. i can't find the manual for burp air lift. please email me the design at [e-mail] . Thank you so much.

[Chris Carr]

Very cool. I guess it is mostly regulated by the strength of the pump, the plumbing size, and the volume of water in the overhead bucket. 

Glenn Martinez wrote:

------------------------------------

... since water depth creates pressure at 1/2 pounds per foot of depth, it is approaching the limit of what the pump can pump UP...so it finds the "back door" that is the off shoot pipe, I go from inch T fitting to a 3/4 reducer to a 1/2 inch pipe.....thus as the air goes out it accelerates, much like putting your thumb over the end of the garden hose, it shoots further.....anyhow, the air takes the easy path....now remember the 3 gallons of water in the bucket, with no air going up the pipe, it collapses and falls down....

[Glenn Martinez]

When you are ready I will send you the "graduate" design manual for the latest pumps....

Build one or two of these, no need to glue pipes....

[Glenn Martinez]

I would like to invite everyone to go to http://videolearning.uhatoll.com/

It is the Univeristy web site for the ATOLL program....Aquaculture on line learning...

Take the free intro class and then sign up for the whole 90 video classes...cheap at $100 

If $100 is a problem, ask for a scholarship.....they are generous folks.

Aquaponics is the lead course...taught by me! The only non PhD on the program.

I promise you will like it. Nothing on the internet like it and nothing anywhere for $100!!!

Aloha,

Glenn

[Glenn Martinez]

As the pump, a little 24 watt pump that pushes 25 liters per minute it fills the bucket, at about 2/3 full there is about 3 gallons of water, since water depth creates pressure at 1/2 pounds per foot of depth, it is approaching the limit of what the pump can pump UP...so it finds the "back door" that is the off shoot pipe, I go from inch T fitting to a 3/4 reducer to a 1/2 inch pipe.....thus as the air goes out it accelerates, much like putting your thumb over the end of the garden hose, it shoots further.....anyhow, the air takes the easy path....now remember the 3 gallons of water in the bucket, with no air going up the pipe, it collapses and falls down....remember that water weighs about 8 pounds per gallons, so 24 pounds of pressure starts going down and follows the air that is going out the "back door" relief pipe. Set it up and amaze your friends.

[Chris Carr]

Question about the second last page titled "Tea Maker - Compost or Worm Tea" you note that "air flow will burp water until level E is reached, then back-flushes empty then automatically starts filling again."  Why exactly is this? I am not sure why E "triggers" this action to occur. Thanks!