Warning About Septic Tank Aerators

Hi. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge - it's helped us get our tank back up and running quickly. (Our city experienced a major flood that has every single reputable contractor and plumber booked, still, 5 months later.) I appreciate you.

Very good instructional; thanks! I've always promoted aerating the tank as one of the most important things to do. Not only does it sweeten the tank contents [stays mostly Aerobic, instead of Anaerobic], but because the biota in the tank are encouraged to stay Aerobic, they cannot migrate through ground and ground water, in case of a system leak. There's far less sewer-gas [H2S] formed, from Aerobic bacteria, too. Preventing migration of anaerobes through ground/ground water, is critically important wherever there's loads of septic systems used, in areas with shallow ground water, or near environmentally sensitive areas. Even Low-tech, gravity septic systems, can achieve this, if there's bubblers in the tank.

Thanks for sharing that information. I didn’t realise I could make a replacement aerator, so I may consider that, even thought my tank is now empty, I’ll test the airline with my compressor first. 👍🏾👍🏾

@Bracy thanks. This is the clearest most concise post I've come across regarding the basics of this function. I've replaced three air pumps in 13 years. The tank dealer said my installer ran the air line way too far from the tank and is causing the pump to run hot. I clearly understand how to do this job correctly. Lord bless

Nice ! I like it, I, am having problems right now and This help a LOT !

Thanks! You have just save a friend lots of money!!!

Very smart. Thank you for the video

An Aeration Treatment Unit (ATU) does not belong in the 1st Compartment or 1st Chamber of the Primary Septic Tank. If you install the ATU in the 2nd Compartment or 2nd Chamber, it won't prevent proper settling or separation of the solids from the liquid. You only want to Oxygenate the Effluent, not agitate the wastewater, which stirs everything up. Otherwise, add a Secondary Tank specifically for the Aeration Equipment, with an Effluent Filter in the Outlet Baffle, and the water will be basically clean when it enters the Leaching Field.

Really helpful. Thanks.

Great idea. At least now the new areators have drop down tubing like in a fish tank. I just got one because shaft areator and keeps burning out due to high water etc...heavy rains kill it. Got a simple unit that fits in the lid and has its own pressure alarm. I have the old 4 tank Norweco Singulair with the big bio Filter. Be nice not to spend 475 every year or 2 for a new one.

Thanks Mr Bracy. I need two aerators for two septic tanks that I had pumped.

Another solution is to have a "trash tank" before the tank where the aerator is, in other words your aereator should not be in the first chamber in the first place.

Why don’t you use the kind of aero-stream uses, a flexible plastic tube with a long aeration stone?

Tank should be made with two tanks, black water tank( toilet only) and gray water tank (sink and shower) the black water should drain into the gray water and never return. the gray water to the drain field. My septic tank held for 40 years plus without maintenance.

This is a great video, can you please tell me how to buy this from your site? Or can you send me blueprint instructions to build my own. Thank you

Nice one👍

I built my own aerator system. I used the blue diamond et60a so I would know when it went bad and to rebuild it. My purpose was to reduce tank clean out and to remove the septic laterals bio growth around them. I know its working cause when I remove the unsealed lid 6" above ground level. The smell is "sweet" no odors. My system flows good. But be reasonable. #1. A sink garbage disposal cannot be used, dang throw your garbage in the trash. #2. You cannot run your laundry into the tank when you BLEACH white cloths.....the bleach will destroy any bacteria whether anaerobic/aerobic...will cause NO DIGESTION of waste....rapid tank fill up---overflow to second chamber---outflow to leach field---SYSTEM COLLAPSE..!. You should not use caustics like toilet stool cleaning tabs-scrubs-etc or you will destroy your DIGESTIVE BACTERIA in your tank. I have a special septic (2 plastic 55gal. drums end to end hooked up for the laundry. I did this system for my parents, sister and myself X 3.

My system is SEALED, there is no aeration pump or access to the atmosphere. What do I d?

actually you're wrong.you need diffusers micro bubbles and.use.systems where the air line is serviceable don't offer this junk to customers. tceq ossf2 site eval maintenance provider 9yrs

I'm a master plumber from Texas. 40 plus years. retired. I have to disagree with you regarding the clearing of the sludge build up not being able to be cleared by high pressure air. If you are speaking about some idiot that just never cared for 10 years or so and ignored his system then he deserves everything he gets, you are right in this isolated case. Every customer I have ever had was instructed in the adding of proper approved enzymes/bacteria every 4 months and every 6 months to give the system a shot of 50 psi air with a visual of the results inside the tank. Takes an hour every 4 months and a 30 minutes every 6 months. Seems that if a person actually does take a part in his system it can be kept clear. I like your solution it will help many. But if people simply took care of the septic system it would last a lifetime. I have seen a pvc pipe 'rack' put in a system, new of course, that looked like a framework of half inch pipe, 3/16 inch holes every 6 inches and it fit the inside perimeter of the first tank with cross members, 4 of them. It stood 6 inches off the bottom of the tank floor. and the holes were on the bottom of the pipe not the top. when this guy turned it on it looked like a hot tub bubbling. Back in 1978 he installed it. way before the time that anyone thought of this. Knew him for 25 years and it was still working when I last talked to him. Lots of good info but there are so many ways to put air into a tank. Another person I knew took a flexible piece of pex pipe from a roll and with three coil/winds of the piping slipped down the opening he aerated his septic system in 1 hour.