Esotec 101870 Solar Air-S pond aerator

I've got this little solar air pump bubbling some additional oxygen into my pond to supplement the oxygenating plants which didn't appear to be doing much.On a bright sunny summer day this little contraption whirrs away furiously pumping plenty of air into the pond and leaves most of the pond surface covered in bubbles just as much as a small mains-powered air pump could.Even on an overcast British summer day it still manages to pump a steady amount of air into the pond.And best of all - even in the middle of winter when the solar panel received no direct sunshine whatsoever it still managed to put a small single trickle of air bubbles into the pond for a few hours each day.Only on the dullest, most miserable of days does it stop pumping completely.

I recommend this product, especially for the money. Best suited to small ponds (mine is 6 x 5 feet, and the effect - bubbles and water current - only extends to one quarter of it).Assembly and installation is easy-peasy and - providing the solar panel gets full sunshine - it produces a good air stream. There is plenty of lead cable (between the solar panel and the pump) and equally more air tube than you are likely to need (if, not, you could buy a longer air line separately).The pump needs to sit on clear level ground - e.g. on paving, rather than earth - since the air intake is on its underside.It does not work well in sub-sunshine conditions and it is with noting that there is no energy storage in this - it simply uses available light to power the pump. If you put you hand in front of the solar pane - creating shade - the pump stops; as literal as that! But this is not a criticism - it works fine.

Just received the air pump, solar panel.is in full sun but the pump is not working. Very disappointed.

A month after getting this aerator, our goldfish spawned. We had about 10 of these little black fish in the pond one day, baby goldfish! Was it the aerator that made the goldfish frisky? They are a lot happier, now the water is clearer and nicer looking. This is a decent aerator and solar panel. It seems pretty efficient (and has a surprisingly small solar panel) and comes on even on cloudy days. It isn't the most powerful aerator, and has only one air stone, but it is quiet. Some other makes have two air stones and greater air flow, but we are quite happy with this one, and the fish are too. Evidently.

I thought from other reviews the pump would be quiet. It really isn’t. We have this in a barrel pond about 12 metres from the house and after three days I’ve had enough and am going to replace with something else. It isn’t even effective most of the time. Either it’s going like the clappers and producing a bubble bath like foam over the whole pond or doing nothing at all. Anything short of direct strong sunlight at the correct angle and it stops dead. And this in July in southern England! It works a lot less well than our floating solar fountain which has a smaller surface area of solar panel and cost half as much. Don’t waste your money.

Stops whenever the sun goes behind a cloud and starts when it comes out again - rather disappointing performance considering it's mid-June so the sun is at it's strongest.

Second one I have bought for parents pond. Produces lots of bubbles even in low light conditions and the fish seem to love it too.

Arrived a day late. It is working very well even on a cloudy day it is still working. I would recommend it. Hope it continues.