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The Matala Rocking Piston Air Pump: A Reliable Solution for Aeration

Summary

The Matala Rocking Piston Air Pump is a reliable solution for aerating small to medium dams. It supports oxygenation, destratification, and beneficial bacteria growth, improving water clarity and reducing algae, sludge, and odours. Low-power, flexible, and durable, it suits remote setups and offers steady, efficient aeration with minimal maintenance.

The Matala Rocking Piston Air Pump: A Reliable Solution for Aeration

Aeration is the number one solution for keeping your dams, ponds, lakes, and other water bodies happy and healthy. It pays to get it right, and a big part of that is choosing the right aerator for your unique site, setup, and needs.

One of our go-to systems for small to medium-sized dams is the Matala Rocking Piston Air Pump

Why Aeration Matters

It doesn’t matter what your dam is for — irrigation, livestock, swimming, or keeping your property looking great — it needs aeration. Aeration circulates oxygen throughout the water, preventing stagnation and helping break down organic matter. Without proper aeration, you’ll see nasty problems like algal blooms, odours, and poor water quality.

That’s because the water becomes poorly oxygenated, which allows anaerobic bacteria to thrive. Anaerobic bacteria are great news for problems like algae and weeds, because they produce the exact nutrients they need to thrive. When you use a quality aerator, though, you keep the water oxygenated and support a process called destratification

Well-oxygenated water with good mixing encourages beneficial aerobic bacteria instead, which break down the nutrients algae and weeds need and help to prevent them from taking over your water. The end result is a clearer, healthier water ecosystem that looks great.

Meet the Matala Rocking Piston Air Pump

The Matala Rocking Piston Air Pump is great for smaller dams, from about a quarter of an acre to around four or five acres in size. There are three different models in this range, so you can size your system according to the size and depth of your dam.

They’re great for depths greater than a couple of metres; if you’re back at about a metre, you might want to use another type of air pump. But the Matala pumps are great for deeper dams — think anything from two metres down to about 10 or 12 metres. 

Designed for Remote Setups

Flexibility in remote installations is one of the standout features of the Matala system. The Matala is great when you need to aerate your dam but don’t have power there. 

The Matala comes in a weatherproof cabinet; if you don’t want to have one, you will still need to put it in your own weatherproof shed, pump shed, or similar space. 

The important thing is ensuring the system has enough airflow: the actual unit has vents on both sides and an exhaust fan that draws in cool air and expels hot air, so it keeps the compressor running efficiently.

Flexible, Low-Power, Durable

You can choose from several horsepower options to best suit your needs:

– ¼ horsepower with two outlets

– ½ horsepower with three outlets

– ¾ horsepower with four outlets

– 1 horsepower with up to six outlets

The Matala is a very versatile system — whether you’re running a single-disc air station or a quad-disc setup, you can easily match the configuration to your dam’s needs. 

It’s a very low-power system because you’re pumping air, not water. You don’t need as much power as you do with surface aerators or water pumps. That means lower running costs without compromising on performance. 

Matala is good quality gear; it’s made in Taiwan. If you look after it well, it will last for many years.

Noise Levels and Operation

Let’s get this out of the way: the Matala Rocking Piston Air Pump isn’t silent. You will hear it. But it’s not too bad… even if you wouldn’t put one underneath your bedroom window — and by the dam, it’s not that noisy. 

Once you’ve got it set up, the pump produces a steady stream of bubbles in the water. That’s your sign that the oxygen is being circulated effectively. After that, you just need to balance the airflow so that each diffuser is running uniformly. When you’re finished, that’s it — your aeration system is good to go.

The Results

You should notice improvements in water clarity and overall quality pretty quickly once the system’s up and running. Over time, aeration helps prevent sludge build-up, reduces odours, and keeps your dam in top condition. The best part is that once you’ve got everything balanced, the setup will quietly do its job in the background.

No fuss, no constant maintenance or adjustment – just steady, reliable aeration.

Need Help Choosing the Right Aeration System?

If you’re not sure which aeration system is the right choice for you, reach out to us — we’re happy to help. We can help assess your size, recommend the right pump size and setup, and suggest the best ways to help.

"Since WQS installed the aerator, we've not had a single algae problem. In our smaller ponds that are too small for aerators we used Biostim pellets on their own and have noticed a huge reduction in algae.”

Andy Hart

Horticultural Curator—Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Adelaide

“We had a nutrient-rich stormwater lake that was having continuous problems with algae. We were previously treating the nutrients with a liquid solution that would just end up getting flushed away with the outgoing water. Scott recommended we switch to Biostim pellets which were exactly what we needed.”

Giles Pickard

Environment Project Officer, City of Subiaco

“Visiting ducks and our pet geese were continuously fouling the dam. WQS recommended a number of systems to improve the water quality. We are very happy with our final choice, the windmill aeration system. This combined with the Biostim pellets and liquid are cleaning up the dirty dam. Everything WQS said would happen has happened!”

Greg Lewis

Canterbury, Victoria

“We had an urgent problem—our old irrigation system had blockages from weeds. Our dam was also riddled with black sludge. Scott recommended both aeration and biologicals and within six weeks the dam became so clear I could see to the bottom of it for the first time in years! I was chuffed that we could fix the issue without the use of chemicals.”

Michael Grant

Owner, Grant’s Citrus Farm
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