What are the best methods for oxygenation/aeration?

[matubula]

A couple of sad stories on here and a little of my own paranoia have prompted me to ask this question.

The main methods we can use are surface agitation, venturi's and air pumps. Is their one which is considered the best?

I also thought about an oxygen diffusor, like the CO2 diffusors for planted tanks. Instead of a CO2 canister, what about an air pump feeding one slow enough to allow single bubbles to take their time to diffuse.

 

[scatz]

all of the methods (air stones, venturi etc) all work on the same principle, the bubbles are there to agitate the surface, its through the surface that the water gets its O2, adding air into the water is a virtual impossibilty, unless using direct injection of liquid O2, so its all down to disturbing the surface, its not important how you achieve it

 

[Lornek8]

Surface agitation & current are the keys to water oxygenation. There is little oxygen actually diffused into the water via air bubbles from an air pump. The primary benefit of the air pump is to create a current within the tank, lifting oxygen depleted water to the surface where gaseous exchange can take place.

That's a very interesting question in regards to the diffusor. My initial thought is that it wouldn't work however upon thinking about it I couldn't come up with a reason why it shouldn't.

 

[macvsog23]

all of the methods (air stones, venturi etc) all work on the same principle, the bubbles are there to agitate the surface, its through the surface that the water gets its O2, adding air into the water is a virtual impossibilty, unless using direct injection of liquid O2, so its all down to disturbing the surface, its not important how you achieve it

:goodpost::goodpost::goodpost::goodpost::goodpost::goodpost:

 

[2wheelsx2]

The best method is a hang-on-back filter where the water cascades down into the tank. The surface agitation/turnover is the best with those. They can be noisy, but they are more effective than any other method that I know of.

 

[Lornek8]

Come to think of it, the best method would probably be a trickle filter.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Best method is definitely a "wet and dry" trickle filter. They also have huge biological filtration potential, again partially because of the large surface area for gas exchange. Both decomposition and nitrification are much larger consumers of oxygen (O2) than is often appreciated.

The decomposition reaction can be summarized as:
Oxidizable material + bacteria + nutrient + O2 → CO2 + H2O + oxidized inorganic such as nitrate (NO3) or (Sulf(ph)ate) SO4.

and Nitrification
One of the most significant oxygen utilising processes is in “Nitrificationâ€, the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH3) to nitrite (NO2-) and then nitrate (NO3-).
NH3 + CO2 + 1.5 O2 → NO2- + CO2 + 0.5 O2 → NO3-

This is also the reason why you want the intake for your filter to pick up the aerated water, once inside the filter it will have a much longer "residence time", and the oxygen will dissolve into the water, allowing for direct aeration from the bubbles rather than them just increasing the surface area by turbulence.

cheers Darrel

 

[Oscar300]

:blink:


Cool thread, I always new it was to do with surface area but didnt understand it fully. Just thought the more air pumped in the better.

My tank is set up (like most others) as 2 filters 'blowing' in a circle round the tank (top to bottom). Used to have no problems running the tank with no agitation at all, with big fish in there as well. Now days I know im overstocked as a slight drop in O2 leads to fanning of my royals. So for safety of my beloved plecs im moving on my big dats:cry:better safe than sorry I supose:yes:.


Also side note, I hate the look of air stones and the associated pipe work, must look into that......