Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The only reason we use the AC/DC air pumps is for oxygen when the power goes out, not really needed during normal flood and drain pumping cycles.

while we're talking about aeration is there any good/easy way to measure DO levels in the tank?

Yep... a good quality DO meter... only set you back about $500+

bugger me their expensive. could be good insurance though i guess...

Perhaps we should start hiring ours out... Don't tend to use it much because it's a hassle, you have to calibrate it every time.

I have 2 aco-001 air pumps, used to have one aco-003 that worked well.

I dont pump air to the bottom of my 1000L tank, they sit about 30-40cm down.

Thanks, this was my initial understanding, due to the water being pumped through to the GB and the draining out back into the fish tank, the return water is oxygenated enough, exactly the same as having a sump style filter system on an auqarium (which i am very familiar with) where there is no real need for additional airation.

However, when i asked the question most of the replies i have got is that you still need it especially for trout and more airation cannot hurt.

"More aeration can't hurt" is perhaps an over used quote IMO. In some cases it may not be true. If you have masses of air going into your fish tank, and can't see your fish clearly, this can be a disadvantage, as observation of your fish both physically and and also their behaviour is an essential component of monitoring your fish health. Also some types of systems are designed to have solids directed to a certain area for removal from the fish tank. If your aggressive oxygenation is keeping the solids suspended, then they aren't perhaps being removed as efficiently as they could.. Depending on the design of your system..

Then also there's the aspect of power usage, there's just no sense in pumping 10 times as much air as you need, it's wasting power. There's only so much dissolved oxygen you can get into your water, by pumping bubbles through it before it becomes fully saturated (don't know if that's the right term), just adding more air pumping capacity can be a total waste of time and money as well as adding negative aspects...

I wasn't saying that you don't (or for that matter do) need an air pump. I don't see the need to place the air stones so deep as the water should be getting constantly circulated and if your pump takes water from the bottom of your tank and the growbeds return the water to the top your water should be oxygenated everywhere.

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cheers