Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is a major contributor to water quality. Not only do fish and other aquatic animals need it, but it is used by the oxygen breathing aerobic bacteria that decompose organic matter. When oxygen concentrations become low, anoxic conditions may develop which can decrease the ability of the water body to support life; fish and other aquatic life might end up dying. Therefore it is highly recommended to maintain adequate levels of Dissolved Oxygen in the water. Using aerators have become a highly recommended technology to increase the levels of the Dissolved Oxygen and I will agree that it is beneficial to some extend - when applied with restrictions. On the other hand it can abrupt the ecological balance in your dam that aquatic life and fish thrive in, especially if aerators are constantly running.
Benefits of aerators:
--> Creates movement in the water which allows the water to absorb more oxygen in the
atmosphere – thus increasing the Dissolved Oxygen levels in the water
--> An important mechanism for nitrogen fixation in the water is nitrification, which can be
quickly transformed by intense aeration and water movement.
--> Temperature & pH control
--> To create better water quality
Side effects of aerators:
Exposes the water to air pollution that is easily absorbed by the water and harmful to the aquatic life and fish, including:
Nitrogen Compounds
Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides
Mercury is easily dissolved in water and bacteria living in the water transform it into poisonous Methylmercury which are easily absorbed by fish and shellfish into their bodies. When humans or animals eat the contaminated fish or shellfish, it gets into their bodies and can result in Methylmercury poisoning that is very dangerous and can cause severe damage to the brain and nervous system.
2. Constant movement in the water interferes with the action of biological waste eating
microbes that usually live in the under layer of the pond, often resulting in a build up of
toxic sludge in the under layer.
3. Research done in Brazil* proved that aerators promote an alteration of limnological
characteristics, increasing environmental oxygenation but leading to more substantial
modifications in some of the biotic and a-biotic variables. After long periods of time
these could be capable of causing damage to the environment if aerators are not
monitored adequately. This can damage the Phytoplanktonic community promoting
growth of Cyanobacteria that have species which present metabolites inhibitory that
can be fatal to fish.
Controlled periods of aeration:
It is difficult to make recommendations on the amount of aeration needed for a dam. According Matos (1996) in tropical areas the ideal time for aeration should begin at 03:00 to 06:00 hr in the spring and 00:00 to 06:00 hr in the summer.
So basically in short, aerators can be good for the water and in turn bad for the fish by possibly increasing Mercury absorption in the water and bad for the environment by increasing the Phytoplanktonic community that is promoting growth of Cyanobacteria which can be fatal to fish. It also does not increase the natural taste of the fish or biologically break down the harmful sludge layer and maintains no environmental balance. Seemingly the constant use of aerators can be compared to fixing one thing with another harmful toxic time bomb that can have a long term deadly impact on the environment, aquatic life, fish and in turn the animals and humans that consume it.
Benefits of Oxy Aquatic
You can use the Oxy Aquatic on it’s own or together with controlled usage of aerators (if you have one) if you do not have an aerator Oxy Aquatic will still be to your benefit:
--> No Side effects
--> Bioremediation product made from non toxic plant materials and extracts that are
environmental friendly - organic
--> Protects the environmental balance
--> Increases the levels of Dissolved Oxygen by introducing more oxygenic photosynthetic
microbes that are beneficial for dissolved oxygen release in water
--> Biologically breaks down waste in the water
--> Reduces sludge
--> Neutralises harmful pathogens and bacteria that can be harmful to the fish
--> Nitrogen fixation in the water is nitrification, which can be quickly transformed by applying
Oxy Aquatic even without the need of rapid aeration and water movement (radically
reduces ammonia etc)
--> Increases natural growth and appetite of the fish
--> Maximises stocking capacity in your dam
--> Increases the health and natural taste of the produce
--> Reduces the risk of Mercury being absorbed by the water through frequent
aeration
--> Controls and balances algae to be contained and not cause Eutrophicaiton that can kill the
fish or aquatic life.
Use Oxy Aquatic with or without aerators
If you have an aerator and you use Oxy Aquatic, program it for the times as specified above.
(this will also reduce your electricity bill :) )
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbbio/v59n1/v59n1a05.pdf
https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/water_watersheds.html