[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]A Lesson in Air Bubbles
[/FONT][FONT=ARIAL,]by
Bob Heideman
of
Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc.[/FONT]
The smaller the air bubble, the more slowly it will rise, giving it more time to dissolve in the water.
Due to the higher density of salt water, air bubbles are usually smaller in salt water than in fresh water.
A large 20mm bubble has a volume of 4.19 cm3, and a surface area of 12.6 cm2.
You could make 260 small 3mm bubbles from the large bubble. They would
have a total surface area of 83.6 cm2. This is 6.6 times the surface of the 20mm bubble.
The small bubbles, can theoretically aerate 6.6 times as much water with the same amount of air.
Knowing the importance of air bubble size, the effectiveness of different aerator systems becomes readily apparent!
AIR STONE AERATORS
Air stone aerators are an inexpensive way to keep bait alive in small containers. They are quiet and gentle, but because their bubbles are typically larger, they need a greater amount of bubbles for a large amount of bait.
Air stone aerators do provide gentle aeration, but they sustain less bait per unit of air than aerators that produce smaller bubbles.
VENTURI AERATORS
This is the much copied, old aeration technology. They can be purchased as a floating aerator or a bottom aerator with suction cups.
The fast-moving water at the output of the pump creates a vacuum, which suck air into the pump output. This system typically provides larger amounts of smaller air bubbles than previously discussed aerators.
Some models damage bait due to the high speed of water from the pump output.
seems like you could put something in front of the outlet to slow the water down after it left the pump so it wouldnt damage the roots, and still get tons-o-bubbles
