WEBPAGE UPDATED Tuesday June 22, 2022
A clear understanding is IMPORTANT! What is the difference between a real functional “livewell” and a non-functional “death-well?”
“A Livewell is a tank found on many fishing boats that is used to keep live bait and tournament fish alive.” – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livewell
Any “Livewell” that will not, cannot keep live bait or caught fish alive during live transports is effectively a “NON-FUNCTIONAl LIVEWEll.”
If the “livewell” or “bait tank” cannot, will not, does not insure minimal safe water quality nor insure minimal continuous safe dissolved oxygen saturation continuously hour after hour for all the captive live bait fish and caught tournament game being transported inside that “livewell”… that “bait tank or livewell” is clearly neither functional nor safe for any live fish or live bait transports regardless of the brand, how much it cost or how great the advertising claims be.
WARNING – CAUTION
SOME FISHING OXYGEN SYSTEMS REALLY DO FAIL TO SAFELY OXYGENATE LIVEWELLS AND BAIT TANKS – LIVE BAIT AND TOURNAMENT FISH DO SUFFOCATE IN LIVEWELLS AND BAIT TANKS WHEN OXYGEN LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS APPEAR TO BE WORKING PERFECTLY?
Aluminum oxygen regulator failure is a major cause of system failure when used in marine environments.
Before you buy and use any click-style aluminum oxygen regulator, learn about “Galvanic Corrosion” here: https://www.oxyedge-chum.com/why-some-oxygen-systems-fail/aluminum-fishing-oxygen-regulator-failure-galvanic-corrosion/
FACT: Be wary of all click-style aluminum oxygen regulators. Specifically be aware of all flow adjustable, click-style, dose calibrated aluminum oxygen regulators flow calibrated in liters (of oxygen) per minute (LPM) and fractions of liters per minute (0.03 – 1/8 LPM).
FACT: Aluminum oxygen regulators are commonly advertised and promoted as, “Designed for use in a marine environment.” Oxygen regulators with aluminum alloy bodies used in Marine, coastal bays, estuaries and many freshwater environments malfunction and fail because of the corrosive effects of “Galvanic Corrosion.”
The oxygen regulator of any oxygen life support system is a vital component a fishing O2 system for fish or EMT transport to a hospital for man. If the oxygen regulator malfunction or fails to deliver enough oxygen for any reason, the result is catastrophic, Absolutely DEADLY!
All fishing oxygen systems that will not or cannot deliver or maintain a minimal safe dose and concentration of dissolved oxygen for all the tournament fish or live bait in any livewell or bait tank will fail to keep tournament fish and live bait healthy or alive… especially in the summer. That is a predictable water quality problem.
When a fishing oxygen system, livewell water pumps and mechanical aeration systems fail to deliver safe dissolved oxygen saturations, fish and live bait will suffocation. That fact is well known by all summer live bait fishermen and C&R Tournament fishermen that overcrowd their livewells.
LIVEWELL STOCKING DENSITY IS ALWAYS LIMITED BY DO SATURATION AND STOCKING DENSITY: More live bait and live fish being transported require more dissolved oxygen (not more dissolved air, more mechanical aeration, bigger air pumps and bigger water pumps, more livewell water flow or more livewell chemicals) in live transport water.
When a fisherman overcrowds his livewell or bait tank by only 1 fish and choses not to provide more dissolved oxygen in his livewell water or cannot provide more dissolved oxygen… all the live bait or live fish begin to suffocate especially in the summer. Summer livewell/bait tanks suffocation is common and expensive. Livewell suffocation is always predictable and begins when you overcrowded your livewell/bait tank every summer.
Mechanical aeration systems and livewell pumps deliver 80% nitrogen and a little dab of oxygen, 20% O2. Aeration livewell equipment often fails to safely oxygenate livewell water every summer when livewells are overcrowded. Mechanical aerators and water pumps are not the issue here. The overcrowding experience is common every summer.
Fishing oxygen systems that deliver pure oxygen and fail to safely oxygenate livewells and bait tanks are “Death Wells.”
SUSTAINED MINIMAL SAFE LIVEWELL DO WATER QUALITY IS NECESSARY IF YOU WANT LIVE HEALTHY BAITFISH AND TOURNAMENT GAMEFISH.
SAFE OXYGENATION DURING ALL LIVE TRANSPORTS IS 100% DO SATURATION OR DO SUPERSATURATION FOR 1 LB. OF LIVE FISH/SHRIMP, 200 LBS. OR 1000 LBS.
This Webpage provides unique insight to why some fishing oxygen systems fail to oxygenate in the summer, when you really need and depend on an oxygen life support system to keep your bait supercharged and healthy several days and tournament fish alive and healthy all day to the afternoon weigh-in.
IF 1 TOURNAMEN FISH DIES IN YOUR LIVEWELL, YOU WILL LOSE THE MONEY AND THE PRIZE. WINNING THE MONEY OR THE PRIZE IS THE POINT OF THE ALL FISHING TOURNAMENTS! TITHERING ABOUT YOUR TOURNAMENT FISH DIEING AND THAT DEAD FISH PUNISHMENT CAN BE AVOIDED OR YOU CAN WAST VALUABLE TIME TITHERING ABOUT FISH SUFFACATING AS USUAL.
Fishing Oxygen Systems fail to oxygenate when they DO NOT and/or WILL NOT deliver nor maintain the minimal safe dose of pure 100% oxygen continuously into your livewell water. Whether your livewell is stocked correctly, seriously overstocked or your livewell water temperature is 65 F – 85 F – 90 F makes no difference provided the fisherman can adjust and deliver the “correct dose of oxygen.” The correct dose of oxygen must be delivered continuously and variable depending on the stocking density. The minimal safe dose of oxygen is always relative to the total stocking density, not the livewell water volume, livewell water pump volume or shape of the livewell or bait tank.
The livewell oxygen “life support” equipment the fisherman choses must have the capability for dose adjustment as the livewell/bait tank stocking density increases and decreases.
Safe, continuous livewell DO is100% -150% DO Saturation when the livewell is stocked heavy with live bait (2.5 lbs. live bait per gallon of livewell/bait tank water) or heavy limit of tournament game fish (3.0 lbs of tournament game fish per gallon of livewell water) in the summer. Most fishermen using livewell aerators, ice and chemicals have had very bad experiences with unsafe (hypoxic) livewell DO’s in summer livewells. That should be expected and no surprise.
FACT: Any pure oxygen system that delivers a low dose or insufficient fixed dose of pure 100% oxygen that is not safe nor sufficient to continuously oxygenate all the captive fish or live bait being transported in livewells and bait tanks safely is no better than standard mechanical aerators and water pumps that also fail to safely oxygenate livewell water every summer… the result of low unsafe dissolved oxygen is always the same – dead bait, sick bait and sickly or dead tournament fish at weigh-in.
FACT: YOU WILL LOSE THE MONEY WEIGHING-IN A DEAD FISH AT ANY CATCH AND RELEASE FISHING TOURNAMENT.
Any life support oxygen system that is not absolutely dependable and fails to provide minimal safe oxygenation continuously always leads to livewell hypoxia, suffocation, morbidity, disease and death for captive live bait and tournament gamefish in overstocked livewells every summer.
WHAT ARE THE BEST FISHING OXYGEN SYSTEMS – THE CHARCTERISCS
ALSO (Aquatic Live Support Oxygen Systems) like human life support oxygenation systems must be absolutely reliable and dependable, fail-safe, simple and easy to regulate oxygen doses /operate continuously, easy to clean, the correct dose of oxygen must be adjustable and a wide range of doses available.
The right dose, the safe dose of oxygen is always determined by the total weight of the biomass of fish or live bait in the livewell/bait tank. The right dose of oxygen has nothing to do with the livewell/bait tank water volume or size of the livewell water pump contrary to popular myth and misguided beliefs.
Pneumatic operated fishing oxygen life support transport systems are more reliable, durable and dependable than electrically operated oxygen generator type systems.
ALSO must deliver a continuous steady supply of oxygen with variable dose capability of highly concentrated oxygen for long periods of time sufficient to meet and exceed total biological demand (includes fish, live bait and bacteria in livewell water)
ALSO must maintain/guarantee continuous 100% DO Saturation for overstocked livewells, 80F – 90F water temperature (general hostile summer livewell conditions).
ALSO must have all system components and parts that are and have been “CLEANED and CERTIFIED FOR PURE 100% OXYGEN SERVICE”
ALSO must be reliable and have minimal “down time”
ALSO repairs must be simple and easy, made in the field by the fisherman
ALSO must have low operation and repair expenses, operation must be cost effective.
ALSO must be light weight and durable, absolutely dependable, operate for long periods of time without service, simple and easy to operate
ALSO dose of oxygen delivered must be simple and easy to adjust; the correct dose must insure continuous minimal safe oxygenation for the total biomass of fish or bait being transported for long periods of time (hours/days/weeks). Minimal safe oxygen during live transport is 100% DO Saturation regardless of the stocking density; 1 lb. or 500 lbs. fish/live bait.
ALSO must have explicit written operating instructions and oxygen safety instructions that is easy to understand
ALSO compressed oxygen cylinders must be well secured on fishing vessels compliant to USCG Standards and Regulations, same as SCUBA air tanks
ALSO compressed oxygen cylinders must comply with all USGG regulations when used on boats; same as SCUBA air tanks
ALSO must have minimal moving parts
ALSO must reliable and dependable in all fishing conditions (marine and freshwater), oceans, bays, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and rivers and in all seasons, especially in the summer
ALSO must be engineered and made for saltwater marine fishing environments, internally and externally
ALSO must use “commercial oxygen regulators”, not aluminum “medical oxygen regulators” – failure caused by Galvanic corrosion.
ALSO must highly resistant to damage caused by Galvanic corrosion, metal pitting, made with minimal metal alloys
ALSO must be dose adjustable to satisfy a wide range of stocking densities
ALSO must be capable of delivering large volumes of pure oxygen for long periods of time for heavy/overstocked livewell with high fish density during transport
The best and most reliable are pneumatic, mechanical, operate with pure high pressure compressed oxygen, they do not use batteries, electricity, switches, wires, pumps nor limited by air or low fixed doses of oxygen.
ALSO source oxygen is usually 100% Compressed Welding Oxygen or LOX. USP Medical Oxygen for Human Use will work fine for transporting live large game fish, bait fish and bait shrimp. USP Oxygen does require a physician’s written prescription to purchase and is substantially more expensive.
WHAT IS NOT THE BEST FISHING OXYGEN SYSTEMS – THE CHARCTERISCS
REASONS WHY MANY OXYGEN LIFE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT FAILS TO OXYGENATE
Fisherman’s failure to understand the ALSOS limitations, unrealistic expectations of equipment, disappointments, dead bait and dead fish.
Electrically operated life support oxygen systems (ALSOS) are less reliable and less dependable than pneumatic operated systems for live transports.
Equipment totally dependent on batteries and electricity
Equipment that delivers a preset, fixed dose of pure oxygen controlled solely by water temperature and/or livewell water volume.
Cannot manually adjust the correct dose of pure oxygen delivered because the system does not have variable dose capability. The dose of oxygen is restricted by a fixed orifice regulating device; these oxygen systems often not enough oxygen for all the fish in the livewell or deliver too much oxygen resulting in gas waste and increased operational costs.
If the dose of oxygen is pre-set, fixed, and cannot be changed or adjusted to meet the changing biological demand of the stocking density for all the fish or live bait in the livewell, suffocation is often imminent and cannot be prevented.
Cannot depend on the system to deliver a continuous, steady supply of pure oxygen for long periods of time sufficient to meet and exceed the biological oxygen demand.
Cannot or may not deliver enough oxygen to insure continuous 100% DO Saturation in overstocked livewell, 80 – 90-degree water temperature (general summer livewell conditions).
Is not absolutely reliable, fail-safe, simple and easy to regulate and adjust the correct dose of oxygen based on the total biomass (stocking density) of fish or live bait in the livewell/bait tank.
Operation and repair expenses is not cost effective resulting in equipment being disposable upon failure.
Equipment repairs are not simple or easy in the field, system malfunctions that cannot be diagnosed nor repaired in the field by the fisherman, customer support is not available from the vender or manufacturer by a phone call.
Equipment must be returned to the dealer or manufacture for any/all repairs.
Beware of all equipment that is not durable, not absolutely dependable, will not operate for long periods of time without service (weeks/months/years), is not simple and easy to operate, cannot be repair in the field and must be clean often.
Equipment that does not have complete written operating instructions and oxygen (gas) safety instructions or instructions that are difficult to understand, vague or incomplete.
Customer support must be only a phone call away, tech support must be available to answer any and all your questions regarding the equipment, livewell water quality and fish transport care.
Oxygen equipment that is used on vessels that is not compliant with USCG Regulations and Oxygen Safety Standards
Equipment that is electrically operated, requires batteries or A/C current, has many moving parts, electrical switches, electrical motors, compressors, sieve beds, vanes, fuses, valves, and requires servicing and cleaning often.
Electric motors (livewell water pumps) that are not certified for use in an oxygen-rich environment >24% oxygen is a fire hazard.
Equipment that is not reliable in all fishing conditions, every summer (marine and freshwater), oceans, bays, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and rivers.
Oxygen regulators made with metal alloy that are not resistant to Galvanic corrosion and metal pitting damage.
BUYER BE WARY
Take a moment and learn the Good, the Bad and the Ugly about fishing oxygen systems.
Compare and understands the different Brands and types of fishing oxygen systems, the limitations, pro’s and con’s, assets, and liabilities. Know and understand the differences between Fishing Oxygen Systems made with Medical Oxygen components vs. the real Commercial Fishing Oxygen Systems. Know which life support are dependable, reliable and always work great for overcrowded livewells in harsh, hot summer conditions. Know which O2 systems have serious technical limitations and O2 systems that may provide less oxygen that than mechanical aerators and bait pumps in harsh summer fishing conditions. Learn about safety, especially oxygen gas safety. Oxygen is not air.
FISHING OXYGEN SYSTEMS ARE NOT EQUIL
Be informed, chose wisely – visit:
“Oxymax fails to work correctly” http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/bassboard/other_topics/message.html?message_id=111743
“The Skeeter salesman was kind enough to test the oxygen level in both livewells with a thermometer confirming neither unit was putting out O2 and suggested that I buy 2 new ones from him for about $600 plus labor and he could make my problem go away. He tendered no reason why both oxymax oxygenators failed so quickly at the same time.”
Compare Fishing Oxygen Systems https://www.oxyedge-chum.com/compare-oxygen-systems/
Medical Oxygen Regulators https://www.oxyedge-chum.com/homemade-oxygen-systems/medical-oxygen-regulators/