How long is the best time to run an aerator a day? Expert advice is coming

How long is the best time to run an aerator a day? Expert advice is coming

In the aquaculture industry, the aerator is the key equipment to ensure sufficient dissolved oxygen in the water body, but many farmers are confused about the use time of the aerator: it wastes electricity if it is turned on for too long, and it is afraid of hypoxia if it is turned on too short. This article is in the form of FAQ, combined with expert advice, to provide you with a detailed answer to the reasonable use time of the aerator.

1. How long is the best time to open the aerator a day?

There is no fixed standard for the opening time of the aerator, and it needs to be flexibly adjusted according to factors such as breeding density, water temperature, weather, water quality, etc. Generally speaking, in the high temperature season in summer, it is recommended to turn on the aerator for 4-6 hours a day and divide it into 2-3 times, such as 12 noon to 2 pm and 2 am to 4 am. Spring and autumn can be appropriately shortened to 2-4 hours, and winter can be turned on for 1-2 hours a day.

But experts stress that the key is not "how long", but "when". The lowest point of dissolved oxygen usually occurs before sunrise and in the afternoon, so it is best to turn on the aerator at these times. If the farming density is high or the water quality is poor, it may be necessary to turn on the aerator all day or increase the night time.

2. Can the aerator be turned on continuously for 24 hours?

Theoretically possible, but generally not recommended. Long-term continuous operation not only consumes a lot of power, but also causes the temperature stratification of the water body to be broken, causing the low-temperature water at the bottom to rise, causing stress in farmed animals. At the same time, the aerator itself is also prone to overheating damage, shortening the service life.

In case of extreme weather (e.g. hot, before a rainstorm) or serious deterioration of water quality, it can be turned on 24 hours a day, but it is necessary to pay attention to the operation status and water temperature changes of the aerator, and adjust the start-up period appropriately to avoid excessive agitation when animals feed.

3. Do you need to turn on the aerator at night?

Evening is one of the time when the aerator must be turned on. Because phytoplankton stop photosynthesis at night and only breathe, it will consume a lot of oxygen, resulting in a sharp drop in dissolved oxygen, especially at 3-5 in the morning, which is easy to cause floating heads.

Therefore, it is recommended to turn on the aerator around 10:00 pm and continue to operate until the sun comes out the next morning (about 6-7:00) before turning it off. If the breeding density is high, it can be turned on in advance or run all night, but it should be adjusted according to the dissolved oxygen monitoring data.

4. How long does the aerator take to run on rainy days?

In rainy days, there is insufficient light, and the oxygen production capacity of phytoplankton decreases. At the same time, the air pressure is low and sultry, and the dissolved oxygen in the water body is easy to be insufficient. Therefore, the opening time of the aerator should be appropriately extended in rainy days. It is recommended to increase it by 2-3 hours compared with sunny days, or even turn it on all day.

Especially before a thunderstorm, the air humidity is high, and the dissolved oxygen in the water will accelerate the escape. Be sure to turn on the oxygen in advance. If the water temperature changes greatly after the rain, you should also pay attention to the stress response of sensitive varieties such as prawns. The aerator can assist in restoring the water quality.

5. How to determine whether the aerator needs to be turned on?

The most scientific method is to use a dissolved oxygen meter to monitor the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water body. Generally speaking, it is appropriate to keep the dissolved oxygen above 5mg/L, and if it is lower than 3mg/L, it needs to be turned on immediately. If there is no instrument, you can observe the activities of farmed animals: if fish and shrimp gather on the surface of the water and are short of breath, it means that there is a lack of oxygen, and the aerator must be turned on immediately.

In addition, the water color and water quality can be observed: if the water color is dark green and the transparency is low, it indicates that there are too many plankton and high oxygen consumption at night, so it is necessary to turn it on in advance. If the water color is black or has a peculiar smell, it is necessary to increase the power-on time and cooperate with the water change.

6. How long does the aerator take to take effect?

After the aerator is started, it usually takes 15-30 minutes to significantly increase the dissolved oxygen in the water body, but to make the whole water evenly oxygenated, it needs to run continuously for 1-2 hours. The specific time depends on the power of the aerator and the shape of the pond.

For example, a 3kW impeller aerator can be turned on for 1 hour in a pond with a water depth of 1.5 meters per mu to raise the dissolved oxygen to a safe range. However, if the water body is severely hypoxic, it may take 3-4 hours of continuous operation to relieve the floating head phenomenon. Therefore, it is recommended to turn it on regularly to avoid waiting until there is a lack of oxygen.

7. Is there a difference in the opening time of the aerator for different breeds?

There is a difference. High-density farmed species (such as Penaeus vannamei and California perch) have high requirements for dissolved oxygen and require longer startup time. It is recommended to turn on 6-8 hours a day, or even in multiple periods. Conventional fish (such as the four major domestic fish) farmed at low density can be appropriately shortened to 3-4 hours.

In addition, there are differences in different growth stages: the larval stage has strong metabolism and large oxygen demand, so the startup time should be increased; the adult stage can be appropriately reduced. At the same time, the hypoxia tolerance of varieties is different, such as tilapia, which is hypoxic, while salmon needs high oxygen, which needs to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the variety.

8. Is the opening time of the aerator related to feed feeding?

After feeding, the feeding activity of the farmed animals increases, the oxygen consumption increases, and the feed itself also consumes oxygen to decompose. Therefore, it is recommended to turn on the aerator half an hour before feeding and continue to run for 1-2 hours after feeding to help digestion and reduce bait residues.

However, be careful not to turn on the aerator when feeding, so as not to affect the feeding due to excessive water flow. It can be turned on before feeding, paused or turned down when feeding, and then turned on after feeding. This can ensure dissolved oxygen without interfering with feeding.

9. What is the harm of opening the aerator for too long?

In addition to wasting electricity and increasing costs, too long opening time will also cause excessive disturbance of the water body, causing sediment at the bottom of the pool to float up, consuming a lot of oxygen, but causing a decrease in dissolved oxygen. At the same time, excessive water flow will make farmed animals in a state of stress for a long time, affecting growth.

In addition, continuous operation will accelerate the mechanical wear of the aerator, shorten the life and increase the maintenance cost. Therefore, the startup time should be scientifically determined to avoid blind long opening.

10. Expert advice: How to develop an aerator start-up and stop plan?

Experts suggest that flexible start and stop plans should be developed according to the season, weather, water quality and farming density. Generally speaking, in summer, sunny days: 2 hours from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, 8 hours from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am the next day; rainy days are open all day. Spring and autumn can be shortened accordingly, and winter is only 1-2 hours in the afternoon.

At the same time, it is recommended to install an automatic control system for dissolved oxygen, which automatically starts and stops the aerator according to real-time dissolved oxygen, which saves electricity and is safe. If the budget is limited, you can use it at a fixed time every day, and regularly check the dissolved oxygen and adjust the plan. In short, the aerator is not turned on for as long as possible, but at the right time to get twice the result with half the effort.