My Venturi based Oxygenation drive with saturation chamber is much more efficient than any airstone. More Oxygen gets to the roots because of the penetrating characteristics, and it does not break apart and clog overtime like an airstone. This is part of the my buckets feature.
I cited some different sites.
1. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS,
Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
link here: Chapter 21 Aeration and Oxygenation in Aquaculture
In order to minimize oxygen consumption devices are needed which ensure the most perfect absorption of oxygen. The operating principle of these is the same as that of aeration devices, but in order to increase the contact time between the gas and the water some technical modifications are needed.
One is bubbling oxygenation where the oxygen gas comes in contact with the water by breaking into bubbles. The rate of oxygen dilution depends mainly on the depth of the water layer, the length of travel of bubbles in the water body and the rate of oxygen feeding. Higher efficiency can be achieved by decreasing the bubble size, thus the contact time and the contact surface increases. But the decrease of bubble size needs a significant quantity of extra energy, and coagulation of bubbles also can happen. The efficiency of oxygen bubbling can be increased by counterflow of oxygen and water (Figure 13/a). Undissolved oxygen can be collected and circulated back to the oxygen supply system (Figure 13/b), or a closed system can be constructed in which oxygen and water are continuously mixed (Figure 13/c).
2. Article in a fishing and boating magazine
link here: Guide to Aeration
SIZE AND AMOUNT OF AIR BUBBLES
Take a look at at the air bubbles produced by an aquarium aerator. Watch how quickly the bubbles rise to the surface. They provide little aeration, but are aesthetically pleasing to watch. Bubbles must remain contacting the water, if they are to do the job properly. A good rule of thumb is: The smaller the bubble, the longer it will remain suspended in water to dissolve.
A Lesson in Air Bubbles by Bob Heideman
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.
3. Article in Environmental Fluid Mechanics
link here: SpringerLink - Journal Article
Abstract The concentration of dissolved oxygen is an important indicator of water quality because aquatic life lives on the dissolved oxygen in the water. Aeration can increase dissolved oxygen when levels become deficient. Hydraulic structures can significantly improve dissolved oxygen levels by creating turbulent conditions where small air bubbles are carried into the bulk of the flow. Recent researches have focused on developing measurement and predictive techniques for oxygen transfer at hydraulic structures to maintain and enhance water quality. However, reviewing existing studies on aeration performance of hydraulic structures, it seems that there are not too many studies on venturi aeration. The present paper shows applications of venturi principle to water aeration systems. The aeration characteristics of venturi nozzle, venturi conduit and venturi weir are analyzed. The results indicate that venturi aeration might contribute significantly to air entrainment and aeration efficiency. Therefore, venturi device can be used as highly effective aerator in aeration processes.
4. "Water Quality Products" Commercial water filtration, in reference to Ozone
link here: Ozone, Oxygen: Transfer into Water
Conclusions
The venturi was the best method of transfer, but this was a known going into the study. This method is under pressure and the venturi is also an efficient method of transfer. This did however prove some good points on how efficient the ozone generators produced ozone. The CD system produced about four to five times the ozone that the UV system produced. As stated earlier, the CD system had readings of .49 ppm compared to .1 ppm of the UV system.
5. United States Patent
link here: Bubble generation for aeration and other purposes
This invention relates to the generation of fine bubbles.
BACKGROUND
Bubbles of gas in liquid are frequently required in many different applications and usually, but not exclusively, for the purpose of dissolving the gas in the liquid. Like any industrial process, it is generally desired that this be done in the most efficient manner possible which, in the case of dissolving the gas in the liquid, does not involve the bubble reaching the surface of the liquid and releasing the gas there without it having been dissolved. Ideally, the bubbles should not reach the surface before all the gas in them has dissolved. It is widely recognized that one way to achieve efficiency is to reduce the size of the bubbles. The surface area to volume ratio of a smaller bubble is higher, and dissolution happens much more rapidly. Moreover, the surface tension of a small bubble means that the gas pressure inside the bubble is relatively much higher than in a large bubble, so that the gas dissolves more rapidly. Also small bubbles rise more slowly than large bubbles, and this provides more time for gas transport from the bubble to the surrounding liquid. Furthermore, they coalesce less quickly so that larger bubbles, that rise to the surface faster, are less quickly formed.
I still use a few airstones in my reservoir but its overkill; I reoxygenate and direct the spent water so it spins my reservoir, not to mention my "Suckit Bucket" provides a supercharged siphon-surge every 3 minutes when timers are on that mixes it like a cauldron.
:rastasmoke: