Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pure O2

I'm looking for someone who has used pure oxygen before. I'd like to create a raceway to raise a few tiger bass. I think that delivering a little bit of pure oxygen would be benificial in maintaining the health of my fish. What would be an appropriate sized tank? What would be the amount of O2 delivered to have a positive impact on fish health? How can I calculate my annual costs? I realize this question is an aquaculture type problem, but every aquaculture site that I visit seems to think I need to spend $5,000 or more to get started. I know I can do better. I'd like to attempt to feed train some of the tigers, sell the ones that don't feed train and keep the rest for my pond. I'm sure a few of you might find the results of my project interesting.

Thanks

Raceway size/ volume? Avg water Temp? # of tiger's? diffuser type can help on o2 usage. Rate of flow is also a factor to consider.

Two raceways, each 20 ft. X 5 ft. X 2.25 feet deep. 250 Tigers in each raceway 1-2 inches in length to start. Average water temp entering in upper 50's at 5 gpm probably with an air temperature averaging in the 80's which presumably would yield an average temp in the raceways somewhere from 70-74 degrees.

Have you priced oxygen? I doubt if it would be economically feasible to raise a "few" tiger bass. Are you considering a floating raceway? If so, all you need is an airlift which you can build yourself after the purchase of a blower. Additionally once your fish have ample oxygen I fail to see why adding more would be "benefical." In fact you can actually burn your fish up if you use too much.

Even large aquaculture facilities with high densities of fish have to justify the cost of pure oxygen. Runing pure oxygen 24/7 would get pretty pricey if you aren't making the money you need to on the fish.

Sorry by I dont'concur. Even the equipment to MAKE the pure oxygen and make it MORE economical than just dispersing out of a tank is costly.

How would you do it then, Cecil? Surely there's a way to raise 500 or so indoors. I respect your opinion. I've seen many great posts on various subjects by you.

I would build a floating raceway next to a pier like this

http://aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac/170fs.pdf

and your fish densities are really low fo the size racway you propose.

Water temp is too cold coming in and would crowd the fish on the far end. I have heard some folks having luck feed training in floating cages too.

In all reality raising bass is best done in earthen ponds with a short period feed training them in tanks. See this link:

http://aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac/200fs.pdf

http://aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac/201fs.pdf

You realize you have to really crowd bass at 1.5 to 2 inches in a tank to feed train them?

I'm no authority but I read a lot of publications while sitting on the pot at a Holiday Inn Express!

Cecil that’s some very interesting information you’ve gathered. I’m still laughing after the last comment that you made. It’s amazing what can be accomplished in a confined space.