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Oxygen systems

8K views 40 replies 12 participants last post by  primitivefrn 
#1 ·
Just got a keep alive oxygen kit from Cabela’s and never used one before,wondering what settings to use for 80 gal. Live well .It has 12 settings, I heard to much will kill. Going to try some tournaments this year. And never used oxygen before.
 
#2 ·
At the Mississippi River Monsters tournament the Bass Pro Biologist basically said that in an 8hr tournament you CAN'T put too much oxygen into your livewell. I believe they said up to 24 hours you couldnt hurt a fush with too much oxygen. This was followed up by the TN Natural Resources officers saying that when they transport fish their bottles are running wide open. The other thing that was brought up was to turn your oxygen way up when a fish is first put into the livewell for the first 30 minutes... the fact that the fish is stressed out and using more oxygen was the reasoning.

After the tournament the biologists checked my livewell and I had 150% dissolved oxygen at 80 deg F water temp. In 2016 when checked we were just under 100% (I can't remember the exact number) at over 90 deg F water temp.

I use my oxygen at most every tournament but in reality I probably only need it once the water temp is over 60 deg F. In the lower temps I turn my regulator up 1 click per every 20lb. As the water temp goes up I add more oxygen. If your fish don't try to beat the piss out of you when you pull them out of the live well then you need to add more oxygen.

With all this being said you have to get the bad gasses out of the livewell. They make vents you can install in the lid if you want to go that route. I feel that I open my livewell enough (and it's not carpeted so it's not really air tight) to check on my fish that they aren't needed. You'll also want to keep the water moving. I run my recirculating pump on a timer when fishing, moving from spot to spot the water will slosh around enough, then once in the weigh in line I run the recirculating pump constantly.

I will do some water change outs during the day as fish puke stuff up but I'm not running my fill pumps very often... just enough to keep the livewell full.

I'm heading to work but if you have any questions I can get back on later and answer them.
 
#3 ·
What Wade said. I talked to the owner of the Keep Alive systems and he told me 1 click for every 15-20 lbs of fish in the livewell. I use that formula and it seems to work quite well. And like Wade said - the fish will let you know when you try to get em out of the livewell. My Procat livewell lid actually has an opening in the lid for a seat and I use that to route my tubing thru from the O2 tank. I fell that opening helps release any built up gases. And I will occasionally open the lid just to check on any fish to make sure everything looks ok. Another option is to just wedge something between the lid and the deck to keep the lid cracked open if you're worried about gas buildup. I haven't had any issues with my system and the size stone supplied seems adequate for supplying the needed O2 - just clean it periodically. Good luck
 
#4 · (Edited)
I guess it’s on back order so I haven’t got to see the regulator yet for the settings. Thanks for the information. I also got a keep alive oxygen infusor and would like to find a switch with a timer built in for it. I’m going to try and hook a switch to the over flow in the live well so I can have a pump out , looking for some type of switchs for both. has anyone done this. Thanks. The way you all are saying 1 click for apr. 20lbs of fish my 02 bottle will last a while lol

They say dec 29 on back order
 
#6 ·
I think I run mine at 1 or 1 1/2 LPM with five fish in 60 gallons. Sounds right on the number of clicks. Like Wade said, they will beat you up when you try to get them out. Keep an eye on them and they will let you know what they like. If they are all sitting still on the bottom they are fat and happy. If they are swimming around up and down, they need some more o2.
Not sure what to tell you on the other switches and oxygen infuser. Every body I know just runs a bottle on a regulator with a good stone (good stone is important). And keep your tank fill on a timer to keep the tank full and let the junk they puke go out.
I have never heard of anyone killing fish with too much oxygen, might turn them a little red though. A full bottle will last all day no problem.
 
#16 ·
Most welding supplies places do not fill small gas bottles. Just buy a 20 lb bottle from them then exchange when empty. If you are going to buy a bottle better make sure you can get it refilled first. If you have a large foxy bottle already then get a fill kit... if not then you had better check on a place that will fill it.
 
#19 ·
Delta Gases in Maryland Heights will fill your bottle in house. CK Welding in OFallon sends customer bottles out to be filled, they do it in groups so it takes a while. You do get your bottle back. My “E” size aluminum bottle holds 2 1/2 Times the standard and was a $10 option when I bought my setup— less refills.
 
#21 ·
Hi all
WE have always tried to be ready to take care of any fish we might catch, I mean hook ,line ,rod ,reel, net, large live well, and such, but have never used a O2 system. Guess we should think about that. Other than in a tournament we never put a fish of any size in our boat so have never thought we needed it, and since we never seem to catch good fish in a tournament just have not tried it. Do y'll run your system even in the winter tournaments?
 
#27 ·
probably the best way to go, I have a adaptor to refill my smaller tanks, from welder tank like to use in hot weather I like bait that's lively, also have a machine to refill but has to have special bottles, not suppose to have, with out prescription., can get most part off Ebay, but Keeplive might be the best way to go.
 
#30 ·
I really don't have any idea what that is but the answer is going to be no. You need micro oxygen bubbles and the only way to do that is with a good stone like I posted. These stones take a good bit of pressure to actually work. A clean stone might take a minimum of 25psi and a dirty stone could take 50psi. This is why we are using oxygen bottles.

Yes they make low pressure stones but your bubbles will be huge in comparison and you will not get the same results.
 
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