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oxigenated water
- Thread starter Dan42nepa
- Start date
G
Guest
i would recomend you bubble for 2 days then add nutes, then water. but you can put nutes in there and then bubble it if you want...
Suby, great info. It really is about the breaking the surface tension.
Also, temp plays a huge roll in the amount of gas that can be held in water.
Cold water holds MUCH more gas than warm water. Like as in an exponetial (or maybe it's logrithmic
) increase.
Also, temp plays a huge roll in the amount of gas that can be held in water.
Cold water holds MUCH more gas than warm water. Like as in an exponetial (or maybe it's logrithmic
) increase.
G
Guest
Fuzzy Lumpkins said:Indeed. I let my air stones bubble my water while it sites fro 24-48 hours even without my twice a week ferts in them. I don't know if it helps, but it certainly cant hurt, I mean it really isn't going to hurt them and u already have a bubbler... so why not bubble the water that sits in between ur feedings? Mabye it helps cycle the chems that need to evaporate and u get a more "rich" h2o...
my thoughts exactly...
Reverend Willis
Member
Oxygenated Water
Oxygenated Water
Last year I grew hydro before switching to soil so I had all the items I needed to bubble my water. I read about several growers doing it so I went to that system for my waterings. I'm not much on scientific data but my roots like the extra oxygen in their water. Last time I transplanted, I was suprised to see the roots (in pix below). They are clearly some of the healthiest I've experienced. My tap water pH is 7.0 so I add some "down" to adjust it to 6.0.
Seems like a good addition to the garden for now.
Oxygenated Water
Last year I grew hydro before switching to soil so I had all the items I needed to bubble my water. I read about several growers doing it so I went to that system for my waterings. I'm not much on scientific data but my roots like the extra oxygen in their water. Last time I transplanted, I was suprised to see the roots (in pix below). They are clearly some of the healthiest I've experienced. My tap water pH is 7.0 so I add some "down" to adjust it to 6.0.
Seems like a good addition to the garden for now.
Another thing about DO, the maximum amount of oxygen you can dissolve in water is exponentially related to it's temperature.
This is a key concept in hydroponics because the temperature of the fertilizer solution will determine the maximum amount of oxygen it can contain, this also applies, although not as severly, in organic soil situations.
I will look for the chart and post it later so you'll get a visual on how it works.
In short make sure the tea or even plain water are colder rather than warm, it has to be cool enough to have a high DO count but high enough not to shock the rootzone when applying it.
Suby
for the nerds and math lovers
This is a key concept in hydroponics because the temperature of the fertilizer solution will determine the maximum amount of oxygen it can contain, this also applies, although not as severly, in organic soil situations.
I will look for the chart and post it later so you'll get a visual on how it works.
In short make sure the tea or even plain water are colder rather than warm, it has to be cool enough to have a high DO count but high enough not to shock the rootzone when applying it.
Suby
for the nerds and math lovers
Last edited:
Thanks suby. I use a filtered tap water in 1 gallon jugs. I usually draw the water for 24 hours prior and let it sit to disburse any residual chlorine. I thought maybe the bubbling may help disburse the chlorine but had no idea about the temperature as it would apply to holding oxigen. I guess it makes sense when you think about it.
Worst.Fuzzy Lumpkins said:
Attitude.
Ever.
It's very clear to me already that you will never get that far in this hobby, or in life, because of your sheer and simple laziness and lack of willingness to learn any more than the bare minimum to get by.
But then again that's probably just fine by you, as you're probably just looking for a cheap way to get high...
May I have a beating, too?irie-i said:sorry dan42nepa, i guess i deserve a beating
G
Guest
clowntown said:Worst.
Attitude.
Ever.
It's very clear to me already that you will never get that far in this hobby, or in life, because of your sheer and simple laziness and lack of willingness to learn any more than the bare minimum to get by.
But then again that's probably just fine by you, as you're probably just looking for a cheap way to get high...
May I have a beating, too?
I don't judge people clown. So judge all you want but I stand by what I say. You act like you know me when obviously you don't. Keep telling new people to search for answers and when they give up trying to find it you just deprived the world of a possibly great potential grower. Unlike you seem to be presenting yourself, I enjoy helping people in any way that I can. Whether they read through the forums or want to ask a question I will never make them feel as if their curiosity and interests are unwelcomed and unappriciated.
As far as getting high I get stuff for free, and I enjoy learning about growing. You "you probably do this... and that..." just proves your just out to flame someone. Just cause I don't invest thousands of dollars into it doesn't mean I should be deprived of the joy of growing... or is there a money spending requirement? Or maybe I should already know everything by now... I think your just in a bad mood and are trying to take it out on someone else. Your pms attitude and your judemental, ignorant and immature comments will have no effect on me in any way whatsoever, so your wasting your breath.
If I listend to everyone who tried to prevent me from doing what I love (growing) then I would not have the happiness or self-gratification that I have recentley obtained from it.
As suby (a far better advice giver than you) already stated:
Suby said:I have to agree that with no sticky's any question is a good quetion,
it's better to ask than to give up looking for the ?
S
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I'm not judging you, you more or less plainly stated that you want your answers served on a silver platter. Ok then I guess the first 30 pages of the forum will be stickies covering every little topic such as this. Every user will need to start on page 30, or 31 in a little while when more questions are stickied, then on 32, and so on... all because you're too lazy to do a search! Great idea! 
Last edited:
G
Guest
And that makes me a horrible grower than will never amount to anything, just looking for a cheap way out? That is called j-u-d-g-i-n-g. I have read numerous posts as well as books. At least if we had stickies you'd have more of a reason to flame poeple as it was posted right on top. I would rather search through 30+ pages than through 50 threads with 30+ pages.
I refuse to agrue any further with you because that is not the person I am. So we will have to agree to disagree, or if you can't do that, I can, you can continue to be a bitter person.
I refuse to agrue any further with you because that is not the person I am. So we will have to agree to disagree, or if you can't do that, I can, you can continue to be a bitter person.
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There is alot of mis information on some forums. Not so much this forum as others. I belong to several and if I only used one for my knowlege source, well... For example, topping or no? Fming or no? double potting or not? Alot is contradictory. I have read every post on here and on the soil forum but am still confused over some things I have read because of contradictory answers. After a few months, i recognize posts from people i respect for their knowlege. There are some very smart people on here but there are also some very opiniated people. For some their way is the only way. If i ask a question its not because i am looking for any easy way out. I will have researched as much as i could and want one more shot at verifying whatever decision I need to make. Cloning for example, so many techniques and opinions. I am very much still learning and hope I am always in a mind set to learn more. Even if my first grow is a success I know there are probably many better methods I could have used.
G
Guest
Dan42nepa said:
Indeed. I just don't want people to discourage new growers mainly becasue when I was first starting out I got flamed (on a diff site) and it just made me misreble. It made me not to want to ask questions, even if there was no posts on it. If there were posts there were certain detials from my growing circumstances and situation that I needed conformation on what to do. I almost gave up but I found a few good poeple on the site that really helped me get a good grow going and it was those few people that have made all the difference.
No wonder you're constantly getting flamed.
It's one thing to ask questions because you don't know where to look or because you don't know better, but to flat out state that the fact you're asking that question because you're too lazy and "too busy to search" or whatever is a completely different thing. You apparently want easy answers and solutions handed to you with zero to minimal effort, at the cost of other people typing repetitive responses on questions that have already been answered. Just because you're lazy and refuse to even try.
Am I judging or am I just stating facts?
I don't mean to "discourage", but if putting a little effort into something is so discouraging then I don't know what else to say.
It's one thing to ask questions because you don't know where to look or because you don't know better, but to flat out state that the fact you're asking that question because you're too lazy and "too busy to search" or whatever is a completely different thing. You apparently want easy answers and solutions handed to you with zero to minimal effort, at the cost of other people typing repetitive responses on questions that have already been answered. Just because you're lazy and refuse to even try.
Am I judging or am I just stating facts?
I don't mean to "discourage", but if putting a little effort into something is so discouraging then I don't know what else to say.
Oxygenated Water!!!
One of my special interests.....now everyone be nice and pay attention......
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation Limits for Water at Sea Level Pressure by Temperature:
32 degrees F...........................14.5 ppm oxygen in water saturated with air
41 degrees F...........................12.7 ppm
50 degrees F...........................11.2 ppm
59 degrees F...........................10.5 ppm
68 degrees F............................9.8 ppm
77 degrees F...........................8.25 ppm
86 degrees F............................7.51 ppm
95 degrees F.............................6.8 ppm
It is important to understand that temperature and pressure are not the only factors that can limit dissolved oxygen content in water. As organisms draw oxygen from water, it must be replaced as quickly as they extract it. In aquariums, it is common practice to bubble air through the water to charge it with oxygen. This is not an especially powerful way to add oxygen to water, but it works with fish tanks that hold only a small amount of fish in many liters of water. A far more effective way to charge water with oxygen is to spray the water through the air, which many hydroponics growers do to supply their rapidly growing plants with the large amount of oxygen they need to remain healthy. (from "The Best of Maximum Yield" p. 26-27)
One user (Primmed @ reeferman seeds) writes the following:
"Two dirt tables in the same room with 10 lights on each one table with the do2 water and one with just normal tap water. Well i can say the structure so far on the d02 water is far better big stronger stalks and more lush leaf growth plus the table with the d02 water drink about 15-20% more water which means more nutes to the plants the only thing the normal water table has goin for it is it appears to be about 5-6 days farther i bud for some reason but i'm not at allworried cause the d02 plants look like there on steriods and by the looks of the frame work on them all ready the look like they can handle some seriuos weight"
Here is a re-print of an article about current research in dissolved oxygen:
"Higher dissolved oxygen great for productivity, health and vigor
by Robert Fieldhouse
(Guelph, October 13th, 2005)
Dissolving more oxygen into hydroponic solutions could boost greenhouse productivity and provide a whole host of other benefits too, say University of Guelph researchers.
Prof. Mike Dixon and Dr. Youbin Zheng, Department of Environmental Biology, are investigating the positive aspects of using an oxygen diffuser to increase oxygen levels in greenhouse hydroponic solutions used to grow roses, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.
Dr. Youbin Zheng, Department of Environmental Biology, is studying if oxygen levels can be boosted in hydroponic solutions to help growers ward off harmful microbes and boost productivity.
Photo: Olivia Brown
Preliminary results suggest a higher dissolved oxygen level increase productivity, health and root vigor in greenhouse plants, and helps keep harmful microbes in check.
“These findings are really beneficial to the industry,” says Zheng. “If we can use oxygen to boost plant health, making them stronger and more resistant to disease, we've discovered a very helpful tool.”
Oxygen isn't as prevalent in warm water as in cool water, so oxygen levels tend to be low -- about two to four parts per million (ppm) -- at high greenhouse temperatures, compared to eight to nine ppm in cool water. Under hot weather in the greenhouse, the root zone is especially short on oxygen, says Zheng, because root respiration depletes oxygen in hydroponic solutions. Excessive watering can further depress oxygen levels because it makes growth media, such as rockwool or coconut fibre, less porous, blocking air. These factors all weaken plant disease defense systems, making them more susceptible to disease-causing microbes such as Fusarium and Pythium which cause root decay.
To prevent this problem, greenhouse growers typically bubble air into hydroponic solutions to bring oxygen levels up to about nine ppm. But sometimes this still isn't enough.
Two years ago, the BC Greenhouse Growers' Association asked Dixon to investigate using even higher oxygen levels in hydroponic solutions. His literature review revealed that very little work had been done in this area suggesting the problem was largely ignored – until now.
Dixon and Zheng are using an oxygen diffuser recently developed and manufactured by Seair Diffusion Systems Inc., an Edmonton-based company with an interest in the greenhouse sector. The diffuser concentrates atmospheric oxygen, and dissolves it into hydroponic solutions. With this technology, oxygen levels can reach as high as 60 ppm in hydroponic solutions.
The research team is currently studying the effects of different oxygen levels, ranging from about nine ppm to 40 ppm.
So far, preliminary results are promising. But creating optimal supersaturated oxygen solutions requires extreme precision. Oxygen can be damaging at very high levels, says Dixon , so it's important to establish application methods for using this technology for different crops.
But if the methods can be worked out, Dixon says the oxygen diffusers are inexpensive and stand to emerge as an economical, environmentally friendly solution for growers looking to enhance their crops.
“Greenhouse growers are voracious technical consumers – they'll try anything,” says Dixon . “But by the same token, they're also very shrewd business people, and they won't waste money unnecessarily.”
Dixon and Zheng will continue their research and will further investigate oxygen's effect on plant growth, physiology and disease. For example, they will inoculate greenhouse plants with specific microbes to see how the plants cope with this challenge under different oxygen levels.
Other researchers involved in this project include technician Linping Wang, graduate student Johanna Valentine and undergraduate student Mark Mallany, Department of Environmental Biology.
This research is being conducted at greenhouses in Guelph and Leamington , Ontario . It is sponsored by Seair Diffusion Systems Inc., Flowers Canada Ontario and the Fred Miller Rose Research Fund."
(source: http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/news/articles/2005/October/higher_dissolved_oxygen.shtml)
Need more?
"Oxygenation, Air Pumps, Nutrient Uptake and Temperatures
Introduction: Why plant roots need oxygen
Oxygen is an essential plant nutrient - plant root systems require oxygen for aerobic respiration, an essential plant process that releases energy for root growth and nutrient uptake. In many 'solution culture' hydroponic systems, the oxygen supplied for plant root uptake is provided mostly as dissolved oxygen (DO) held in the nutrient solution. If depletion of this dissolved oxygen in the root system occurs, then growth of plants, water and mineral uptake are reduced.
Injury from low (or no) oxygen in the root zone can take several forms and these will differ in severity between plant types. Often the first sign of inadequate oxygen supply to the roots is wilting of the plant under warm conditions and high light levels. Insufficient oxygen reduces the permeability of the roots to water and there will be an accumulation of toxins, so that both water and minerals are not absorbed in sufficient amounts to support plant growth. This wilting is accompanied by slower rates of photosynthesis and carbohydrate transfer, so that over time, plant growth is reduced and yields are affected. If oxygen starvation continues, mineral deficiencies will begin to show, roots die back and plants will become stunted. If the lack of oxygen continues in the root zone, plants produce a stress hormone - ethylene, which accumulates in the roots and causes collapse of the root cells, at this stage pathogens such as pythium can easily take hold and destroy the plant.
Oxygen in Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions
While it’s possible to measure the levels of dissolved oxygen in a hydroponic nutrient solution, it’s not carried out as often as EC and pH monitoring due to the cost of accurate DO (Dissolved Oxygen meters). However, if an effective method of aeration is continually being used, and solution temperatures are not reaching excessively high levels, then good levels of oxygenation in most systems can be achieved One of the most common and effective methods of oxygenation in hydroponic nutrient solutions is with the use of air pumps/machines and air stones.
Air Pumps and Air Stones
While there are a number of methods that can be used to introduce oxygen into a nutrient solution, many of these, such as ozone treatment, are expensive and not often used by smaller growers. One of the most practical and inexpensive, yet efficient ways of getting more dissolved oxygen into a plants root system is through forcing air into the nutrient. Air pumps are widely available in a range of sizes, from very small up to very large with capacity to run from one to many `air stones’ each introducing hundreds of tiny bubbles of fresh, oxygen rich air into the nutrient solution.
Why an Air Stone
While an air pump tube alone can bubble air into a nutrient solution, oxygenation or the process of getting atmospheric oxygen dissolved into the liquid nutrient, is much more effective where many tiny bubbles of air are created, rather than a slow stream of larger bubbles. The greater the surface contact between the air bubbles and the nutrient, the more oxygen will diffuse into the nutrient solution and smaller bubbles create a far greater surface area than a few larger bubbles will. Air stones simply break up the air flow and distribute along the surface of the porous 'stone' so that many tiny bubbles are rapidly introduced into the nutrient. Depending on the size or dimensions of the nutrient reservoir into which air is being introduced for oxygenation, air stones of different shapes and sizes can be selected. For small rectangular tanks, long thin air stones (some up to 1 foot in length) can be placed on the base of the reservoir to distribute air bubbles and oxygen uniformly. A larger number of smaller, round, cylindrical or oval air stones placed at equal distance inside a nutrient pool or tank also ensure high levels of oxygenation.
Air stones also have the benefit of acting as 'weights' which remain stable on the base, or in the lower layers of the nutrient tank - the further the bubbles have to travel to reach the surface of the nutrient, the more time oxygen has to diffuse into the liquid and the higher the rates of dissolved oxygen than can be obtained from an air pump and stone set up.
For systems with multiple nutrient reservoirs or tanks, one large air pump with many outlets will allow oxygenation into all systems and it is always a good idea to buy an air machine and air stones larger than currently required so that aeration can be increased under warmer conditions or if the hydroponic system is later expanded.
Oxygen and Temperature Effects - Effective Aeration
While forcing air bubbles deep down into the nutrient reservoir generally increases the dissolved oxygen levels in the nutrient, there is one other major factor to consider and that's the temperature of the air being pumped into the nutrient. As the temperature of a nutrient solution increases, its ability to hold dissolved oxygen decreases. So a cool nutrient solution may in fact hold twice as much oxygen at 'saturation level' than a warm solution. For example a nutrient solution at 45 F can hold around 12ppm of dissolved oxygen at 'saturation', (meaning it is the most it can hold), but the same nutrient solution at a temperature of 85 F will hold less than 7ppm at saturation. This means at a solution temperature of 85F there is much less dissolved oxygen available for the plant’s root system to take up. To complicate matters further, the requirement of the plant’s root system for oxygen at warmer temperatures, is many times greater than at cooler temperatures due to the increased rate of root respiration. So warm nutrients mean a very high oxygen requirement from the plant’s roots, but the nutrient can only hold very limited amounts of dissolved oxygen at saturation, no matter how much air is being bubbled into the solution. Ideally, nutrient solution temperatures for most plants should be run lower than the overall air temperature - this has many beneficial effects on plant growth and development. However, if overly warm air from the growing environment is pumped into an otherwise cool nutrient solution, the warm air will rapidly increase the temperature of the nutrient to that of the growing environment. If air is being pumped via an air machine with an intake close to lights or other heat sources then rapid heating of the nutrient will occur. On the other hand, cool air has the ability to reduce the temperature of the nutrient if sufficient levels are pumped in and thus result in a much more highly oxygenated solution for the plant’s roots. If keeping the nutrient solution temperature down seems to be a continual problem, checking the air inlet temperature of an air pump is a good idea. Overly warm nutrient solutions (ideally nutrient solutions should remain below 65 - 75 F) for most warm season, high light plants and well below 69 F for cool season.can have serious effects on the plants root system. Apart from the increased oxygen requirement due to a much higher rate of root respiration which can rapidly result in oxygen starvation, high solution temperatures favour many of the root disease pathogens. Plant roots become highly 'stressed' when experiencing high temperatures, particularly if there is a large mis-match between the air the root temperature. Root stress slows the development of new roots, resulting in reserves inside the root tissue being `burned up’ during respiration faster than they are accumulated, and stress makes the root system in general more susceptible to disease attack. Keeping a check on nutrient temperature is vital, as is ensuring that air machines are not blasting hot air into the solution and cooking plant roots. Aeration is most effective when cool air is bubbled into a nutrient.
Oxygenation and Nutrient Uptake
Healthy roots supplied with sufficient oxygen are able to absorb nutrient ions selectively from the surrounding solution as required. The metabolic energy which is required to drive this nutrient uptake process is obtained from root respiration using oxygen. In fact there can be a net loss of nutrient ions from a plant’s root system when suffering from a lack of oxygen (anaerobic conditions). Without sufficient oxygen in the root zone, plants are unable to take up mineral nutrients in the concentrations required for maximum growth and development. Maintain maximum levels of dissolved oxygen boosts nutrient uptake by ensuring healthy roots have the energy required to rapidly take up and transport water and mineral ions.
Calcium is one important nutrient ion which has been shown to benefit from high levels of oxygenation in the hydroponic nutrient solution Calcium, unlike the other major nutrients is absorbed mostly by the root growing tips (root apex). The root apex has a large energy requirement for new cell production and growth and is therefore vulnerable to oxygen stress If root tips begin to suffer from a lack of oxygen, a shortage of calcium in the shoot will occur. This shortage of calcium makes the development of calcium disorders such as tip burn and blossom end rot of fruit more likely and severe under oxygen starvation conditions. High levels of oxygenation ensure healthy root tips are able to take the levels of calcium required for new tissue growth and development.
Conclusion
While providing oxygenation with the use of air machines and stones is an excellent method of increasing the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in a nutrient solution, the temperature of the air intake and nutrient solution must also be managed to ensure oxygen starvation in the root zone does not occur. Pumping hot air into a nutrient not only creates temperature stress in the root zone, it also results in less oxygen carrying capacity in the solution itself - a recipe for root suffocation that will rapidly affect the top portion of the plant as well. Getting oxygenation right means checking both aeration capacity of the equipment being chosen and temperatures in the nutrient and root zone"
One of my special interests.....now everyone be nice and pay attention......
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation Limits for Water at Sea Level Pressure by Temperature:
32 degrees F...........................14.5 ppm oxygen in water saturated with air
41 degrees F...........................12.7 ppm
50 degrees F...........................11.2 ppm
59 degrees F...........................10.5 ppm
68 degrees F............................9.8 ppm
77 degrees F...........................8.25 ppm
86 degrees F............................7.51 ppm
95 degrees F.............................6.8 ppm
It is important to understand that temperature and pressure are not the only factors that can limit dissolved oxygen content in water. As organisms draw oxygen from water, it must be replaced as quickly as they extract it. In aquariums, it is common practice to bubble air through the water to charge it with oxygen. This is not an especially powerful way to add oxygen to water, but it works with fish tanks that hold only a small amount of fish in many liters of water. A far more effective way to charge water with oxygen is to spray the water through the air, which many hydroponics growers do to supply their rapidly growing plants with the large amount of oxygen they need to remain healthy. (from "The Best of Maximum Yield" p. 26-27)
One user (Primmed @ reeferman seeds) writes the following:
"Two dirt tables in the same room with 10 lights on each one table with the do2 water and one with just normal tap water. Well i can say the structure so far on the d02 water is far better big stronger stalks and more lush leaf growth plus the table with the d02 water drink about 15-20% more water which means more nutes to the plants the only thing the normal water table has goin for it is it appears to be about 5-6 days farther i bud for some reason but i'm not at allworried cause the d02 plants look like there on steriods and by the looks of the frame work on them all ready the look like they can handle some seriuos weight"
Here is a re-print of an article about current research in dissolved oxygen:
"Higher dissolved oxygen great for productivity, health and vigor
by Robert Fieldhouse
(Guelph, October 13th, 2005)
Dissolving more oxygen into hydroponic solutions could boost greenhouse productivity and provide a whole host of other benefits too, say University of Guelph researchers.
Prof. Mike Dixon and Dr. Youbin Zheng, Department of Environmental Biology, are investigating the positive aspects of using an oxygen diffuser to increase oxygen levels in greenhouse hydroponic solutions used to grow roses, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.
Dr. Youbin Zheng, Department of Environmental Biology, is studying if oxygen levels can be boosted in hydroponic solutions to help growers ward off harmful microbes and boost productivity.
Photo: Olivia Brown
Preliminary results suggest a higher dissolved oxygen level increase productivity, health and root vigor in greenhouse plants, and helps keep harmful microbes in check.
“These findings are really beneficial to the industry,” says Zheng. “If we can use oxygen to boost plant health, making them stronger and more resistant to disease, we've discovered a very helpful tool.”
Oxygen isn't as prevalent in warm water as in cool water, so oxygen levels tend to be low -- about two to four parts per million (ppm) -- at high greenhouse temperatures, compared to eight to nine ppm in cool water. Under hot weather in the greenhouse, the root zone is especially short on oxygen, says Zheng, because root respiration depletes oxygen in hydroponic solutions. Excessive watering can further depress oxygen levels because it makes growth media, such as rockwool or coconut fibre, less porous, blocking air. These factors all weaken plant disease defense systems, making them more susceptible to disease-causing microbes such as Fusarium and Pythium which cause root decay.
To prevent this problem, greenhouse growers typically bubble air into hydroponic solutions to bring oxygen levels up to about nine ppm. But sometimes this still isn't enough.
Two years ago, the BC Greenhouse Growers' Association asked Dixon to investigate using even higher oxygen levels in hydroponic solutions. His literature review revealed that very little work had been done in this area suggesting the problem was largely ignored – until now.
Dixon and Zheng are using an oxygen diffuser recently developed and manufactured by Seair Diffusion Systems Inc., an Edmonton-based company with an interest in the greenhouse sector. The diffuser concentrates atmospheric oxygen, and dissolves it into hydroponic solutions. With this technology, oxygen levels can reach as high as 60 ppm in hydroponic solutions.
The research team is currently studying the effects of different oxygen levels, ranging from about nine ppm to 40 ppm.
So far, preliminary results are promising. But creating optimal supersaturated oxygen solutions requires extreme precision. Oxygen can be damaging at very high levels, says Dixon , so it's important to establish application methods for using this technology for different crops.
But if the methods can be worked out, Dixon says the oxygen diffusers are inexpensive and stand to emerge as an economical, environmentally friendly solution for growers looking to enhance their crops.
“Greenhouse growers are voracious technical consumers – they'll try anything,” says Dixon . “But by the same token, they're also very shrewd business people, and they won't waste money unnecessarily.”
Dixon and Zheng will continue their research and will further investigate oxygen's effect on plant growth, physiology and disease. For example, they will inoculate greenhouse plants with specific microbes to see how the plants cope with this challenge under different oxygen levels.
Other researchers involved in this project include technician Linping Wang, graduate student Johanna Valentine and undergraduate student Mark Mallany, Department of Environmental Biology.
This research is being conducted at greenhouses in Guelph and Leamington , Ontario . It is sponsored by Seair Diffusion Systems Inc., Flowers Canada Ontario and the Fred Miller Rose Research Fund."
(source: http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/news/articles/2005/October/higher_dissolved_oxygen.shtml)
Need more?
"Oxygenation, Air Pumps, Nutrient Uptake and Temperatures
Introduction: Why plant roots need oxygen
Oxygen is an essential plant nutrient - plant root systems require oxygen for aerobic respiration, an essential plant process that releases energy for root growth and nutrient uptake. In many 'solution culture' hydroponic systems, the oxygen supplied for plant root uptake is provided mostly as dissolved oxygen (DO) held in the nutrient solution. If depletion of this dissolved oxygen in the root system occurs, then growth of plants, water and mineral uptake are reduced.
Injury from low (or no) oxygen in the root zone can take several forms and these will differ in severity between plant types. Often the first sign of inadequate oxygen supply to the roots is wilting of the plant under warm conditions and high light levels. Insufficient oxygen reduces the permeability of the roots to water and there will be an accumulation of toxins, so that both water and minerals are not absorbed in sufficient amounts to support plant growth. This wilting is accompanied by slower rates of photosynthesis and carbohydrate transfer, so that over time, plant growth is reduced and yields are affected. If oxygen starvation continues, mineral deficiencies will begin to show, roots die back and plants will become stunted. If the lack of oxygen continues in the root zone, plants produce a stress hormone - ethylene, which accumulates in the roots and causes collapse of the root cells, at this stage pathogens such as pythium can easily take hold and destroy the plant.
Oxygen in Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions
While it’s possible to measure the levels of dissolved oxygen in a hydroponic nutrient solution, it’s not carried out as often as EC and pH monitoring due to the cost of accurate DO (Dissolved Oxygen meters). However, if an effective method of aeration is continually being used, and solution temperatures are not reaching excessively high levels, then good levels of oxygenation in most systems can be achieved One of the most common and effective methods of oxygenation in hydroponic nutrient solutions is with the use of air pumps/machines and air stones.
Air Pumps and Air Stones
While there are a number of methods that can be used to introduce oxygen into a nutrient solution, many of these, such as ozone treatment, are expensive and not often used by smaller growers. One of the most practical and inexpensive, yet efficient ways of getting more dissolved oxygen into a plants root system is through forcing air into the nutrient. Air pumps are widely available in a range of sizes, from very small up to very large with capacity to run from one to many `air stones’ each introducing hundreds of tiny bubbles of fresh, oxygen rich air into the nutrient solution.
Why an Air Stone
While an air pump tube alone can bubble air into a nutrient solution, oxygenation or the process of getting atmospheric oxygen dissolved into the liquid nutrient, is much more effective where many tiny bubbles of air are created, rather than a slow stream of larger bubbles. The greater the surface contact between the air bubbles and the nutrient, the more oxygen will diffuse into the nutrient solution and smaller bubbles create a far greater surface area than a few larger bubbles will. Air stones simply break up the air flow and distribute along the surface of the porous 'stone' so that many tiny bubbles are rapidly introduced into the nutrient. Depending on the size or dimensions of the nutrient reservoir into which air is being introduced for oxygenation, air stones of different shapes and sizes can be selected. For small rectangular tanks, long thin air stones (some up to 1 foot in length) can be placed on the base of the reservoir to distribute air bubbles and oxygen uniformly. A larger number of smaller, round, cylindrical or oval air stones placed at equal distance inside a nutrient pool or tank also ensure high levels of oxygenation.
Air stones also have the benefit of acting as 'weights' which remain stable on the base, or in the lower layers of the nutrient tank - the further the bubbles have to travel to reach the surface of the nutrient, the more time oxygen has to diffuse into the liquid and the higher the rates of dissolved oxygen than can be obtained from an air pump and stone set up.
For systems with multiple nutrient reservoirs or tanks, one large air pump with many outlets will allow oxygenation into all systems and it is always a good idea to buy an air machine and air stones larger than currently required so that aeration can be increased under warmer conditions or if the hydroponic system is later expanded.
Oxygen and Temperature Effects - Effective Aeration
While forcing air bubbles deep down into the nutrient reservoir generally increases the dissolved oxygen levels in the nutrient, there is one other major factor to consider and that's the temperature of the air being pumped into the nutrient. As the temperature of a nutrient solution increases, its ability to hold dissolved oxygen decreases. So a cool nutrient solution may in fact hold twice as much oxygen at 'saturation level' than a warm solution. For example a nutrient solution at 45 F can hold around 12ppm of dissolved oxygen at 'saturation', (meaning it is the most it can hold), but the same nutrient solution at a temperature of 85 F will hold less than 7ppm at saturation. This means at a solution temperature of 85F there is much less dissolved oxygen available for the plant’s root system to take up. To complicate matters further, the requirement of the plant’s root system for oxygen at warmer temperatures, is many times greater than at cooler temperatures due to the increased rate of root respiration. So warm nutrients mean a very high oxygen requirement from the plant’s roots, but the nutrient can only hold very limited amounts of dissolved oxygen at saturation, no matter how much air is being bubbled into the solution. Ideally, nutrient solution temperatures for most plants should be run lower than the overall air temperature - this has many beneficial effects on plant growth and development. However, if overly warm air from the growing environment is pumped into an otherwise cool nutrient solution, the warm air will rapidly increase the temperature of the nutrient to that of the growing environment. If air is being pumped via an air machine with an intake close to lights or other heat sources then rapid heating of the nutrient will occur. On the other hand, cool air has the ability to reduce the temperature of the nutrient if sufficient levels are pumped in and thus result in a much more highly oxygenated solution for the plant’s roots. If keeping the nutrient solution temperature down seems to be a continual problem, checking the air inlet temperature of an air pump is a good idea. Overly warm nutrient solutions (ideally nutrient solutions should remain below 65 - 75 F) for most warm season, high light plants and well below 69 F for cool season.can have serious effects on the plants root system. Apart from the increased oxygen requirement due to a much higher rate of root respiration which can rapidly result in oxygen starvation, high solution temperatures favour many of the root disease pathogens. Plant roots become highly 'stressed' when experiencing high temperatures, particularly if there is a large mis-match between the air the root temperature. Root stress slows the development of new roots, resulting in reserves inside the root tissue being `burned up’ during respiration faster than they are accumulated, and stress makes the root system in general more susceptible to disease attack. Keeping a check on nutrient temperature is vital, as is ensuring that air machines are not blasting hot air into the solution and cooking plant roots. Aeration is most effective when cool air is bubbled into a nutrient.
Oxygenation and Nutrient Uptake
Healthy roots supplied with sufficient oxygen are able to absorb nutrient ions selectively from the surrounding solution as required. The metabolic energy which is required to drive this nutrient uptake process is obtained from root respiration using oxygen. In fact there can be a net loss of nutrient ions from a plant’s root system when suffering from a lack of oxygen (anaerobic conditions). Without sufficient oxygen in the root zone, plants are unable to take up mineral nutrients in the concentrations required for maximum growth and development. Maintain maximum levels of dissolved oxygen boosts nutrient uptake by ensuring healthy roots have the energy required to rapidly take up and transport water and mineral ions.
Calcium is one important nutrient ion which has been shown to benefit from high levels of oxygenation in the hydroponic nutrient solution Calcium, unlike the other major nutrients is absorbed mostly by the root growing tips (root apex). The root apex has a large energy requirement for new cell production and growth and is therefore vulnerable to oxygen stress If root tips begin to suffer from a lack of oxygen, a shortage of calcium in the shoot will occur. This shortage of calcium makes the development of calcium disorders such as tip burn and blossom end rot of fruit more likely and severe under oxygen starvation conditions. High levels of oxygenation ensure healthy root tips are able to take the levels of calcium required for new tissue growth and development.
Conclusion
While providing oxygenation with the use of air machines and stones is an excellent method of increasing the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in a nutrient solution, the temperature of the air intake and nutrient solution must also be managed to ensure oxygen starvation in the root zone does not occur. Pumping hot air into a nutrient not only creates temperature stress in the root zone, it also results in less oxygen carrying capacity in the solution itself - a recipe for root suffocation that will rapidly affect the top portion of the plant as well. Getting oxygenation right means checking both aeration capacity of the equipment being chosen and temperatures in the nutrient and root zone"
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kind regards from a guineapig
Good post GP, ty for getting this thread back on track...
If any slackers didn't make it to the end of the article this is an important piece of info that relates directly to overwatered plants.
I often see plants in the sick plant forum and I hear people scream Ca def. all the time when usually upon further inspection it's lockout due to overwatering, something is slighly off so they flush their organic plants...not a good idea, your only making it worse.
On a side note I have always aerated my teas, right after I gave up using my bubblers and decided to all natural.
I am still wondering if running a larger airstone in the bottom of my soil grow tubs would have a long term benefit?
I'm thinking cycling an air pump say 5min every hour and work that up on a few test plants, it sounds like a cheap and fun test to try on my girls.
Peace
S
If any slackers didn't make it to the end of the article this is an important piece of info that relates directly to overwatered plants.
I often see plants in the sick plant forum and I hear people scream Ca def. all the time when usually upon further inspection it's lockout due to overwatering, something is slighly off so they flush their organic plants...not a good idea, your only making it worse.
On a side note I have always aerated my teas, right after I gave up using my bubblers and decided to all natural.
I am still wondering if running a larger airstone in the bottom of my soil grow tubs would have a long term benefit?
I'm thinking cycling an air pump say 5min every hour and work that up on a few test plants, it sounds like a cheap and fun test to try on my girls.
Peace
S
true Suby very true.......
Always remember that injecting Oxygen into a body of water immediately "kicks out"
all of the dissolved Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the water and thus raises the pH.....
Dissolved CO2 acts as a mild acid, bringing the pH down slightly.....this is why most
mineral waters "with gas" (carbonated waters) test at around pH 5.9, slightly acidic...
but when the Oxygen is bubbled into the solution all of the CO2 is "kicked out" (in a
very complex chemical reaction, suprisingly, for such a simple phenomenon), and thus
the pH rises (usually around 1-2 pH points, but always check to make sure)....
Always remember that injecting Oxygen into a body of water immediately "kicks out"
all of the dissolved Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the water and thus raises the pH.....
Dissolved CO2 acts as a mild acid, bringing the pH down slightly.....this is why most
mineral waters "with gas" (carbonated waters) test at around pH 5.9, slightly acidic...
but when the Oxygen is bubbled into the solution all of the CO2 is "kicked out" (in a
very complex chemical reaction, suprisingly, for such a simple phenomenon), and thus
the pH rises (usually around 1-2 pH points, but always check to make sure)....
G
Guest
WoW! Wonderful information guys! It was a good thing this thread was started even if the initial question had dbeen asked many times. I am going to bookmark this what great info and experiences/opinions!
I also had what I thought to be a calcium def. I treated it with lime and after a week it was still spreading. After adding some salt just in case it was mag def (it had more than one thing wrong). However after all these treatments the spots still spread pretty steadily.
Well, by the time I finally realized my PH runoff was aroun 8 (in soil), it was too late. It only happend to one of four, which brings me to my next comment, to watch your plants as individuals not as a whole and so you don't make the mistake I made.
Yesterday I flushed the plant with some VERY light nutes and now am just going to water her till she finishes....
Never thought PH was very important specially with buffers, but I think that and over watering are the two biggest mistakes. It is too bad lockout really can be seen physically until mid flower.
Your guys's imput is mucho appriciated
I also had what I thought to be a calcium def. I treated it with lime and after a week it was still spreading. After adding some salt just in case it was mag def (it had more than one thing wrong). However after all these treatments the spots still spread pretty steadily.
Well, by the time I finally realized my PH runoff was aroun 8 (in soil), it was too late. It only happend to one of four, which brings me to my next comment, to watch your plants as individuals not as a whole and so you don't make the mistake I made.
Yesterday I flushed the plant with some VERY light nutes and now am just going to water her till she finishes....
Never thought PH was very important specially with buffers, but I think that and over watering are the two biggest mistakes. It is too bad lockout really can be seen physically until mid flower.
Your guys's imput is mucho appriciated
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