Replacing air pumps with water pumps, DWC

[lbristol]

I've been reading a lot about oxygenation and have managed a few large fish tanks over the last few years ... I don't run any bubblers in my larger tanks as I have a powerhead shooting water up and breaking the surface, thus oxygenating the water. My fish have never had a problem. I was under the assumption that not a whole lot of oxygen dissolves as the air rises to the surface from the air stones anyway, and this has worked for me. Would it be possible to replace each air stone in each bucket site with a 180gph water pump? They are much quieter and move the surface better than the bubblers. I'd imagine they do a better job at oxygenating the water and I can find pumps of that size at under 20w a piece.

My only concern doing this would possibly be that the DWC buckets are too turbulent for the roots.

Thoughts?

 

[lbristol]

Nobody? No peer reviewed papers on water oxygenation?

 

[Shugglet]

I don't run air stones. Just a circulation pump in each 17gal site rdwc.

Turbulent waterm never been an issue.

 

[rkymtnman]

180gph water pump

way less than that, run some tubing to top, 2 elbows to point it straight down and make a waterfall. done

 

[Crusher026]

I think u can use a venturi style set up.
Check out protein skimmers for reef tanks.. (Not that u should use the device but just to get an idea if what im talkin about..)