The Federal and State Hatcheries, along with a number of fish farmers have employed single airlifts and diffusers (spaced around the pond) as a means of mixing and oxygenation. One of the many technical reports published by a government agency using airlifts states "Production from double cropped ponds at the highest density was equivalent to 13,540 and 14,740 pounds per acre in a 204 day growing season."

AREA's research found that the farmer was hesitant to install PVC around his ponds because of cost, labor and the fact the airlift system had not been proven in his area.

AREA has developed airlift pods consisting of six (6) airlifts in each pod (mas II). Each airlift pod will pump 660 gallons of water per minute and add 3 parts per million of oxygen to each gallon. A specially designed 3 HP blower will operate ten (10) of these pods and pump 6,600 gallons per minute of oxygen enriched water.

These pods can be attached to the MAS I air delivery tubing at intervals to meet the aeration needs of the individual farmer.

Each unit in this air lift pod discharges water and establishes a current. As this current radiates outward it breaks the surface tension of the water and allows mas oxygen transfer from the atmosphere. The current gradually loses velocity and the cooler water pumped by the airlift drops back to the bottom of the pond. The cycle is continuous, constantly mixing and adding oxygen. The area of mixing can be measured in thousands of square feet.

If the pond exceeds a depth of 3-4 feet, then foot pieces can be added to the airlift pod to draw water from greater depths. There is a slight loss in the pumping rates due to pipe friction created by the water moving through the extended foot pieces.

Deep Draft Airlift Pods

mas III is composed of six diffusers/airstones in a grid supported by a float that is attached to the air delivery manifold (MAS I), at intervals best suited of the farmer's needs. These diffusers/airstones manufactured by AREA can be either non-breakable high-molecular weight polyethene or glass-bonded silica stones.

These grids act as unconfined airlifts and because they are suspended on a horizontal plane, they add oxygen and move large volumes of water. Most of the water is moved vertically and then deflected by the float, in a horizontal direction, finally settling back to the bottom of the pond. The area of influence is somewhat less than the airlift pods (MAS II) but the previous mentioned 3 HP blower will allow you to operate thirty five (35) of these mas III units.

A specially designed 2 HP blower will operate twenty six (26) of these units, moving and aerating a volume alike to (26) 1/3 HP surface aerators.

SUMMARY
The MAS Systems may be utilized through out the entire year, or installed during the normal growing season, they can be easily removed and stored until the following season.

The MAS Systems are very compact and could be mounted on a small tractor drawn trailer with a remote (gasoline, propane, etc.) blower, and rapidly moved to ponds that are experiencing low dissolved oxygen levels. In this instance more MAS devices should be attached to the MAS I tubing in order to insure a rapid mixing and addition of oxygen. The cost of this emergency type system should prove less than present systems.

All the foregoing MAS I, II, III and Iv aeration systems are designed for easy assembly by the individual farmer. This saves the farmer the cost of the manufacturers labor and associated overhead. It also reduces shipping cost. The units can be assembled by the farmer in off season period and made ready for seasonal use or for emergency application. AREA will provide all components necessary at a very reasonable cost. (Except for the PVC pipe.) Details for construction of the various MAS units will be provided to our customers at no cost.

Octopod Diffuser