Regenerative blowers for aeration

[trout scout]

I have a Rotron regenerative blower that I plan on using to aerate my IBC totes (where my fish are kept) and was wondering if anyone else uses these high efficiency/ low energy devices to keep the DO levels up in their tanks? If so, how did you set up the air hoses from the blower to your tanks?

[arachdog]

I don't have one yet but I am planning on getting one soon. As you said they are highly efficient, and they deliver exactly whats required for aquaculture, low pressure, high volume air.
I think PVC pressure pipe would be a good choice for the main plumbing. Cheap, easy to assemble, reliable joins,and even the lowest class is more than rated for the pressure involved. Then you can tap some spigots into the PVC and use silicone or neoprene tubing for the short lines going directly to the air stones.

So anyway if you don't mind me asking, where did you get yours ?, how much did you pay ?, and how much air (with say 1m of head) does it deliver?

[trout scout]

I don't have one yet but I am planning on getting one soon. As you said they are highly efficient, and they deliver exactly whats required for aquaculture, low pressure, high volume air.
I think PVC pressure pipe would be a good choice for the main plumbing. Cheap, easy to assemble, reliable joins,and even the lowest class is more than rated for the pressure involved. Then you can tap some spigots into the PVC and use silicone or neoprene tubing for the short lines going directly to the air stones.

So anyway if you don't mind me asking, where did you get yours ?, how much did you pay ?, and how much air (with say 1m of head) does it deliver?

That is what I was thinking (the PVC with the spigots), and quality airstones. My blower is a Rotron 1/4 horsepower that sells for around $400 new, however I bought mine used on ebay for a little over $100. I tested it out and it works fine, I just need to set it up. I haven't tested what the cfm of air is yet, or how many spigots I can tap before I lose too much air pressure. Overall, I think it is the best way for my system due to the high energy efficiency and being a cost effective way to aerate. If you are looking for one, I will see if the ebay seller I bought from has anymore, and then forward the link to you.
=Trout

[arachdog]

Yeah I'd be interested for sure. Though it's probably still a little over-sized for the setup I'm currently building, which is only going to be 1500L (but run at a pretty high stocking density). It would be good to have room for expansion though. I wonder what would happen to the efficiency of these blowers if you tried to run them at half speed with a variable frequency drive. What size is the system your intending on using it for ?