FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How Does The Oxygenator Work?
First and foremost, the Oxygenator is not a bubbler.

Bubblers or aerators draw in ambient air (the air you and I breathe) and pump it through a diffuser into the water. This ambient air contains only 20.9% Oxygen. These bubbles are usually so big that they quickly travel to the surface and escape back into the air. Since these air bubbles are not in the water very long, the oxygen is not dissolved into the water. As a result, you have an inefficient way of increasing the oxygen content in the water.

The Oxygenator works by scientifically splitting the water molecule (H2O) into its separate elements; Hydrogen and Oxygen. The Hydrogen bubble rises to the surface and escapes back into the atmosphere, while the 100% pure microscopic Oxygen bubble can’t break the surface of the water and escape, thus quickly dissolving in the water and increasing the Oxygen level in the water.

These bubbles are so small they look like smoke coming off of the emitter. The fish’s small blood vessels in their gills are able to quickly absorb this pure Oxygen. The result is quick recovery and a super saturated oxygenated environment for captive fish, even on the hottest of days.
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Is There Maintenance Required on the Unit?
There are no moving parts on the Oxygenator and therefore should last years and years. If you install one in your boat, the next owner of the boat will have a functioning Oxygenator.

The Pro Live Well Flush Mount (BKM-3) is self-cleaning. However, the Portable Live Well Keeper (BKM-2) does require occasional cleaning. To clean the Portable Live Well Keeper, simply immerse the unit in a normal kitchen glass or small container, using a 50-50 mix or CLR (found at most hardware and grocery stores) and water for about ½ hour and brush the remaining calcium off with the brush provided, and rinse thoroughly. DO NOT use a metal-bristle brush as it will remove the special coating on the Oxygenator’s titanium mesh screen, which will result in lost efficiency.

In Salt Water applications, only the BKM-3 Pro Flush Mount unit should be used; and it will need a little brushing and a freshwater flushing after every use.
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I Can’t See the Bubbles - Is it Working?

Unlike a bubbler system, where you can see the bubbles rising, the Oxygenator bubbles are almost impossible to see unless the water is calm and crystal clear. Under clear water conditions where the water is not agitated, you will notice what looks like a fine mist or smoke-like-discharge from the emitter, these are the Oxygen bubbles. The Hydrogen bubbles are larger and rise quickly to the surface and actually break the surface and escape back into the air. But, when the water is turbid or your re-circulating pump is on, you will be unable to detect  these fine bubbles because they are quickly dissolving back into the water therefore creating a supersaturated environment.
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How Much Power Does The Oxygenator Use?
The Oxygenator uses very little power – in fact less than 1 amp per hour. It only  truly draws power when the water has covered the titanium mesh emitters. The water actually acts like a switch; it’s the conductor. The small green LED bulb (25 milliamps) may be on all the time. This LED light draws virtually no power and is only an indicator that there is power to the emitter - but be assured the unit is only drawing power when the emitter is submerged in water. Again the water is the conductor; and even when the Oxygenator is running, it’s drawing less than 1 amp per hour. In other words, the Oxygenator has low power requirements.
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Does The Oxygenator Remove The Necessity For Recirculation Of The Water In The Live Well?
No. Occasional re-circulation in the live well is necessary to remove the carbon dioxide and ammonia build-up produced by fish. Recirculation works to create a quality environment for fish and bait.

Remember, there is a difference between Auto Fill and Re-Circulate on most live wells controls. Auto Fill means you are bringing in new water from outside the live well all of the time. Re-Circulate means you are keeping the same water (probably cooler) in your live well all day.

Re-Circulate is where you’re going to receive the best performance under hot weather conditions. However, you're not hurting anything if you do ad fresh water periocicaly. As the day heats up, the surface water (the water your intake is picking up) holds less dissolved oxygen than the cooler water you filled your live well with at the beginning of the day. The fish don’t care what the temperature of the water is, although warmer water holds little or no oxygen. Therefore; if you have your Oxygenator running all day on Re-Circulate; you have an oxygen-enriched live well.

If you add live well additives like U2 Pro Formula, you have added the proper enzymes, electrolytes and other essential properties that make for the ultimate environment for your captive fish and bait.  

U2 Pro Formula is the best ful function live well additive on the market today. It comes in a liquid form and has a measuring vessel built right into the bottle so there’s no waste. U2 being a liquid, will not harden in the bottle like crystal additives do after the bottle has been opened and exposed to humidity and moisture.
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How Can I, The Boat Buyer Be Convinced The Oxygenator Is A Value When Competitors Who Don’t Install Them Play Down It’s Value?

The pro fishermen that use the Oxygenator know it makes a difference. The first thing they notice is their bait and fish are livelier and healthier. That’s why the top pros are so adamant about making sure their boats are equipped with the Oxygenator system. 

Fish that are stressed after being caught and placed in a live well need more oxygen – up to 80% - and the Oxygenator provides that. Whenever new technology becomes available, there will always be some that choose to wait and see. When a pro angler has a tournament on the line, a dead fish penalty can take them right out of the money and The Oxygenator is an inexpensive insurance policy.

The price of live bait is going up all the time, plus livelier bait catches more fish. So, whether you are a pro or just want to catch fish for fun and to eat, The Oxygenator will keep you bait fresh and your catch fresh all day.
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Does This Mean That No Fish Will Ever Die In My Live Well Again?
That depends on the condition of the fish when caught or the bait when purchased.

Game fish brought quickly from very deep water may be overly stressed and this will negatively impact their mortality, especially larger fish that can’t handle the stress. Learning how to fizz a fish and having fizzing needles in your tackle box is helpful. Some fish may be hooked in a manner that will cause mortality no matter what. Most minnows have a short life. When you buy bait, not all minnows in a tank are the same age or freshness. Fresh bait always has a better chance of long-term survival in the optimum environment.

The Oxygenator and the use of U2 Pro Formula helps create the very best environment for fish and bait survival.

Does It Help To Add Additives To The Live Well?
Yes. It used to be a good practice to add ice and salt to your live well – that’s “Old School”.

There are many types of live well additives available to relax fish and aid in recovery once in the live well. Many of these additives rely on high levels of sodium chloride (salt) and are in a granular form. These additives do not  pose a problem, providing you follow the manufacturer’s dosage directions.

U2 Pro Formula is full funtion liquid water conditioner. U2 adds essential electrolytes, and enzymes for the fish. U2 also removes chlorine, chloramines, nitrates and ammonia. It also aids in maintaining the water’s pH, promotes healing (torn scales and/or hook punctures) and replaces lost or damaged protective slime coating.

You will find that providing proper oxygen levels and a conditioned water environment will keep your bait and fish healthier.

NOTE: U2 Fresh Water Pro Formula is a liquid concentrate – just ½ oz. treats 30 gallons of water. It comes in a handy bottle that has a special measuring device built into the bottle. This means no waste. Also, U2 Pro Formula, being a liquid, dissolves quickly in the water and because it is not a salt-based product, never hardens in its container. This eliminates the worry about overdosing and wasting product, which adds up to additional savings over the season.
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Is the Pro Flush Mount (BKM-3) Hard To Install?
Most installations only take a few minutes. There’s no need for fuses or a switch. You can run the wires directly to the battery - all you need is a 2 inch hole saw bit that attaches to your hand drill. The rest is easy.  The Pro Flush Mount comes with a rubber gasket for the inside of the live well to seal, so there’s no need to seal or silicon anything. The Oxygenator simply fits into the hole and tightens up from the back with the matching large nut and you almost there. You will need a small amount of 16 gage wire for the connection. This length is usually only a few feet.
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I Have A Live Well With A Divider - Do I Need Two Oxygenators?
Probably not - one Oxygenator is sufficient for 10 to 30 gallons.

If you have a large live well, like some of the Walleye boats, you may want to consider putting in two Oxygenators for optimum performance.

If you have two separate live wells you will obviously need an Oxygenator for each live well.
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I Have Heard That The Oxygenator Is Not Made For Salt Water?  
Yes and No.

Today only the BKM3 Pro Flush Mount works in Salt Water. Additionally, because the Oxygenator separates all of the water molecule components, in salt water it also separates the Sodium Chloride element (SALT) from the water and returns it as Chlorine. Chlorine gas is deadly to minnows and bait fish.

However, if you use our special U2 Pro Formula - Salt Water Version, you will be good to go. This formula has all the same great ingredients as our Fresh Water Version, plus an additive that totally removes the Chlorine gas from the water.

So, yes you can use the Oxygenator to keep bait alive in salt water as long as you use U2 Salt Water Pro Formula in conjunction with it. 1oz treats 90 gallons - a very inexpensive way to keep expensive salt water bait alive. We ask that you give the live well a good fresh water hosing when the day is done, and maybe a little brushing with a nylon brush, but other than that it’s the same unit used in fresh water boats. So the key to success here is use in conjunction with U2 Salt Water formula, and a good fresh water rinsing and brushing at the end of the day.
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