3D Pneumatic Aerator Creators
What are Algae Blooms?
Algae are large groups of naturally occurring phototrophic microorganisms that use light as their energy source for growth and produce oxygen for other aquatic organisms. Algae blooms are increases of these algae populations in freshwater or marine ecosystems. The occurrence of the algae blooms results from a combination of many things. One cause is runoff from trash and waste commonly referred to as “overfeeding”. When nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon from other sources flow into the water and build up, it overfeeds the algae.
Algal Blooms
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How are they Harmful?
Algal blooms can produce toxins that can kill fish, mammals, birds and in some extreme cases, humans. In other cases, non-toxic algal blooms eat up all of the oxygen in the water and as they decay, they clog the gills of fish and also smother aquatic vegetation. Blue-green algae that form can produce many types of skin irritants, neurotoxins, liver toxins, and cell toxins. When consumed by animals or humans these toxins can result in muscle cramps, twitching, paralysis, respiratory difficulty and many other harmful symptoms. Along with releasing toxins into the water and taking up mass amounts of oxygen, algal blooms also make surrounding air hard to breath as well as contaminating and turning the water red. These HABs can also be harmful economically, as they poison fish and seafood and cause the recreational and commercial fishing industry’s catches to decrease.
How does the Aerator Help?
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Algal blooms are the result of excess nutrients that occurs in bodies of water. This primarily due to excess forms of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium which occur from various forms of chemical fertilizers (NPK). The algal blooms harm other aquatic life in two different ways. Algal blooms are located at the top of a water’s surface which increases turbidity and blocks the sun exposure which prohibits plants beneath the surface to photosynthesize. Like all plants algal blooms thrive off of a nutrient rich environment and consume oxygen, a limited resource. Due to their high turnover rate or short life cycle they are not able to put oxygen back into the environment via photosynthesis like other plants.. The aerator aims to address the problem of lack of oxygen. The aerator has strategically located cavities along the sides which allow for the water to permeate through and release dissolved oxygen. The design has a sloping interior (sharp concave) increasing the pressure gradient and is also dual input both allowing for the maximization of oxygen output. Our model is an open source available to anyone and can easily be scaled to meet diameter and size needs before being 3D printed enabling flexibility to the aquatic environment. We have started a fundraiser to acquire PETE and PET plastic bottles so that the aerator can be printed and composed primarily of recycled plastic, helps with killing the algae while being both eco-friendly and cost-friendly.