I am rigging out a new boat. Which do ya'll think is better for the livewell, the Oxygenator or a Pro Air System?

Frank?

I honestly don’t have any information. I have been tournament fishing, from local weeknight stuff to National opens and big regional trails. I have never had an occasion where the factory installed live wells on my Skeeter didn’t work to keep the fish alive. Of course, I have had fish that were never gonna survive do to tongue hooking or gullet hooking, but O2 injected to the water wouldn’t have saved them. It is unfortunate that the fish were lost, but they didn’t go to waste.

I am gonna watch this thread to read what others with more experience than myself have to offer

A little ice, Catch & Release and if the bass are having a hard time, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your livewell. No oxygen system needed.

As learned from my friend Tony Gergely, owner of www.sure-life.com.

Get a cut-off for the Oxygenator. In the right circumstances it CAN kill fish with chlorine gas.

+1.
I’ve never had to use peroxide but thanks to Tony I carry a small bottle just in case. Ice and Catch and Release for most fish… ice and Please Release Me for any deep hooked or generally beat up looking fish. I also like to cycle the water and retreat a couple times during the day when water temps hit mid 80’s and beyond.

Often visited topic on the TFF. I have the OXYGENATOR in my Ranger 521 livewell. Boat came that way. When the livewell is full I switch “ON” the Oxygenator and I can visually see the tiny bubbles being released from the Oxygenator and they rise through the water to be released into the air. I’m not a “Oxygen expert” but it “appears” that NO dissolved O2 is being added to the H2O. Just appears that the air bubbles stay separated from the water and rises through the water to be released into the atmosphere. IMHO. All these years and I have never heard of someone PROVING the Oxygenator’s effectiveness by measuring the percentage of dissolved O2 in the water before and after using the Oxygenator. All that said: no one ever questions the tiny inexpensive “compressors” or “bubblers” have been used forever to keep fish alive in aquariums. They appear to do the same thing. Bubbles move up THROUGH the water column and get released into the air. Do they actually add O2 to the H2O or do they simply keep the water moving? 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️ FTT will be on here shortly to give you a much easier solution. “Wait for it, wait for it”………..

I have installed the marine metal products air pump in 4 boats now and it is incredible for keeping fish alive and healthy. $36.00 at academy.

Data suggests the Oxygenator system provides little to no benefit.

https://www.slideshare.net/raminlandfish/the-oxygenator-how-effective-is-it

Take it for what its worth but I installed an Oxygenator in my shad tank thinking it would keep shad lively. It killed the hell out of them. As mentioned above it chlorinates the water. Removed and trashed immediately.

I used the marine metal products pump in the bait tank of my striper boat. It is night and day in keeping bait alive. I might just stick that in this livewell with a switch.

I've put VT-2 vents on my last 3 boats. Bass Cat said their live wells are so good that they are not needed. Well, I installed them anyway based on my previous experience. Most of the time, a little Catch and Release is all you need. I agree with JP's method in hotter months. Your fish will be extremely healthy even in 100-degree weather. FTT, we've got you covered.

Thanks bud. Those things solve the problem 100%. $40.

I have one and it’s never been turned on.
Ice and additive.

That's what I did, but, it sure sounds like it might have been a waste of time and money. However, she's in there now and ain't coming out. I like to keep a few dinks occasionally for bacon strip fillets, so I guess we shall see.

In the summer I never use the recirculate, only fill/airate and never have a problem loosing fish