WEBPAGE UPDATED Monay January 17, 2022
ALUMINUM CLICK-STYLE ADJUSTABLE DOSE OXYGEN REGULATORS ARE NOT MADE IN USA
MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS OF CLICK-STYLE ALUMINUM BODY OXYGEN REGULATORS SOLD IN AMERICA TO FISHERMEN ARE “MADE IN CHINA” and “MADE IN MEXICO.” MOST CONTAIN INTERNAL COMPONENTS MADE WITH ZINC AND NUMEROUS METAL ALLOYS. ZINC IS A WELL KNOWN INEXPENSIVE “SACRIFICIAL METAL” USED IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS BECAUSE ZINC IS QUICKLY ATTACKED AND DESTROYED BY GALVANIC CORROSION. ZINC ALLOY COMPONEENTS INSIDE ALUMINUM BODY OXYGEN REGULATOR IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF REGULATOR FAILURE.
GOOGLE “SACRIFICIAL METAL” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrificial_metal
GOOGLE “DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ELECTROLYSIS AND GALVANIC CORROSION” – https://www.boataccessoriesaustralia.com.au/blog/our-blog/difference-between-electrolysis-and-galvanic-corro/
All aluminum click-style adjustable dose oxygen regulator bodies have brass cores, adjustable doses calibrated in calibrated in liters per minute are prone to malfunction and fail because of Galvanic Corrosion when exposed to Marine environments (salty water, salty ambient air and all livewell supplements that contain electrolytes).
These regulators are commonly advertised and sold on the internet to fishermen as components for fishing oxygen-injection livewell systems for transporting live bait fish, shrimp and tournament fish in livewells. These regulators are advertised and sold at bait and tackle shops, Cabela’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, Amazon, on the internet and other big box store outlets as “Commercial Grade Oxygen Regulators” fishing oxygen system regulators “Designed for use in a marine environment.” This is “fake advertisement” that is FALSE AND DECEPTIVE.
Fishing oxygen regulators that are made for marine environments have solid brass bodies. They are plated with pure nickel (not nickel/chrome alloy plating that is not shiny like a chrome car bumper). Pure nickel plating will tarnish like an old Buffalo Nickel. Nickel/chrome alloy plating has a mirror finish, shiny like a new chrome car bumper. Oxygen regulators that have a nickel/chrome alloy plating are often advertises as pure” Nickle” plating. These oxygen regulators ARE NOT MADE FOR THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT. They are made for no salt exposure climate-controlled hospitals, clinics, relative clean medical environments. Fishing oxygen regulators made for marine environments do not have zinc internal components or zinc alloy. All nickel/chrome plated alloy oxygen regulator plating is very prone to Galvanic Corrosion when exposed to Marine environments and livewell supplements containing electrolytes (salt).
These oxygen regulators are a common component of store bought and homemade DIY fishing/bait life support oxygen systems because of 1 reason; they are cheaply manufactured in China, very inexpensive and appear to be a bargain for “bargain hunters”… but as usual, you get what you pay for.
Sport fishermen that fish in Marine and salty coastal bay waters are all at risk using click-style oxygen regulators made with aluminum alloy bodies. Aluminum oxygen regulators are often colored; red, blue, gold, yellow, green, pink, polished metallic, etc. All colored aluminum alloy regulators, regardless of the color, are all prone to catastrophic failure because of the adverse effects of Galvanic Corrosion. Electrolyte are added to all livewell supplements to aid osmoregulation and reduce the work of metabolism in stressful live transport condition.
Fact – These regulators are Not “Designed for use in a Marine Environments” nor are they classified as “Commercial Grade Oxygen Regulators” contrary to popular internet advertisements, infomercials, salesman talk and fishermen bro-science beliefs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion
What does Galvanic Corrosion look like? When Galvanic Corrosion (white powerery substance) becomes visible on aluminum oxygen regulators externally, the corrosive process is well established externally as well as internally and metal damage and pitting has begun. The flow control adjustment knob seizes, becomes inoperable (fixed) and aluminum metal pitting is actively rendering aluminum oxygen regulator unsafe to use. Outlet gas flow may be occluded. The high-pressure relief device inside the regulator may activate.
Corrosion damage is predictable and should be expected with these O2 regulators when used in Marine environments, coastal bays, coastal estuaries. Corrosion should also be expected and is predictable with brass body oxygen regulators that are plated with a chrome alloy when used in these fishing environments.
Galvanic corrosion is a metallurgy problem with aluminum alloy, chrome alloy and salt exposure. The corrosion is that white powdery oxidation that forms outside and inside aluminum oxygen regulators.
What is Galvanic Corrosion? – Understanding the Metallurgy Science https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion
Galvanic Corrosion is an electrochemical process in which one metal corrodes preferentially when it is in electrical contact with another metal (i.e. metal alloys), in the presence of an electrolyte (salt). *** The presence of an electrolyte (NaCL, KCl) and an electrical conducting path between the metals in the alloys are essential for Galvanic Corrosion to occur.
The electrolyte (sodium chloride, NaCl, salt) provides a means for ion migration whereby ions move to prevent charge build-up that would otherwise stop the Galvanic Corrosion reaction.
Salt (electrolyte) is a common element, ubiquitous in all marine environments. Salt is also the major component found in bait saver and fish saver livewell supplements and chemicals.
Salty air exposure and direct salt contamination activates Galvanic Corrosion and regulator failure with aluminum oxygen regulators. Once the Galvanic Corrosion process begins it can be retarded with Krytox synthetic lubricant, but not stopped.
Galvanic Corrosion can affect freshwater fishermen use too – Many freshwater fishermen have also seen and experienced negative effects of Galvanic Corrosion on aluminum oxygen regulators when using livewell supplements containing electrolytes.
What kind of regulator problems to expect: Expect problems with dose adjustment knobs corroding, freezing-up and fail. Worse, expect the O2 gas flow to the diffuser to fail, occlude and stop. When that happens, your live bait and tournament fish in the livewell may suffocate quickly within in minutes… the regulator, a vital component to an oxygen-injection life support oxygen system – CAN TOTALLY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.
Acute aluminum oxygen regulator failure has spoiled many live bait fish trips as well as costing C&R tournament fishermen thousands of dollars every summer.
About Livewell Supplements, Additives and Chemicals (SPECIFICALLY THOSE IMPORTANT ELECTROLYTES) – All Fish Saver/bait saver/bass saver/redfish saver livewell chemicals, additives and supplements contain electrolytes (NaCl and KCl). Livewell supplements and additives are promoted and sold to fishermen as “good for live bait and live tournament game fish health, aid osmoregulation, harden scales and reduce mucus production. Salt is a common inexpensive livewell electrolyte.
The Oxygen Edge™ O2 regulator is a precision dose, click-style high pressure oxygen regulator is manufactured in America. It is the only click-style high pressure “COMMERCIAL GRADE ” oxygen regulator engineered and custom manufactured for use in marine and freshwater fishing environments. The regulator body is manufactured with solid brass bar stock and the plating is pure nickel. The regulator is engineered, and custom designed specifically to inhibit the negative effects caused by Galvanic corrosion. There are no internal zinc components or zins alloy in the regulator: It IS NOT CLASSIFIED AS A “MEDICAL GRADE” OXYGEN REGULATOR.
The Oxygen Edge™ delivers as adjustable dose of oxygen; the dose of pure oxygen delivered is calibrated in pounds of fish. Stocking density ranges from (2 lbs. – 200 lbs.). Dial in the pounds of fish in the livewell or bait tank or a “Supercharging” dose of pure oxygen is delivered to the diffuser. The dose of oxygen required for “supercharging live bait fish and shrimp” is considerably more the dose oxygen that’s required to simply keep bait alive and healthy on a 100 F summer day. Correctly adjusted by the fisherman the regulator insures, safe continuous DO Saturations required to prevent hypoxic water quality during live transports with minimal waster oxygen.
MINIMAL SAFE, SUSTAINED LIVEWELL OXYGENATION IS ALWAYS 100% DO SATURATION OR GREATER DURING ALL LIVE BAIT AND LIVE FISH TRANSPORTS.