Add-on resting respirometry system

Use this industrial grade 4-fold power strip for software-driven control and monitoring of equipment via LAN/Ethernet or Bluetooth.

Connect pumps, solenoid valves, or stirrers to one of four independent electrical sockets switching at zero current (ZCS), e.g., for automated respirometry, water quality regulation, shuttle box experiments etc.

Electrical parameters like input voltage and power consumption (in Amps) for each relay, can be monitored and logged in Loligo^® software for diagnostics of connected appliances.

Features

• Real-time compensation for temperature, salinity and barometric pressure
• Measure oxygen in: % air saturation, % oxygen saturation, kPa, Torr, mg/L, mmol or ml/L.
• Unbeaten precision and stability with mini optodes
• Measure oxygen in both liquid and gas phase
• No oxygen consumption by sensor
• Immune to electrical and magnetic interference
• Oxygen sensing based on luminescence lifetime detection
• Wide variety of mini sensors available
• Excellent long-term stability
• Multiple instruments systems - use up to 7 instruments with a single PC 
• Minimum footprint

Witrox 4 is a four-channel oxygen instrument for use with fiber optic mini sensors (optodes). It has a build-in Bluetooth transmitter for wireless PC communication, and includes a high accuracy temperature sensor and software for compensation of oxygen data to changes in temperature, salinity or barometric pressure in real-time.

We developed Witrox 4 for the most challenging environments and applications. The wireless Bluetooth 2.0 communication allows you to keep that vulnerable PC/Notebook at a distance avoiding hazards like water or blood. Also problems associated with USB and serial communication are avoided, and the rugged compact design offers excellent protection and take up minimum bench space. 
The instrument comes with easy-to-use software for Windows, and a 4-wire Pt1000 temperature sensor (Class B 1/3 DIN) with +/- 0.15 °C accuracy for 5-digits real-time compensation of oxygen data.

A PC computer with Bluetooth 2.0 or higher (build-in or dongle) is required for operation.

How does it work?

The instrument LEDs emit blue-green light that excites the oxygen mini sensor (optode) to emit fluorescence. If the oxygen sensitive dye encounters an oxygen molecule, the excess energy is transferred to the oxygen molecule in a non-radiative transfer, decreasing or quenching the fluorescence signal. The degree of quenching correlates to the partial pressure of oxygen inside the dye matrix, which is in dynamic equilibrium with oxygen in the sample. The decay time measurement is internally referenced.

For more details, and a diagram on this measurement principle, go to our FAQ.

Software for Witrox 4

WitroxView 2 is a free data monitoring and logging software for use with our Witrox 1 and 4 oxygen instruments. The latest version can be downloaded here.

Included with the Witrox 4

• Witrox 4 oxygen instrument
• Temperature probe for Witrox
• USB power cable and wall adapter
• Protective hardcase

Features

• Excellent long-term stability
• Easy to handle and robust
• Non-invasive and non-destructive measurement from outside through the wall of the flask
• Usable for process application
• No self-consumption of oxygen
• Signal independent on flow velocity
• Insensible towards electrical interferences and magnetic fields
• Measures oxygen in liquids as well as in gas phase
• Excellent mechanical stability and long-term stability
• Online monitoring

Sensor spots are thin planar oxygen mini sensors immobilized onto either polyester or glass supports, for use with our Witrox instrument (i.e., not compatible with microplate readers!).

The sensor spots are glued inside chambers, flasks or disposables with translucent and non-fluorescent walls (e.g. glass, polyester, acrylic etc.). Then oxygen measurements can be done in a non-invasive and non-destructive way from outside and through the wall of your vessel.

With silicone glue you can glue the sensor spots inside your own chambers, flasks, disposables, or we can do it for you.

To use the sensor spots a fiber optic instrument and an external fiber cable (light guide) is required. The tip of the fiber cable delivers (blue) light to the backside of the sensor spot though the wall (and transparent glue). The front side of the sensor spot is in contact with the media (liquid or gas), e.g. the light is not passing through the media.

There are two ways of fixing the (external) fiber cable over the centre of the (internal) sensor spot:

1) A bare tip fiber cable is fixed with a special chamber (holder), or run through a Radiometer/Cameron dummy electrode adapter for fiber optic oxygen sensing in Radiometer/Cameron electrode chambers, cuvettes etc.

2) A fiber cable with a threaded SMA connector at the tip is screwed onto a fitting sitting on a velcro band adapter for curved chamber walls or planar walls.

Features

• One-component adhesive/sealant
• Easy to apply
• Cures (to a tough, flexible rubber) at room temperature when exposed to moisture in the air
• Good adhesion to many substrates
• Acetoxy cure system
• Stable and flexible from -60 ºC to +180 ºC (-76 ºF to +356 ºF), with short peaks up to +205 ºC (401 ºF)
• Excellent dielectric properties
• Complies with MIL-A-46106
• Complies with FDA 177.2600

We offer this clear and non-toxic silicone adhesive for mounting sensors spots on many substrates such as glass and most common engineering plastics. Suitable solvents include isopropyl alcohol, acetone or methyl ethyl ketone.

On exposure to moisture, the freshly applied material will "skinover" in ~7 min. Any tooling should be completed before this skin forms. After skin formation, cure continues inward from the surface. In 24 hours (at room temperature and 50 % relative humidity) the silicone glue will cure to a depth of about 3 mm.

For instructions on how to mount a sensor spot, please go to our FAQ.

A polymer optical fiber is needed as a light guide between the fiber optic instrument and the sensor spots.

Features

• Borosilicate glass materials to avoid O₂ storage/release
• Ground glass joint stopper for 100 % gas and water tight chamber
• 2 x 2 ports for intermittent flow respirometry
• For use in both full strength sea water and fresh water
• Easy tool-free handling and cleaning
• Optional replacement tubes for shorter/longer chambers

These tube-shaped borosilicate glass chambers are designed for measurements of oxygen consumption rates in resting/inactive aquatic organisms (e.g., fish or inverts), and have ports for intermittent respirometry.

The ground glass joint stopper makes for a gas and water tight seal, and can be combined with tubes with similar inner diameter (ID) but different lengths to get a range of volumes/sizes.

These adapter rings (set of four rings) can be used to fix mini chamber (horizontal) and/or mini chamber (vertical) in our water bath for mini chambers.

Use this holder with up to four horizontal glass chambers ID 9-28 mm.

To hold chambers of different dimensions, we offer adapter rings that matches the outer diameter of each available chamber.

The holder can be mounted inside a water bath for thermostatic control.

For each chamber, there is a fixture for an external fiber optic cable required for oxygen or pH sensor spots.

FEATURES

• Water bath for glass resting chambers
• Made from transparent acrylics
• Comes with transparent lid and ½” fittings for running thermostatic water through it
• For use with our horizontal glass chambers
• Does not include miniature DC pumps, chamber holder or glass chambers

This acrylic water bath is used for keeping the temperature stable during respirometry experiments with our horizontal glass chambers. The transparent acrylic allows for clear viewing of the glass chambers (and animals), and 8 x miniature DC pumps can be fitted underneath the bottom for flushing and recirculation of the glass chambers. Two ½” fitting ports are present on the front and back of the water bath which makes it possible to run water through the bath. As such, the water bath is ideal for regulating the water quality (e.g., temperature and/or oxygen level) which can then be introduced into the glass chambers via the flush pumps. A transparent acrylic lid is included for improved water quality regulation. Two unbraco bolts are mounted into the bottom of the bath for securing an optional glass chamber holder.

Features

• DC power operated
• Brushless drive motor
• Quiet pulseless flow
• Stainless materials

This tiny impeller pump is highly efficient despite the compact design allowing for installation into the smallest places. We have chosen acetal inner parts and impeller, viton seals, and a stainless steel housing so that the pump can be used in hostile environments like marine labs.

Pump flow rate can be adjusted by varying input voltages between 5 VDC and 12 VDC. Further fine tuning can be made by restricting the outgoing flow with a tube clamp or by using a thinner tube thereby increasing friction against flow. 

This flange pump mounts onto any planar surface with stainless screws and o-rings (both included). We can supply an optional fitting flange with barb hose fittings for 3.2 mm tubing, but the pump is NOT made for submerged use!

Features

• Compact DC power adapter for miniature DC pumps
• Adjustable voltage: 3, 4.5, 5, 6, 9, and 12 V
• Waterproof (IP67) M9 connector 
• Connects to Schuko (EU) outlets

This compact and efficient DC power adapter is intended for use with our miniature DC pumps. The voltage is adjustable from 3, 4.5, 5, 6, 9, and 12 V, and the special M9 connector is waterproof (IP67) for improved ruggedness. The power adapter fits standard Schuko (EU) outlets, e.g., in our PowerX4 Bluetooth/LAN power strips.

Note: The miniature DC pump operates from ≥ 5 V.

Features

• Best chemical resistance of any Tygon^® formulation
• Plasticizer-free
• Transparent for easy flow monitoring
• Low gas permeability

Genuine Masterflex^© Versilon™ 2001 tubing with low gas permeability and excellent chemical resistance. The tubing is clear for easy flow monitoring, and can be sterilized using autoclaving, ethylene oxide or gamma irradiation.

Features

• Best chemical resistance of any Tygon^® formulation
• Plasticizer-free
• Transparent for easy flow monitoring
• Low gas permeability

Genuine Masterflex^© Versilon™ 2001 tubing with low gas permeability and excellent chemical resistance. The tubing is clear for easy flow monitoring, and can be sterilized using autoclaving, ethylene oxide or gamma irradiation.

FEATURES

• Fast temperature equilibration in glass resting chambers
• High-quality stainless-steel tube
• Different tube diameters and lengths for different chamber lengths

These stainless-steel tube connectors improve the temperature control of the glass resting chambers. The surrounding water in the water bath will heat/cool the water inside the tube much faster in the metal tube than in regular plastic tubing. The steel materials will also allow better sterilization with various techniques/chemicals. The tubes come with different diameter and lengths to provide optimal heat transfer in the various sizes of glass chambers.