Apparatus for treating fluids having improved aeration efficiency and dual function operation

In combination, a blower-assisted aerator, an impeller, a baffle structure, and a liquid reservoir containing a liquid,

• said blower-assisted aerator having:
• a motor rotating said impeller, said impeller fully submerged within and thereby impelling said liquid;
• an air line having an air line outlet submerged in said liquid and distal to said motor and an air line inlet relatively more adjacent to said motor than said air line outlet;
• and
• a blower having a blower air inlet and an air outlet, said blower forcing air from said blower inlet into said air line inlet and through said air line to said air line outlet;
• said baffle structure having:
• a first disc-shaped baffle downstream from and co-axially aligned with said impeller and fully submerged within said liquid having a first baffle outer diameter;
• a second disc-shaped baffle fully submerged within said liquid and located downstream from and co-axially aligned with said impeller and more distal thereto than said first baffle, said second baffle having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from said first major surface by a thickness, and a second baffle outer diameter greater than said first baffle outer diameter, said second baffle further having a plurality of perforations passing from said first major surface through said thickness to said second major surface.