Tech Talk

Bulkhead fittings are designed for use as inlets or outlets on tanks, aquariums, and sumps. It provides a leak-proof way of attaching PVC plumbing to the tank or vessel. Bulkhead fittings for aquaculture are commonly manufactured from either polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and typically the unit is comprised of a threaded body with flange, silicone gasket, and locking nut to ensure a watertight seal for easy, long-lasting installation.

A protein fractionator, also known as a foam fractionator or protein skimmer, is a water treatment device commonly used in purging systems, growout systems, and effluent/influent treatment to improve water quality.

Acclimation is the process of becoming accustomed to a new environment or to new conditions; therefore, acclimating your fish to the water in the tank can help decrease potential stress they would experience in the transfer process. Gradually allowing them to get used to the aquatic system’s water temperature, pH level and other water chemistry parameters can reduce any stress incurred by simply dumping them into the new system upon arrival and expecting them to adjust quickly.

Having an indoor aquaponic system can allow for environmental control and production of specialty crops out of season; therefore, extending the growing season and resulting in a better market price for the producer over soil-based cropping systems with limited growing seasons.

Using the correct substrate for seedling and transplant production is one of the important management considerations to make sure your aquaponic facility has strong and healthy plants ready to enter the production system. The substrate provides seedlings and transplants with support, aeration, water retention, and in some cases nutrients. If the substrate does not provide the proper physical and chemical parameters necessary for growth, then the entire production timeline from transplant to harvest can be compromised; thus, affecting the operation plan and viability of the aquaponic business.

When it comes to life support systems, protecting your equipment is just as important as maintaining water quality. That’s why Aquatic Equipment and Design is now offering the CoolBLUE Rings® + NaLa® package—an integrated solution designed to prevent bearing failure and extend the life of motor-driven systems.

Changes in concentrations of specific water quality parameters can have a direct impact on the growth and health of aquatic species. Maintaining optimal water quality parameters is a necessity because the aquatic organism is in direct contact with the surrounding aquatic environment; therefore, much of aquaculture is about creating, maintaining, and continuously monitoring water quality parameters.

The majority of nitrogen present in the fish feed and added to the culture system will be released as a dissolved form into the aquatic system. Ammonia is the principle nitrogenous waste product excreted by aquatic organisms and is excreted across the aquatic organism’s gills into the water. Ammonia levels have to be monitored frequently and carefully managed because ammonia can be highly toxic to aquatic organisms. The good news is simple water quality test kits and procedures using color discs can help the farmer quantify the concentration of toxic ammonia present in the system so informed decisions can be made, if necessary.

A fish farmer operating a recirculating aquaculture system will need to maintain efficient oxygen transfer rates to ensure their fish continue to grow and extend the life of the low pressure aeration system (i.e. regenerative blower).

A large portion of the fish farmer’s operational cost is allocated to the price of the fish diet. The fish diet is fed to increase growth rates and maintain fish health in high-density aquaculture environments. The farmer needs to make sure he or she is optimizing feed use, reducing costs, and minimizing the environmental impact by not overfeeding. In aquaculture, a low Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) is particularly desirable to reduce the volume of feed required and thus, reduce production costs and improve farm profitability.

Humans are not the only organisms that find lettuce, basil and cucumber a tasty treat and despite your best efforts your crop can become affected by disease or pests.The best form of defense against plant disease and pests is the farmer’s shadow, meaning the farmer needs to be actively looking for the presence and signs of disease and pests in and around their production area.

What Are the Basic Water Quality Parameters to Monitor for Aquaponic Systems Aquaponic systems require regular monitoring of water quality on a weekly basis to ensure good fish and plant health.