PLUG-AND-PLAY
Plug-and-play hatchery solutions for African catfish, tilapia, and other species by Bas Weinans, Aquaculture ID, Netherlands The Dutch company Aquaculture ID, a branch of Fleuren and Nooijen, started as a hatchery for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in 1986. Since then the company has developed into a company designing and constructing aquaculture production systems for a wide range of fish species. Aquaculture ID has over 30 years of experience and focusses on commercial aquaculture. By using their extensive experience and expertise, Aquaculture ID always aims to find solid and innovative solutions to help fish farmers worldwide achieving their goals.
RAS
Aquaculture ID strongly believes in the beneficial use of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), especially for hatchery systems. In early life stages of fish, the quality of husbandry conditions to a large extent determines the fitness, health and growth of fish during later life. Therefore, water quality parameters such as pH, oxygen-, ammonium-, nitrite-, nitrate levels, conductivity and temperature need to be kept within an optimal range to ensure the best growth conditions for a specific fish species. Giving young fish optimal growth conditions results in vital fingerlings, enabling fish farmers to deliver a stable and healthy product. Using RAS provides ideal possibilities for controlling those conditions. Increased biosecurity, low water use and less wastewater production are some of the other big advantages brought to us through RAS.
Plug-and-play hatchery solutions
Most hatcheries start small and then grow with increasing business. For small to medium-sized hatcheries the installation
costs to expand their hatcheries are relatively high. That is why Aquaculture ID developed the plug-and-play hatchery systems for African catfish and tilapia. Hatchery systems that are prefabricated and tested in their own well-equipped workshop. The plug-and-play hatchery systems are set up in a modular way. Each plug-and-play module is a small independent functioning RAS, with a fish tanks, mechanical filtration, biological filter, pump tank, pump, UV-treatment and optional aeration devices. The systems are for both 110V and/or 220V electrical networks. Conventional hatchery systems need to be installed by welltrained mechanics. This seriously increases the installation costs for the client. However, the plug-and-play hatchery systems can be easily installed by the farmer himself using the included instruction manual, resulting in lower installation costs. After transportation, the only thing the farmer has to do is placing the model in the right level by adjusting the levelling feet, connecting it to a local water source and put the electrical plug into a socket. For farmers, the plug-and-play hatchery systems are simple to operate, easy to clean, disinfect and maintain and are delivered with simple step-by-step operation instruction manuals. “Nevertheless, in order to assure that we give hatcheries a good start, the farmers can always count on us for back up. We always strive to help and deliver complete projects”, says BertJan Roosendaal. “For this reason, in our quotations we always include all necessary equipment for the plug-and-play hatchery systems, including spare parts and necessary fish farming equipment like fish nets, weighing scales, fish graders, water test kits, etc.” Bert-Jan continues. When desired, Aquaculture ID also offer technical and fish farming training on site.
36 | February 2020 - International Aquafeed