Transcript Growing Fish in a Recirculating System: Advanced Teacher’s

Growing Fish in a Recirculating
System:
Advanced Teacher’s Workshop
An Inexpensive Recirculating System
Blan Page & PJ Waters
System Components
• Three (3) 100 gallon stock watering troughs
• Two (2) 55 gallon barrels
• Pipe, valves, fittings
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1.5”
1.25”
0.75”
Special fittings
• 90- 0.75” x 5/8” hose barb
• 0.75” threaded Tee
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Submersible Pump
Cable Ties
Garden Hose 5/8”
“Light grate”
Where To Get it??
• Troughs
– Purchased at local Feed & Seed store for under $80.00
each.
• Can find for less, just have to look in your area
• 55 gallon barrels
– Donated by Coca Cola
• Pipe, valves, fittings, Light grate
– Local plumbing supply and hardware stores
• Pump, Bulk Head Fittings, Bio Media, Mechanical Sock,
etc.
– Aquatic Ecosystem
• Other places/ideas exist
The Tanks
• Come with threaded fitting (1.25”)
• Make sure the BHF in the tank is tight
– Many times they will leak b/c they are not secured
at the factory
– DO NOT over tighten
The Barrels
• Have a 0.75” threaded fitting in the tops
• Not used in this instance, but could be to put
an external pump in place
• Make sure that you ‘chock’ the mechanical
filter when you get it installed
– Use a 2x6 on each side
– Build a box frame
– Etc.
Simple instructions
• You can start where ever you want
• We started with the mechanical filter and a
tank to get good measurements
The Mechanical Filter
• Two 90s (1.25”) nested
• One tail piece to go into
barrel
• Pipe height will
determine water level
– WHY?
The Mechanical Filter/Pump
• Opposite end of the
barrel
• Cut out for pump
The Mechanical Filter/Pump
• Insert Pump
• How to attach
– Catalog indicates a 0.75”
outlet
– Doesn’t fit?
– Improvise
The Supply Side
• Use a threaded 0.75”
tee, a 5/8” X 0.75”
threaded 90, and 20.75” valves
• Why 2 valves?
The Supply Side
• Here you can see the
Mechanical filter (lower
left corner), one of the
2 valves you just
installed and the pipe
leading to the biofilter
Supplying the Biofilter
• Measure carefully
• Use the model
Supplying the Biofilter
Trace out the inner circle of the BHF gasket
Carefully cut out line with
jig saw. No need to look for
a hole saw.
Supplying the Biofilter
• On the inside of the
supply side
• BHF to nested 90
turned up
Supplying the Biofilter
• On the inside of the
supply side cont’d
• Up to Nested 90s
• Down to bottom of tank
Flood Prevention Step
• No guarantees, but
drilling a small hole in
the center of the nested
90s will allow for a
siphon break in the
event of a power
failure.
• Keeps the water in the
barrels and off the floor
Supplying the Biofilter
• Once the hole is drilled
• Install and cut a length
of pipe long enough to
reach the bottom
Draining the Biofilter (inside the unit)
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Use a BHF (1.5”)
MPT X SLP
Tee
2 Caps
Measure carefully
– Try to center tee
– Cap the ends
– Use slotted pipe to
screen biofilter material
Draining the Biofilter (outside the unit)
• BHF to MPT X SLP
• Nested Valve
• This valve is screened
inside so biomedia will
not leave
• Can be plumbed further
to drain where needed
Supplying the Tanks
• The Biomedia we are
using floats
• Screen the supply line so
it doesn’t escape
• Just like the drain
• Measure carefully to
center
• Allow arms to be long
enough to just fit inside
the barrel
• MPT X SLP to BHF
Supplying the Tanks Cont’d
• Further contain the
biomedia by adding a
piece of lighting screen
• Sometimes easier to cut 2
halves and then connect
with cable ties
• Makes it more difficult for
unoccupied hands to
access and subsequently
spread media across your
hatchery
Supplying the Tanks
• This shows the system with 1
tank (capped end for
expansion)
• MPT X SLP
• Nested 90 down turned
• Into 45 to sloped pipe
• To Tee, down turned (could
use sweep)
• Valve at every tank for
flexibility
• Then continue to next tank
• MEASURE CAREFULLY
– Your are relying on gravity here
and need to not have uphill
Draining the Tank
• This is the end tank in
the line
• Cap on down stream
end allows for easy
expansion
– Leave enough room to
cut then glue new piece
• MPT X SLP
• Nested Valve
• Nested Tee
Draining the Tank
• Tanks flow into central
drain line
• Into stand pipe
• Design differs from
photo here
– External stand pipe is
lower for more
reasonable water level
Design Changes from Model
• Supply Side to tanks
• Recommend moving
supply side to a position
over the mechanical
filter
– Provides better access
– Centralizes plumbing
• Pump Selection
– Pump provided will run 3
tanks at ~ 1 turnover per
hour
– If you desire more flow
or are going to add tanks
consider adding a
stronger pump