Tanks for Home Fish Farming

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Fire regulations for buildings
● • Tanks can be manufactured from a variety of materials such as wood, concrete, metal, plastics,
poly-ethylene, PVC, fiber-glass etc. • An infinite number of shapes and sizes to suite the specific
needs of the species and farming operation.

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

The recommended characteristics for, aquaculture tanks are as follows:

● The interior surface should be smooth to prevent abrasion

● The surfaces should be nontoxic
● Should be durable and portable
● Should have long life
● Ease of cleaning
● Easy to sterilize
● It should be non-corrosive
● Affordable

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Tanks are commonly used for:

1. fry production
2. as temporary holding facilities for fingerlings, brood stock or
3. food fish ready for sale
4. aquarium fish production
5. a public display aquaria

Tanks are becoming popular especially for intensive production systems e.g.
Catfish farming

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Tank culture has now become more attractive because of the following factors:

1. Tanks are used in aquaculture research

2. Ponds require relatively large land area compared to tanks systems
3. Experimental parameters are more easily controlled tanks than in ponds
4. Tanks are made in large numbers by manufacturers, using different
materials

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Tank Design & Construction

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Tanks are made from:

● Wood
● Concrete
● Plastic
● Fiberglass
● Metal
● Glass

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Wooden tanks

● They are cheap

● Light in weight
● Easy to work with. Plywood may be used.
● Do not use treated wood because it may be toxic to fish.
● All surfaces should be painted to protect the wood.
● Do not use paints that have lead as this would leach into the water
● The interior of the tank should be covered with non-toxic materials such as
epoxy or fiberglass resin paint
● They cure in about 2 days, forming a hard and smooth surface
● Water proof liners may also be used in wooden tanks

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Concrete Tanks

● Concrete is used for large tanks or pools

● Tanks can also be made from gunite which is strong, durable, compact, but
is more expensive than liners

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Plastic Tanks

● Plastic includes polypropylene, polyethylene, poly butylene, polyvinyl

chloride (PVC), acrylics, and vinyl
● Each one has its own bad and good qualities.

Advantage of plastic tanks include the following:

● it is lightweight
● Portable
● repairs are easier
● can be made in various shapes and sizes
● most are non-toxic.

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Fiberglass is mostly chosen for aquaculture for tank construction because of
the following factors: • it is lightweight
● Strong
● Durable
● Inert
● can withstand the effects of UV rays.

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Shapes of tanks: Circular, rectangular, square and oval tanks:

(a) Circular Tanks

● commonly used for nursery and
grow out purposes also used
● have better hydraulic characteristic
● The self cleaning action and oxygen
distribution of circular tank hold
specific advantages
● The velocity, circulation of water will
cause
○ better mixing of oxygen
○ food distributed
○ uniform water quality .
● higher stock densities

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

(b) Square and Rectangular tanks
● advantage of efficient use of space
● contribute to savings on construction costs .
disadvantage that wastes tend to collect in the
corners
● The corners of square or rectangular tanks are
therefore often rounded to improve the
hydraulics and flow patterns.

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

c) Oval tanks

● are an effort to combine the advantages of circular tanks & rectangular

tank
○ efficient water use and self cleaning action of circular tank
○ the space efficiency of rectangular tanks

● found in intensive indoor and outdoor systems, where advance aeration

technology are applied

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Water Inlet

● control over the flow rate (L/sec) and velocity (cm/sec) of water
● The design must allow for the maintenance of flow patterns to maintain
the self cleaning action , minimize the risk of blockages
● when using underground or lowly saturated water sources, the inlet can
also be designed to facilitate with aeration of inlet water through the use
of jets, diffusers
● adequate diameter for the inlet pipe should be maintained.

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Maintain a proper balance between:
● Velocity and flow pattern
● The self cleaning function of the fish
● The energy requirements of the fish
● Velocity needs to be adapted according to species and size of fish

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Water Outlet and Flow Patterns .Flow patterns are functions of water inlet and outlet design. .The
water outlet must also make provision to regulate operating depth of the tanks.

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Tank Bottom and Drainage .

Flat or conical bottoms can be used.

. Sloping bottoms are more efficient in removing wastes.(rectangular)
. Adequate velocities are required to maintain self cleaning in flat bottom tanks.
. Flat screens are often used with the disadvantage of limited surface area and difficulty of cleaning
.mesh size should ensure that no fish can escape, though wastes must be allowed through. . . The
diameter of drain pipes should be large enough to facilitate quick drainage.

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

The Advantages of Tank Systems Efficient use of space Efficient use of water Low maintenance Good
self cleaning action Good visibility Flexibility of design Flexibility of application

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Characteristics of seasonal tanks

• Cultivation is primary activity.

• Fishery is secondary activity

• Drying period: July – September

• Smaller and shallow
• Hold water during monsoon.
• Higher fertility of water

Prof. Heleena Sengupta

Prof. Heleena Sengupta
Prof. Heleena Sengupta
Prof. Heleena Sengupta