NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF HONDURAS

(CURLP)

Professor:
Eng. Dennis Alonso Reyes Ordoñez
Livestock Production II

Section: 08:00 AM
SUMMARY
Topic: Types and designs of fish ponds

Members:

Full name Account number

Julián Ignacio Andino Guillen 20171004545
Jesus Jafet Salazar Alvarado 20192300104
Dixiana Isabel Quiroz Alcerro 20182300100

Choluteca, March 21, 2021

 Ponds for fish farming

Ponds are defined as a pond of water surrounded by land built to collect water, for utilitarian
purposes, such as providing irrigation, raising fish, etc., or merely ornamental. In this case we
will focus on those specially designed for fish breeding.

Some aspects that we must take into account during the general construction of a fish pond are:

 The place for the pond should not be surrounded by pine or eucalyptus forests, so as not to
interfere with the quality of the water.

 Containment embankments must be built considering that for their settlement base, organic
remains and stones must be previously removed to achieve good compaction of the earth and
thereby avoid subsequent leaks and collapses.

 In the place where the construction embankment will be located, it is advisable that there be no
flat stones or rough soil that can later allow water leaks.

 When planning the construction of a pond, the embankments should not exceed three meters,
which achieves a depth of two meters, taking into account that fish need a flooded surface and
not deep water.

 When the water is very deep (more than three meters), the formation of toxic substances is
possible due to the lack of oxygen at depth.

 The pond must have a flat bottom and water runoff channels to empty it easily, towards the fish
holding box, which in turn must be connected to the drainage by placing the pipes before
constructing the embankment.

 The fish holding box should have a dimension of two meters by two meters and a depth of fifty
centimeters in order to retain the fish during fishing, it is built in masonry; If the pond is very
large, it should have a larger surface area.
 General structure of fish ponds

There are many types of tanks for the practice of fish farming, varying in shapes, sizes,
construction materials, construction design, etc. But their general structure is characterized by
the following parts:

 Pond walls or dams: structure responsible for retaining water in the pond intended for fish
farming.

 Pipes or channels: those responsible for circulating water in breeding systems or fish
ponds, generally for the entry of water and its exit.

 Water regulation device: devices responsible for regulating the level and flow of water
entering the pond.

 Tracks or paths on the walls of the pond: used to facilitate access to the pond during
maintenance and cleaning or surveillance tasks.

 Cultivation facilities and other necessary means: these include numerous devices and
facilities for breeding, reproduction, fattening, etc.

The aspects that are considered in all types of ponds must always be a priority for the effective
breeding and development of fish, among them we have the following:

 Temperature: very important since many fish are sensitive to sudden changes in
temperature, so a range between 28 to 32 degrees Celsius must be maintained.

 Oxygen: The recommended oxygen saturation levels are 100%.

 pH Scale: PH levels of 7.5 to 9.0 tend to be ideal for raising fish.

 Planting density: depending on the method to be used, system size to be used,

technology available among other factors.
 Types of ponds used in fish farming

Aquaculture tanks are classified according to type of material, extension and design or shape.

Types of tanks depending on the material they are made of:

 Earth or rustic tanks: Earth or rustic tanks are those that are created taking advantage of the
materials that nature provides in the place of aquaculture activity. These materials are usually
mainly earth and stones.

 Ponds with geomembrane: Geomembranes are geosynthetic sheets that ensure the tightness of a
surface. They are normally used to remedy water losses due to infiltration or to prevent the
migration of contaminants to the soil.

 Concrete or cement tanks: This type of tank is very suitable for symbiotic aquaculture since it
isolates harmful agents and allows good control of water parameters. However, these are
expensive structures to build.

 Fiberglass and plastic ponds: These tanks are widely used in RAS systems, Hatcheries and small
ornamental animal crops. The main quality is its easy cleaning, transportation and control over
water parameters.

Types of pond according to size:

For RAS aquaculture, in reproduction (hatchery), cultivation of a few small animals such as
animals for sale in aquariums, fish tanks (ornamental), small tanks are recommended. Below 60
m3.

For semi-intensive, intensive or super-intensive crops, including symbiotic aquaculture, medium

or small ponds, below 100 m 3 , are recommended. However, with respect to symbiotic
aquaculture, very good results are being achieved with tanks above 2000m3. For extensive crops,
large tanks or lagoons are recommended, above 10,000m 2 (1 hectare).

Types of ponds according to their shape or design:

It is cheaper and easier to build square or rectangular tanks than round ones, however, they
should have rounded corners to avoid hydrodynamic dead areas.

Round tanks are slightly more expensive and complex in construction, but provide greater
benefits regarding water movement and sludge expulsion.
 Regarding the depth, it depends on the species to be cultivated, but it must be taken into account
that the deeper they are, the more protected they are against variations in temperature, salinity,
precipitation and attacks by animals (seagulls, herons, bats, etc.)

Types of ponds according to their water source:

 Groundwater: they feed from a spring located in the same pond or nearby.

 Surface water body: such as a stream, lake, reservoir, or irrigation canal.

 Pumping: they are normally found above the level of the water from which they are supplied,
which can be a well, lake, stream, artificial lake or irrigation canal.

Pond designs for construction

Submerged ponds: they are built by extracting soil from a given surface to form a void that is
then filled with water.

Advantages: It does not need dams unless you want to avoid flooding, there is no need for a body
of water to supply it, little preparation is required for its construction.

Disadvantages: The water level can vary greatly from one season to another, more excavation
work is required, it is not drainable.

Dam ponds: Dam ponds are built at the bottom of a valley by raising a dam that closes the lower
end of the valley. Sometimes they are built in series along the valley.

Advantages: Simple design when dealing with small streams, natural productivity can be high
depending on the quality of the water supply, the cost level is relatively low as long as so many
measures are not required to avoid flooding.

Disadvantages: The dam must be firmly anchored and constantly monitored, a spillway with its
drainage channel is required, it cannot be completely emptied unless the inlet water supply dries
up, irregular shapes and dimensions.

Diversion Pond: The diversion pond is fed indirectly by gravity or by pumping through a
diversion canal (which becomes the main feed canal), from a spring, stream, lake or reservoir.

Advantages: ease of control of the water supply, satisfactory exploitation of the pond can be
achieved, it can be completely emptied, regular shapes and dimensions can be achieved.
Disadvantages: it has the highest construction costs, it has lower natural productivity, quality
typographic surveys and detailed demarcation are required.

Types of pond by fish farming method:

 Spawning ponds: for the production of eggs and fry.

 Nursery ponds: for the production of larger juvenile specimens.

 Breeder ponds: for breeding fish for reproduction.

 Storage ponds: to temporarily place fish, often before marketing.

 Fattening ponds: for the production of fish for human consumption.

 Integrated ponds: surrounded by land dedicated to cultivation or livestock and other fish
ponds, which supply the pond with waste material, used as feed or fertilizers.

 Wintering ponds: fish are placed during the cold season.