Accessories Used for Aquariculture

A person maintaining ornamental fishes at home may need limited equipment, while an entrepreneur requires more to meet customer demands.

Equipment's and Accessories Needed for Small Scale Recreational Ornamental Fish Maintenance

Glass/Fibre Glass Tank

• A small tank made of sheet glass, float glass, or transparent fiberglass.
• Should be placed on a strong stand (wood, steel, etc.).
• A hood can be added to prevent dust accumulation and provide illumination for night viewing.
  

Accessories for Fish Tanks

To enhance the aquarium's appearance, various accessories can be used:

• Hood: Made of glass, wood, or tin plate.
• Stand: Must support the tank's weight, made of wood or metal.
• Light Source:
• Aquarium lights provide bright illumination.
• Avoid direct sunlight to prevent temperature rise and algal bloom.
• Reccommended lighting: 10 to 15 hours a day.
• For a 5-gallon tank, a 10-watt lamp is sufficient.
• Heaters:
• Necessary in cooler areas, especially at night.
• Commonly immersion heaters with adjustable thermostats.
• Air Pumps and Accessories:
• Essential for maintaining water quality and oxygenation.
• Air pumps create small bubbles for efficient oxygenation.

Filters

• Biofilters and Mechanical Filters:
• Used to maintain water quality.
• Types include under gravel filter, box filter, poly filter, power filter, etc.
• Biofilters can be homemade using readily available materials.

Hand Nets

• Important for handling fish without causing injury.
• Common materials: mosquito nets, velon screen, or bolting silk.
• Use velon screen nets (no. 30-40) for brood stock.

Monitoring Devices

• Thermometer: To monitor water temperature and prevent stress/diseases.
• pH Pen and Refractometer: For checking water quality, especially in acidic/alkaline or saline conditions.

Feed Dispensers

• Used to prevent overfeeding and maintain water quality.

Cages to Hold Live-bearers

• Small floating cages prevent cannibalism among live-bearers.
• Young fish can escape predation by their parents.

Equipments and Accessories Needed by Large Scale Ornamental Fish Production Units

Aeration Devices

• Essential for mass rearing in pond systems.
• Types include:
• Surface aerators
• Diffuser aerators
• Turbine aerators
• Gravity aeration systems can also be set up.

Pumps and Pipe Lines

• Necessary to keep the culture system free from weed and predator fish.
• Avoid using water from natural bodies; prefer underground water from aquifers.
• Quality pumps are essential for maintaining good water quality and facilitating water exchange.

Pumps in Aquaculture

Types of Pumps

• Centrifugal Pumps: Use rotational energy to move water.
• Rotary Pumps: Move water using rotating mechanisms.
• Reciprocating Pumps: Use a back-and-forth motion to pump water.
• Airlift Pumps: Utilize air to lift water.

Equipment and Accessories for Fish Seed Production

• Fish Transportation Tins: Needed for transporting brood stock and ornamental fish seeds.
• Polythene Bags: Essential for fish transport.
• Oxygen Cylinder: Important for oxygenating water in transport tins and bags.
• Hapas: Made of gada cloth or bolting silk for hatching eggs.

Food/Feed Production Units

• Cement and FRP Tanks: Useful for producing live food organisms.
• Fish Feed Production Equipment:
1. Mixers
2. Grinders
3. Steaming Devices
4. Pelletizers
5. Driers
• Algal Culture Units: Needed for producing pure algal culture for baby fish, requiring:

• Air conditioning
• Illumination systems
• Containers
• Autoclaves

Energy Related Items

• Electrical Energy: Required for aeration and watering in aquarifarms.
• Standby Generators: Essential for power failure situations to ensure continuous operation.

Filters in Aquaculture

Function of Filters

• Filters remove suspended or colloidal matter from tank water.
• They convert toxic ammonia gas into nitrite and nitrate using nitrifying bacteria.

Types of Filters

1. Canister Filter:
• Self-contained units with a filter chamber and electronic pump.
• Available in internal and external types.
2. Internal Canister Filter:
• Uses a small centrifugal pump to circulate water.
• Water is drawn through vertical slots and filtered through foam materials.
3. External Canister Filters:
• Fixed outside the aquarium.
• Uses hose pipes to draw used water and return clear water.
4. Under Gravel Filter:
• Biological filter that converts ammonia to less toxic forms.
• Beneficial bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate.
5. Installation of Underground Filter:
• Made using asbestos or plastic sheets with small holes for water flow.
• Airlift tubes are used to lift water.
6. Poly-foam Filter:
• Uses sponge or wool material to filter waste.
• Operated by an air pump, collecting waste on the sponge's outer side.
7. Overhead Trickle Purification System (OTP):
• Used with tank filters, powered by a small air pump.
• Increases oxygen content and prevents unwanted gas formation.
8. Filter with Activated Charcoal (Carbon Filter):
• Uses activated charcoal to filter impurities.
• Activated carbon is made by charring organic materials and creating a porous structure.

 Filtration in Ornamental Fish Tanks

Types of Contaminants

• Colouring matter
• Toxins and toxic gases
• Heavy metals
• Sugars and many other organic compounds
• Suspended solids
• Antibiotics

Carbon Filtration

• The carbon pack lasts for several months.
• A simple 'box' filter is sufficient for carbon filtration.
• It can be installed either inside or outside the ornamental fish tank.

Filter Mechanism

1. Central Stem:
• Carries a rising stream of bubbles.
• Causes water to flow through a perforated lid.
2. Water Flow:
• Water flows down through the filter bed.
• It then rises back up through the central stem into the tank.
3. Carbon Placement:
• Some quantities of carbon are sandwiched between layers of filter pad.
• This keeps the carbon in place and removes gross particles.
4. Bottom Portion:
• Packed with pebbles or coral stones.
• Ensures efficient filtration of the water.
5. Airlift System:
• An airlift with rising bubbles conveys water to the box.
• Water is filtered before returning to the tank.

 These notes summarize the essential components and functions of pumps and filters in aquaculture, providing a clear understanding of their roles in fish farming.