A Vertical‐Lift Incubator (the “Seesaw”) Designed for Channel Catfish Egg Masses

Torrans, Les; Ott, Brian D.; Jones, Robert“Shorty”; Jones, Robert; Baxter, Jeff; McCollum, Bill; Wargo, Andrew R.; Donley, Jimmy

doi:10.1577/a08-066.1

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Eggs masses loaded at an average rate of 15.1 kg/trough (4.0 kg/100 L), approximately 50% higher than the recommended rate for paddle‐type incubators, averaged a survival through swim‐up stage of 84.9%, higher than reported industry average (Torrans et al ). Supersaturating the water with oxygen does not improve results above air‐saturated water.…”

Section: Oxygen Management In Catfish Hatcheriesmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Dissolved Oxygen and Aeration in Ictalurid Catfish Aquaculture

Boyd

Torrans

Tucker

2017

J World Aquaculture Soc

122

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Feed-based production of ictalurid catfish in ponds is the largest aquaculture sector in the USA. Feed has an oxygen demand, and increases carbon dioxide, ammonia nitrogen, and phosphate inputs to ponds. Major sources of oxygen in ponds are phytoplankton photosynthesis and mechanical aeration; the major sink for oxygen is respiration by fish and by microorganisms in the water column and sediment. Dissolved oxygen concentrations decline when respiration exceeds photosynthesis, and the most crucial time for low dissolved oxygen concentration is at night. Mechanical aeration is applied to avoid nighttime dissolved oxygen concentrations from falling below the critical level for catfish of 3 mg/L. Electrically powered paddlewheel aerators are used by most catfish producers. The oxygen-transfer efficiency of these aerators is known, but calculations of aeration requirement from stocking and feeding rates are not reliable because of variation in phytoplankton abundance and in weather conditions. Dissolved oxygen concentrations must be monitored, and when measurements suggest that nighttime dissolved oxygen concentration will be unacceptably low, tractor-powered emergency aerators must be operated to supplement dedicated aeration. Dissolved oxygen concentration also is important in hatcheries, and small aeration systems have been developed for hatchery application.

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Section: Oxygen Management In Catfish Hatcheriesmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…A new vertical‐lift incubator (the see‐saw; Fig. ) was designed to maximize water flow through the egg masses (Torrans et al ). Using existing hatchery troughs, an angle aluminum frame fitted inside existing troughs holds three mesh baskets with hinged lids.…”

Section: Oxygen Management In Catfish Hatcheriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dissolved Oxygen and Aeration in Ictalurid Catfish Aquaculture

Boyd

Torrans

Tucker

2017

J World Aquaculture Soc

122

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Channel Catfish Hatchery Production Efficiency Using a Vertical‐Lift Incubator (the See‐Saw) at Various Egg Loading Rates

Torrans

Ott

Jones³

2013

N American J Aquac

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Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus spawns are typically incubated in 0.25‐in‐mesh baskets suspended in water that is agitated with paddles positioned between the baskets. We previously tested a vertical‐lift incubator (the “See‐Saw”) using Channel Catfish spawns. When loaded with spawns at rates higher than recommended for traditional paddle‐type incubators, as often occurs during the peak of the spawning season, survival to the swim‐up stage was significantly (2.3 times) higher with the See‐Saw than with traditional incubators. This project examined the effect of spawn loading rate and added oxygen on fry production with the See‐Saw. In study 1, See‐Saws were loaded with 15.0 ± 0.1 lb (mean ± SE; 219,825 eggs), 30.1 ± 0.1 lb (446,055 eggs), 45.1 ± 0.1 lb (668,206 eggs), or 60.1 ± 0.1 lb (891,157 eggs) of spawns per trough. Water flow averaged 2.1 gal/min—roughly 40% of the rate recommended for paddle‐type incubators. Swim‐up fry production increased in proportion to egg loading density up to 45 lb/trough, with the 15‐, 30‐, and 45‐lb loading rate treatments producing 132,658, 263,828, and 429,422 swim‐up fry, respectively. However, the 60‐lb treatment produced only 417,237 swim‐up fry. Survival to the swim‐up stage in the 15‐, 30‐, and 45‐lb treatments averaged 60 ± 9, 59 ± 6, and 64 ± 4%, respectively, but survival to swim‐up in the 60‐lb treatment averaged only 46 ± 8%. In study 2, the addition of purified oxygen to See‐Saw incubators loaded with 36 spawns/trough (∼45 lb/trough) increased the DO concentration by 4.0 ppm (to 125% air saturation) but had no effect on survival to swim‐up. The See‐Saw incubator can effectively incubate up to 45 lb of spawns (670,000 eggs)—up to three times as many eggs as traditional paddle‐type incubators—while using less than half the water; thus, the See‐Saw incubator can provide significant savings in space, water, and energy use.

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A Vertical‐Lift Incubator (the “Seesaw”) Designed for Channel Catfish Egg Masses

Cited by 2 publications

References 8 publications

Dissolved Oxygen and Aeration in Ictalurid Catfish Aquaculture

Dissolved Oxygen and Aeration in Ictalurid Catfish Aquaculture

Channel Catfish Hatchery Production Efficiency Using a Vertical‐Lift Incubator (the See‐Saw) at Various Egg Loading Rates

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