A modular, mechanical rotary device for the cleaning of commercial-scale, circular tanks used in aquaculture

Abstract

The increased use of large tanks for fish cultivation has led to the need for considerations towards hydrodynamic design. Tank velocities must be optimal for maintaining fish health, muscle tone, and respiration. Velocities must also provide adequate biosolid removal to prevent oxygen depletion and the spread of pathogens. As it is not always possible to reach equilibrium of these requirements, regular house-keeping must be maintained to keep culture tanks clean. In larger tank systems, the task of cleaning may be highly labour-intensive or even impractical due to access issues. A bespoke automated mechanical cleaning device was designed and constructed to aid the removal of biosolids. An unpaired t-test confirmed that tanks with the cleaning device showed a significant (P less than 0.0005) improvement in cleaning rates than tanks without.