Research Article
Flow Patterns in Circular Rearing Tanks Containing Vertical Structure
Moine J, Barnes ME*, Kientz J, and Simpson GSouth Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks; McNenny State Fish Hatchery, USA
- *Corresponding Author:
- Barnes ME
South Dakota Department of Game
Fish and Parks; McNenny State Fish Hatchery
19619 Trout Loop; Spearfish
South Dakota 57783, USA
Tel: 605-642-1262
E-mail: mike.barnes@state.sd.us
Received Date: November 11, 2016; Accepted Date: November 17, 2016; Published Date: November 21, 2016
Citation: Moine J, Barnes ME, Kientz J, Simpson G (2016) Flow Patterns in Circular Rearing Tanks Containing Vertical Structure. J Fisheries Livest Prod 4:204. doi: 10.4172/2332-2608.1000204
Copyright: © 2016 Moine J, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Circular tanks are widely used in aquaculture, and the addition of vertically‑suspended rod arrays can provide structural complexity during fish rearing. This study assessed the effects of such an array on water velocities at two flow rates in 1.8-m diameter circular tanks. At inflows of 62 L/min and 113 L/min, the presence of the rod array significantly reduced in-tank velocities. The largest decrease in velocity was observed on the water surface midway between the center and edge of the tank. The presence of vertically-suspended rods significantly reduced velocities at each sampling depth (surface, mid-tank, bottom), at each radius (30, 60, or 90 cm from the center of the tank), and at each position (prior to, immediately after, and directly opposite the rod array). At both of the flow rates, velocities with the rods present were still sufficient to create a vortex capable of keeping the tank self-cleaning. The decrease in velocities may explain part of the reason for the positive effects of vertically-suspended rods on fish rearing performance.