Aquarium rooms with RAS systems

The aquarium rooms have installed 10 independent RAS systems. Available are aquariums and tanks of different volumes: 30l (14), 60l (72), 165l (36), 300l (24), 390l (24), 700l (9) and 1000l (10). Tanks are designed to allow sampling of faeces or uneaten feed in sedimentation cones (digestibility studies). Video tracking and behaviour analysis software LoliTrack (Loligo Systems ApS) for 2D and 3D video analysis of multiple animals (based on contrast or background subtraction) is available at the laboratory. This software allows track organisms of any shape or size in one or multiple areas. The program includes a video recording and editing tool, graphs, heat maps, and can export video or image or Excel data files. The calculated parameter includes moved distance, speed, velocity, acceleration, direction of movement, active/inactive time, time and % of time spent in zones, inter-individual distance. ShuttleSoft video tracking software (Loligo Systems ApS) for use with aquatic shuttle box systems for automated preference/avoidance/choice behaviour measurements in fish is available at the laboratory for environmental controls (e.g. temperature, salinity, oxygen, pH, CO2). The processing plant enables the processing of fish into a wide range of products

Remote monitoring & control:

Aquarium rooms for fish culture are mostly automated. Sensors in inflowing water and recirculated water register the pH value, temperature, and dissolved oxygen content (DOC) in water, sensor in water outflowing from selected tanks also register water temperature and DOC. The values are monitored and stored for possible future computer processing.

Water and environmental conditions:

Tap water and well water are the main water sources for cultural facilities. Carbon filters for dichlorination of tap water are available for studies on larval stages of fish.

The flow rate is regulated based on the design of the experiment. The flow rate and water velocity can be measured using SONTEK FlowTracker or Höntzsch Vane Wheel flowmeter. A set of swim tunnels (both Steffensen and Blazka type) for measuring the physiology, energetics, behaviour, biomechanics, and kinematics of swimming fish, through years of research is available. Software allows to perform post analysis (SMR, Pcrit, statistics, graphs, etc.), real-time temperature compensation of oxygen data, and real-time solid blocking correction (swim speed in BL/sec).

Temperature:

The heating of water in the recirculation system is currently implemented by using the space heating temperature control air conditioning. A set of heater/coolers (Hailea and Teco) is available for specific experiment designs.

It is a freshwater system, but salinity can be increased for experimental purposes. Salinity preference can be tested in the ShuttleSoft system (Loligo Systems ApS).

Dissolved oxygen content is automatically registered using hand-held meters (HACH, WTW). An online oxygen measurement using the HACH SC1000 controller (15 posts) and Aquasheriff is available. Software for automated intermittent respirometry systems AutoResp™ (Loligo Systems ApS) allows jump-start oxygen consumption measurements in aquatic organisms. A computerized multi-channel system using fiber-optic oxygen sensing technology for high efficiency, accuracy, and time resolution of aquatic respiration data is available at the laboratory.

The pH level is registered by hand-held meters (HACH, WTW) as well as the on-line system Seneye or Aquasheriff. A free carbon dioxide meter OxyGuard CO2 Portable is available. A sophisticated regulation system for water pH and pCO2 CapCTRL (Loligo Systems ApS) is available for studies focused on acidification, water chemistry, effects of hypercapnia in aquatic organisms, and water quality control (pH/pCO2/temp) holdings tanks. The user-friendly software for Windows allows you to calibrate, monitor, log, graph, and regulate pH and pCO2 to any level in the rearing system.

Light intensity and wavelength are not manipulated or automatically registered.

Photoperiod is not manipulated or automatically registered. Aquarium rooms are equipped with an automatic lighting system (light intensity, dimming). A special lighting system can be installed on request. Light intensity can be measured by an underwater illumination meter (lux meter) Hydrolux (BGB Innovation).

Fish measurements:

Size, weight, tagging (classical or P.I.T.) can be recorded. Readers from Biomark as well as managing software (Biomark Tag Manager) are available. Behaviour can be monitored in special systems such as ShuttleSoft, LoliTrack software, and IMETRONIC self-feeding system (27 posts). IMETRONIC self-feeder system allows easy-to-set protocols for feeding (window time /number of doses/threshold of the number of demands/food regulation according to rationing theory), real-time graphical monitoring of all tanks, automatic recording of feeding behaviour data, good command of food unit doses (0.1g-50g). Software running on Windows allows creating feeding protocol (number of demands required for distribution, periods of inhibition, regulation, correction) and controlling the feeding behaviour of your breeding subjected to different protocols.