Pond management - overview
Mud/earth pond management - overview
For a detailed look at earth/mud pond design and managementsee my webpage for the commercial farm - only available to subscribers to the members area of this website.
NOTE: For information about integrated filling and draining of ponds contact me directly for my new design.
- Less pipes half the quantity of pipes = less financial out lay.
- Auto maintenance of surface level
- Less overflow screen blockage
Why use a plankton pond?
Why not just raise the larvae in the hatchery?
This is the simple explanation.
The food chain can be easily managed in a plankton pond.
The natural food for perch larvae is live food, zoo plankton.
Plankton pond is super efficient and extremely inexpensive.
See it here: Video about raising larvae in a mud/earth plankton pond compared to in the hatchery 3 minutes 30 seconds
Australian perch spawn when a few things happen
- Temperatures are right
- Daylight hours are right
- Type of food available is right
- Water is flowing
It is very important to understand what makes Australian native fish produce oocytes
(Oocytes = eggs inside the fish before they spawn.)
Know what environmental conditions trigger the hormonal response in these fish species.
See this webpage for an in depth look at the natural environment of jade perch
This video will help you understand their environment.
PLANKTON
When water is flowing in their natural environment it usually means there is some level of flooding over soil that has previously been dry.
When this soil is flooded tiny animals hatch.
These tiny animals are zooplankton.
Raising larvae in tanks
In the hatchery this is very difficult, labour intensive thus expensive.
Artemia, (brine shrimp) is the easiest type of live food that can be produced in a hatchery.
Artemia cysts (eggs) are generally readily available.
This is a relatively expensive product, that is usually too big for jade perch to consume.
It also lacks all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for larvae to survive.
In order to provide the missing essentials in artimea an enrichment process is nessesary adding mor cost to the process.
Rotiferis another type of live food which is perfect for Australian perch larvae, however emormous quantities are needed.
With all the equipment and labour involved the plankton pond is clearly the most cost effective and efficient way to raise larvae to fry size.
At fry size they can easily be weaned to dry aquaculture food.
OTHER SPECIES
Click the picture for video - Low altitude passes over Barcoo River - with surprise ending
