Tank Systems for Fish farming

Aquaculture Innovation: Growing the Future, Nurturing the Waters

A tank system for fish culturing is a land-based enclosure designed for intensive aquaculture. These tanks can be constructed from various materials such as concrete, wood, plastic, fiberglass, or steel. The system requires a complete feed diet due to the lack of natural food sources. It can operate on different types of water and air supply systems, including flow-through and recirculation. The system is designed to rear species like catfish and tilapia at high densities, requiring regular sorting to minimize mortality due to cannibalism. The system’s success relies on maintaining excellent water quality and ensuring a year-round availability of quality water.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 8/9

Cost: $$$ 120 USD

Premade suspended tanks with a volume of 2000 liter

500 kg

harvest every 9months for a stocking rate of 50 fish per square meter

330 USD

Gross margin after deducting operating costs

Problem

Limited Land and Water Resources: Traditional aquaculture methods require significant amounts of land and water, which may not be available in all regions.
Lack of Environmental Control: Maintaining optimal and constant water quality conditions throughout the culture period is a challenge in traditional aquaculture.
Low Production Intensity: Traditional methods may not support the high-density rearing of species like catfish and tilapia, limiting production.
High Mortality Rates: In traditional systems, mortality due to cannibalism can be high, especially without regular sorting.
Distance from Markets: Traditional aquaculture farms are often located far from prime markets, increasing transportation costs and reducing the freshness of the produce.
Inefficient Feed Use: In open systems, a significant portion of feed can be wasted, reducing food conversion rates and promoting slower growth.
Environmental Impact: Traditional aquaculture can have a significant environmental footprint, including water pollution and habitat destruction.
Poor Biosecurity: Open systems are exposed to the external environment, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
High Energy Use: Traditional systems often require significant energy for water pumping and aeration.

Solution

Efficient Use of Resources: Addressing the issue of limited land and water resources, tank systems require significantly less land and water compared to traditional methods, making them suitable for areas with limited resources.
Optimal Environmental Control: In response to the lack of environmental control in traditional aquaculture, tanks provide a high degree of environmental control, allowing for year-round growth at optimum rates. Key parameters like dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, hardness, ammonia, nitrite, and pH can be maintained at optimal levels.
High-Density Rearing: To tackle the problem of low production intensity in traditional methods, tanks allow for intensive fish production, which is cost-effective and can meet high market demand.
Reduced Mortality: Addressing the issue of high mortality rates in traditional systems, regular sorting of fish in tanks can minimize mortality due to cannibalism.
Proximity to Markets: In response to the issue of distance from markets in traditional aquaculture, tanks can be located close to prime markets, reducing transportation costs and ensuring fresh produce.
Maximized Feed Use: To tackle the problem of inefficient feed use in open systems, tanks require a complete feed diet, maximizing food conversion and promoting rapid growth.
Lower Environmental Impact: Addressing the environmental impact of traditional aquaculture, recirculating systems in tanks can help reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture.
Improved Biosecurity: In response to the issue of poor biosecurity in open systems, tanks, being closed systems, reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
Energy Efficiency: To tackle the problem of high energy use in traditional systems, recirculating systems in tanks can be more energy-efficient as they recycle water within the system.

Key points to design your business plan

Manufacturers:

Manufacturing diverse aquaculture tanks revolutionizes fish farming, optimizes space utilization, and enhances resource efficiency. To successfully penetrate this market, you need to identify reliable sources for raw materials to construct the tanks, find efficient transportation methods, and secure appropriate storage facilities.

Your potential customers are: wholesale distributors supplying to retailers, development projects, government agencies, and NGOs. Building robust partnerships with these distributor networks is crucial to the success of your business. Remember, every type of tank, from breeding to grow-out tanks, has its unique place in the market. Catering to this variety can significantly broaden your customer base.

Resellers:

Venturing into the reselling of aquaculture tanks opens up opportunities in the thriving aquaculture industry. These tanks, ranging from hatchery tanks to grow-out tanks, cater to different stages of fish farming, making them indispensable to farmers.

To thrive in this market, it’s crucial to source tanks from manufacturers known for their quality and durability. Countries renowned for their advanced aquaculture technology could be potential sourcing points.

Transportation and storage are key logistics aspects to consider. Given the size and fragility of some tanks, secure and efficient transportation methods are essential. Similarly, spacious and safe storage facilities are needed to maintain the condition of the tanks.

The cost of tanks can vary greatly, depending on their size, type, and the technology they incorporate. For instance, a high-tech recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) tank might cost more than a simple grow-out tank. Always factor in the costs of transportation, import duties, and taxes when pricing your products.

Your potential customers are diverse, ranging from small-scale fish farmers to large aquaculture projects, and even fisheries cooperatives. Understanding their specific needs and offering tailored solutions can set you apart in the market. For instance, small-scale farmers might prefer affordable, easy-to-maintain tanks, while large projects might look for high-tech, high-capacity tanks.

Remember, in the aquaculture industry, the success of your customers is your success. So, offering after-sale services, such as installation guidance and maintenance tips, can go a long way in building strong customer relationships.

Fish growers:

Using various types of aquaculture tanks, including those built with durable concrete materials or premade tanks, can significantly enhance your fish farming operations. Concrete tanks offer increased durability and longevity, making them a worthwhile investment for long-term operations. On the other hand, premade tanks can provide convenience and speed in setup, which might be more suitable for certain operations.

Key partners in this venture include reliable tank manufacturers and logistics partners. It’s crucial to source tanks that are known for their quality, whether they’re made of traditional materials, durable concrete, or are premade.

Costs can vary based on the tank type, size, and construction material. While concrete tanks might have a higher upfront cost, their durability can lead to cost savings in the long run. Premade tanks, while potentially less durable than concrete, offer the advantage of lower initial costs and faster setup times.

Moreover, using aquaculture tanks can lead to savings in other areas. For example, the controlled environment of a tank system can reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, thereby cutting down on healthcare costs. Similarly, the efficient use of feed in tank systems can minimize feed expenses.

Remember, the successful operation of these tanks requires technical knowledge and skills. Therefore, investing in training and capacity building is crucial. This could involve learning about water quality management, feed management, and disease control specific to tank systems. Whether you’re using a traditional tank, a durable concrete one, or a premade tank, proper management is key to successful fish farming

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive medium

Under 18: Positive medium

Women: Positive medium

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Water use: Much less water used

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Angola	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Botswana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Central African Republic	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Djibouti	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Equatorial Guinea	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Eritrea	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Guinea	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Liberia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Madagascar	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Sierra Leone	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Somalia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Sudan	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Togo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

The procedures for catfish farming in tanks and cages are:

1. Stocking Density: Depending on your desired harvest size and time, choose your stocking density. For catfish in tanks, you can stock 25-gram fingerlings at a rate of 1,500 fish per cubic meter to achieve 50- to 60-gram fish in 5 weeks. Alternatively, stock at 1,000 fish per cubic meter for 100-gram fish in 9 to 10 weeks.

2. Regular Sorting: To prevent mortality due to cannibalism, it's crucial to sort the fish every two weeks. Identify and remove faster-maturing individuals from the stock.

3. Maintaining Clean Environment: In both tanks and cage systems, ensure that uneaten feed and feces do not accumulate. Regularly remove any waste material underneath the tanks or cages to prevent the proliferation of parasites and diseases.

4. Adequate Space Below Cages: Maintain a minimum distance of 3 meters below the cage. This space ensures proper water circulation through the cage and minimizes undesirable accumulation underneath.

Last updated on 30 September 2024