Aquaculture Engineering (2+1)

Classification of ponds - Pump fed farms

Unit 8 - Brackish and marine water fish farms

Brackish water fish farms

Classification of ponds

Pump fed farms

Pump fed aqua farms is best suited for semi-intensive and intensive culture system. Pump fed farms will generally have a separate water channel and drainage channel. Pump fed farms also require storage cum sedimentation tank and an efficient pumping unit. At the places where mean spring tide range is too small (<0.8m) or too big >2m) pump fed farms prove economical and advantageous. Areas around a meter below the highest water level may be selected for pump fed aqua farming so that with a minimum excavation of 20 cm to 50 cm economical ponds may be constructed. Water storage cum sedimentation tank is to be constructed to store the water. The capacity of this storage tank should be such that it should supply the water to all the ponds at least for 2-3 days at the desired rate of water exchange in case of failure of electricity.

Pump fed farms do not require a big main sluice gate to supply the water. In these farms big embankments and ponds can be avoided. At the places where ground levels are much higher than the tidal levels, the tide fed farms construction is more expensive because of huge excavation and higher pond sluices. In such cases the site can be easily developed as pump fed farms.

Pump fed farms got the following advantages.

• Bundhs can be formed to a minimum height.
• Earth to be excavated from the ponds is just sufficient to meet the requirements of farming the bundhs to the required height.
• Daily and continuous exchange of water is possible which need not to be depending upon the rise or fall of tides.
• Emergency exchange of water is possible when the quality of water deteriorates and immediate replacement of water can be done.