Author(s)

Alissa M. Muggli¹, Joseph M. Barnes¹, Michael E. Barnes^2*

¹School of Engineering, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, USA.
²South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, McNenny State Fish Hatchery, Spearfish, SD, USA.

The inclusion of vertically-suspended environmental enrichment in circular tanks has produced substantial benefits during fish rearing. This study examined the tank water velocity profiles of four different vertically-suspended structures (rod array, extended rod array, single angle array, double angle array) and a control (no environmental enrichment) at two incoming water velocities (18.3 cm/s and 54.9 cm/s) in 1.8-m diameter circular tanks. At both of the incoming water velocities, overall water velocities throughout the tank were significantly reduced with the addition of any environmental enrichment in comparison to the control. In addition, the overall water velocities in the double angle array were significantly lower than the other three enrichment treatments. The pattern of significant reductions in velocity with the use of any environmental enrichment, with further significant velocity reductions in the double angle treatment, was repeated when the data were combined for each sampling depth, radius from the center, and degree (circular arc). Although considerable variation in water velocity was observed at each specific sampling location with both incoming velocities, significantly lower velocities were observed at nearly every sampling location with the addition of any environmental enrichment to the circular tank. In addition, the double angle array consistently produced the lowest velocities among the environmental enrichment treatments. The changes in velocity profiles from vertically-suspended environmental enrichment may be at least partially-responsible for the frequently-observed improvements in fish growth.

Environmental Enrichment, Vertically-Suspended Structure, Circular Tank, Water Velocity

Muggli, A. , Barnes, J. and Barnes, M. (2019) Vertically-Suspended Environmental Enrichment Alters the Velocity Profiles of Circular Fish Rearing Tanks. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 7, 208-226. doi: 10.4236/wjet.2019.71014.