| Unit
1: Getting Started: Building the Hatchery |
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Teacher
Overview:
This section focuses on the understanding of aquaculture
and the
different types of systems that are used to culture aquatic
species. Recirculating systems are the main concentration
because of their broad application and compatibility with
environmental
regulations. The major components of a recirculating system
will be discussed as well as a design and construction of
a functioning table size model system. Included are steps
on
how to select a species to culture in your classroom and
where to look for sources of eggs.
Check out an animation of a tabletop recirculating
system!
Activity
#1 What species of marine fish can we culture in our classroom?
Activity #2 Where can you hatch a fish?
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| Unit
2: Getting Your Hatchery System Up And Running: Instructions
On Maintaining Your Hatchery System |
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Teacher
Overview:
This section provides guidance on setting up and maintaining the constructed
tabletop hatchery system after it has been constructed. The main focus is conditioning
the system and the importance of distinct culture methods for different developmental
periods.
Activity #3 How do we condition the tank to prepare for fish
eggs?
Activity #4 What do you do when the eggs arrive?
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| Unit
3: What Do Larval Fish Eat Anyway? How Do I Raise Food For
My Larvae To Eat? |
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Teacher
Overview:
This section explains that rotifers and Artemia are zooplankton
and that they can be cultured and fed to the larvae. Procedures
on how to culture the live
zooplankton (rotifers and Artemia) are included. The main highlights are how
to build a live feed culture system, how to maintain cultured
live animals and how to determine population sizes.
Activity
#5 How many rotifers do I need?
Activity # 6 Rotifer production
Activity # 7 Maintenance and harvesting of rotifers
Activity #8 Artemia production
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| Unit
4: Watching Your Fish Grow and Change: The Developmental
Process Of Marine Fish |
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Teacher
Overview:
The goal of this section is to use marine finfish as an example of developmental
biology. A brief summary of the developmental patterns of marine finfish is
included. The process on how to track the growth and survival of the larvae
in the hatching system is also incorporated.
Activity
#9 What are the stages in the development of a fish?
Activity #10 How long until the fish hatch?
Activity # 11 How do we monitor larval growth and development?
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| Unit
5: Taking Care of Your Fish |
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Teacher
Overview:
This section gives guidelines on how one is to determine the health of the
larvae. Observation of the larvae is one of the most important aspects of hatchery
work. Because the larvae are transparent at this stage, it is easy to identify
various developmental focus points. Activity #12 How do I hatch, feed and care
for my fish larvae?
Activity
#13 What do I do when the fish no longer need rotifers
or Artemia?
Activity #14 Are the fish eating?
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| Unit
6: How’s The Water? Monitoring Water Quality |
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Teacher
Overview:
The quality of the tank’s ecosystem is based on good
water quality. The health and survival of the fish are
dependent on the maintenance procedures
described above. Monitoring of fish survival, growth and behavior are means
for identifying the quality of the water. To prevent possible die offs and
other impacts on survivability (highbacterial loading), the importance monitoring
of the nitrogen cycle and bacterial populations to the culture system cannot
be overstated. The water quality parameters and their acceptable limits are
outlined below as are monitoring procedures.
Activity
#15 Where did the water come from?
Activity #16 Monitoring your system |
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Related
Links:
Classroom Overview
Profiles
of Participating Schools |
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