Aquaponics Digest - Mon 02/16/98
Message 1: Tilapia in MS, TN, AR?
from "Jim S"
Message 2: Fish Boxes
from crystal
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Subject: Tilapia in MS, TN, AR?
From: "Jim S"
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 00:40:12 -0600
Anyone else on the list in N.Mississippi or similar region?
I'm thinking about tank raising Tilapia using an aquaponic system and
would like some local experience info.
I'm working with our county agent now and he thinks Memphis would be a
good market for live tilapia. He's very agressive about helping the
truckfarmers around here, but doesn't know much about tilapia yet.
I'm raising catfish now, and vegetables in season. Also, we grind/mix our
own feed (30 acres catfish, 200 head cattle) and would be interested in
opinions of various ration mixes others are using, particularly different
requirements to reduce temperature induced stresses.
TIA,
Jim S.
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Subject: Fish Boxes
From: crystal
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 17:42:27 -0800
A common method is simply packing these into styrofoam boxes with dry
ice. Decay sets-in after 6 hours. Some can last max 12 hours, I think.
They are known commonly as 'fish boxes'.
I refer you to:
* Thomas Register
which lists 60,000 product heading categories with 5500 online
supplier catalogs from the US and Canada.
* Kompass
1.5 million companies with products in 61 countries listed.
Both of these internet directories have a CD-ROM version for sale. I
recommend these 'off-line' versions if you're heavy into manufacturing.
Best Regards,
Crystal.
<< SPECIFICS : >>
DRY ICE
============
Down here, 20kg of dry ice costs approx S$39.14. (1x1x1.5 ft) It comes
in 3 forms:
* pellet (small chips)
* broken up (irregular large chunks)
* standard block
All are wraped in brown paper.
For on-site manufacturing, what is needed is a 'dry ice making machine'.
Carbon dioxide gas cylinders and a refrigerant (R11/R22 - ozone
friendly) are the inputs. The refrigerant needs to be refilled about
1/yr. Capacities are possibly fr. 30-1000kg of dry ice per hour. A
50kg/hr second hand costs about US$40k/-. 6 weeks to order from US or
Europe (eg: Germany).
BOXES
============
The boxes can be:
* polystyrene (polyfoam)
* polyethylene (pe)
* polypropylene (pp)
Usu., standard sizes are made of polyfoam:
* 620x492x375mm (external)
550x425x305mm (internal)
min qty 100 @ approx US$5-7/-
* 480x360x330mm (external)
435x310x310mm (internal)
min qty 100 @ approx US$2.50-3/-
For customized sizes, a master mold down here costs about US$3k/-. The
dimensions can be given verbally or in Autocad computer format (on a
3.5" diskette) to the plastics firm.
CO2 cylinders
===============
Usu. it's a gas company that sells the CO2 cylinders. Along with other
industrial gases (oxygen/nitrogen - high/low pressure, w/out argon).
Local practice has the client paying a cylinder deposit approx US$120-
140/- and a 31kg for CO2 costs US$30-35/- (same price for refils).
Here, nobody actually buys the cylinder as its owned by the firms. I
guess they dun want dumping. But you can order one from the US/Europe/
Japan.
If there are no firms in Belize making dry-ice, it is highly likely you
have make your own as sea/air freight might take more than 6 hours -
making the whole enterprise unpractical. You could end up with 1/2 to
3/4 of your volume. :) (Remember, it doesn't melt, just evaporates.)
Equipment: a carbon-dioxide 'plant' (it's actually quite small), a high
pressure compressor and tanks/cylinders. The 'plant' could be trailer
mounted (use a 4-wheel drive pick-up on rural roads).
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