ES1298631U - aquaculture hotbed - Google Patents

Abstract

Aquaculture nursery, made up of a supporting structure (1) and irrigation equipment (4) with a pump (5) and pipes (6), characterized in that the structure (1) supports a series of removable trays (2), each arranged under one or more nozzles (7) fed by a water intake.

Description

DESCRIPTION

aquaculture hotbed

TECHNIQUE SECTOR

This application refers to a nursery, or aquaculture facility where a series of eggs are hatched, after the larval stage, said mollusc larvae (bivalves, echinoderms, gastropods) and/or holothurians pass to the post-larval stage: this process It is very delicate and is called metamorphosis and evolution of the larvae, of molluscs prior to their transfer to other places (tanks, open sea,...).

It is applicable in the field of aquaculture or production of aquatic species.

STATE OF THE ART

The existence of mollusk aquaculture procedures in which eggs and larvae are obtained in a protected environment is known in the state of the art. This stage is the most vulnerable, so it is convenient to do it in an environment protected from predators.

The most common way is to arrange the larvae and eggs in large containers, which facilitates the location of the eggs and larvae in the same growth phase. However, these containers are bulky and require a large amount of water per larva. Thus, the water that has to be renewed, with the corresponding pumping and filtering, is very large. In addition, the lack of volume control implies that a large amount of nutrients must be introduced, mainly microalgae or plant plankton, which is not used and is removed in the filters.

The Applicant is not aware of any system that allows solving all these problems.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of an aquaculture seedbed according to the first claim. Its different variants solve the problems outlined.

It is a seedbed that increases the efficiency of the culture of mollusc larvae, for example bivalves, breaking the bottleneck of their breeding. In addition, by using a system of trays (drawer type), the amount of water needed by each larva is reduced, facilitating water renewal and reducing wasted nutrients.

In addition, the removable trays or drawers facilitate maintenance and cleaning.

The aquaculture nursery, made up of a supporting structure and irrigation equipment with a pump and pipes. The structure supports a series of extractable trays or drawers (even removable, preferably), each arranged under one or more nozzles of the irrigation equipment. These trays are superimposed in the most preferred solution, which arranges them by levels of one or more trays per level.

Each tray or drawer can have one or more lower, removable sieves, parallel to the bottom and to each other.

To evacuate excess water, and renew it, it is preferred that it have gutters on one edge of the trays, preferably fixed to the structure, under an overflow device on the trays. The overflow device can be of different types, as will be indicated later.

In one embodiment, the irrigation equipment comprises a thermal system configured to control the temperature of the water.

It can also comprise a control unit and a series of solenoid valves to compartmentalize the trays. Thus it is possible to water or stop watering each tray or group of trays at any time.

Other variants are appreciated in the rest of the report.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the invention, the following figure is included.

Figure 1: Perspective view of a preferred embodiment.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is briefly described below, as an illustrative and non-limiting example thereof.

Figure 1 shows an example of the seedbed made up of a load-bearing structure (1), made up of a series of columns and crossbars, which supports a series of drawers or trays (2). These trays (2) are containers closed at their base to retain mollusc larvae, with a perimeter edge and an open top. This upper part may have a lower grid or screen. This lower sieve allows the quick, dry extraction of the contents of each tray (2).

Each individual tray (2) can be divided into several independent parts.

The structure (1) also carries an irrigation equipment (4) made up of a pump (5) and a series of pipes (6) finished with nozzles (7) on each of the trays (2). If the tray (2) is divided into parts, there is at least one nozzle (7) on each of the parts.

The excess water is evacuated through a series of gutters (8) under one edge of each tray (2). The selection of where the excess water comes out can be done by reducing the height of the edge in that area, slightly inclining the trays (2), making drainage holes at the desired height, etc.

The irrigation equipment (4) includes a dispenser for water and food, such as microalgae, and any other substance that may need to be supplied to the larvae. You can incorporate a thermal system to ensure that the water is at the ideal temperature.

The irrigation equipment (4) can be commanded by a control unit (not shown) that selects at each moment which tray (2) or trays (2) receive the water, so that it is possible to treat the different trays consecutively. (2), each with its own conditions. For this, the irrigation equipment (4) will have solenoid valves, manometers, flow meters and any other sensor or element necessary to control the contribution of water and nutrients.

In one embodiment, the water intake is the connection to the water network, for which each tray will receive water directly from the water network.

In another embodiment, the water intake is the water coming from the gutter (8) of the tray immediately above, for which the gutter (8) is connected to the water intake of the tray (2) immediately below. This shape makes it possible to take advantage of the surplus nutrients from the upper tray to feed the larvae in the lower tray and so on.

In another embodiment, the overflow device is a removable curved structure (9). The water will overflow through the upper part of said curved structure (9), and when we want to extract the molluscs we can disassemble it to facilitate the task.

Claims (1)

1- Aquaculture nursery, formed by a supporting structure (1) and irrigation equipment (4) with a pump (5) and pipes (6) characterized in that the structure (1) supports a series of trays (2) removable, each arranged under one or more nozzles (7) fed by a water intake. 2- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 1, characterized in that the trays (2) are superimposed. 3- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 1, characterized in that the trays (2) comprise separate lower sieves, removable, parallel to the bottom. 4- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises gutters (8) on one edge of the trays (2) under an overflow device. 5- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 3, characterized in that each tray (2) comprises two or more parallel sieves. 6- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 1, characterized in that the irrigation equipment (4) comprises a thermal system configured to control the temperature of the water. 7- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a control unit and a series of solenoid valves in the irrigation equipment (4) to compartmentalize the trays (2). 8- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 4, characterized in that the water intake is the connection to the water network. 9- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 4, characterized in that the water intake is the water from the gutter (8) of the tray immediately above, for which the gutter (8) is connected to the water intake of the tray (2) immediately below. 10- Aquaculture seedbed, according to claim 4, characterized in that the overflow device is a removable curved structure (9).