AN APPARATUS FOR REARING AQUATIC SPECIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present disclosure relates to an apparatus (100) for rearing aquatic species. The present disclosure envisages an apparatus (100) which comprises a tank (104) to store water, a plurality of cages (106) configured to create a defined boundary space for a defined aquatic species within the tank (104), a plurality of passages (108) configured to be disposed in communication with each of the cages (106), a conduit (124) to fluidly connect the outlet (122) with the opening of the tank and a recirculating unit (118) fitted on the conduit (124) to recirculate water from the outlet (122) to the opening to provide a pathway to supply food to the aquatic species. The apparatus (100) facilitates efficient feeding, optimal water quality management, and ease of maintenance, providing a versatile solution for aquaculture.

Specification

Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for rearing aquatic species.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Aquatic species, mainly Pisces are high-demand commodities in the market. The global population is steadily increasing, placing a growing demand on food security, particularly protein sources like various types of fish mainly belonging to fresh water and marine water. Traditional fish farming methods rely on extensive ponds or large tanks, which require significant space and water resources. This poses a challenge in areas with limited land or water availability. Furthermore, these methods often struggle to meet the rising future demand for nutritional adequacy of the growing population for fish consumption.
Conventionally, fish farming methods rely on large open tanks or ponds, making it difficult to manage individual aquatic species, monitor water quality in the tanks or ponds and maintain the quality of fish meat. In such large open tanks or ponds, manual feeding can be labor-intensive and inefficient, leading to overfeeding and waste of eatables. Also, an undesirable movement of the aquatic species leads to energy loss and there would be more requirements for eatables.
There is, therefore, a need for an apparatus for rearing aquatic species to alleviate the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for rearing aquatic species that facilitates efficient feeding, optimal water quality management, and ease of maintenance.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular and detachable cage that allows for easy cleaning, maintenance, and reconfiguration.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for restricting fish movement to reduce energy loss and assure relatively better growth.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus to enable co-culture of different aquatic species.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for rearing aquatic species. The apparatus comprises: a tank with an opening and an outlet, the tank is configured to store water; a plurality of cages is configured to be disposed in the tank, each of the cage is configured to receive at least one aquatic species of a desired size; a plurality of passages is configured to extend vertically through the pipe hanger beam in the tank, each of the passages is configured to be disposed in fluid communication with each of the cages to provide a pathway to supply food to the aquatic species in the cage; a conduit is configured to fluidly connect the outlet with the opening; a recirculating unit is configured to be fitted on the conduit to recirculate water from the outlet to the opening. The apparatus is characterized whereby each of the cage is configured to define a boundary to limit the movement of the aquatic species within the cage to prevent the loss of energy of the aquatic species while movement and promote somatic growth.
In an embodiment, each of the cage is configured to be aligned horizontally and stacked vertically within the tank.
In another embodiment, the apparatus includes clamping means, configured to secure each of the passages with each of the cages.
In yet another embodiment, the apparatus includes dispensing means, configured to be fitted on the mouth of the passage. The dispensing means is configured to dispense a predefined amount of food at predefined intervals.
In still another embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of support member. Each of the support members is configured to be mounted on an operative bottom portion of each of the cages. The support member is configured to maintain each of the cages at a desired height within the tank.
In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a filtration unit, configured to be fitted on the conduit between the outlet and the recirculating means. The filtration unit is configured to remove impurities and unwanted particles from the water flowing through the conduit.
In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a regulating means, positioned in fluid communication with the conduit. The regulating means is configured to real-time monitoring of water quality parameters within the tank. The regulating means includes:
• a repository unit, configured to store water quality parameters and threshold limits;
• at least one sensing unit, configured to be in communication with the water flowing through the conduit, the sensing unit is configured to sense at least one water quality parameter of water flowing through the conduit and generate corresponding sensed signal(s) data;
• a control unit, configured to receive the sensed signal data, the control unit is configured to compare the sensed signal data with the respective threshold limit and is further configured to generate an alert signal if the sensed signal data falls below or exceeds above the range of threshold limits; and
• an alerting unit, configured to receive the alert signal, the alerting unit includes an LED configured to emit a visual alert in response to the alert signal.
In an embodiment, the water quality parameters are selected from a group consisting of temperature, pH level, ammonia level, nitrate level, dissolved oxygen level, and water level.
In another embodiment, each of the cages are further configured to enable co-culture of different aquatic species within the tank.
In still another embodiment, the recirculating means is further configured with an aeration module to enhance oxygenation of the water in the tank.
In yet another embodiment, the tank is made of a transparent material to allow visual inspection of the aquatic species.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
An apparatus, of the present disclosure, for rearing aquatic species will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic view of the apparatus for rearing aquatic species of the present disclosure; and
FIGURE 2 illustrates a block diagram illustrating an apparatus, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 apparatus
102a first support member
102b second support member
102c third support member
104 tank
106 cage
108 passage
110 clamping means
112 dispenser
116 filtration unit
118 recirculation unit
120 regulating unit
122 outlet
124 conduit
126 pipe hanger beam
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for rearing aquatic species.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a," "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "including," and "having," are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus (100) for rearing aquatic species, particularly configured to promote efficient growth and reduce energy loss of the aquatic species. The apparatus is configured to control the environment and optimize the feeding of the aquatic species', ensure proper water recirculation, and monitor water quality in real-time. The apparatus is configured with multiple integrated components, to ensure controlled growth environments and optimal resource utilization of the aquatic species. The following detailed description outlines various embodiments of the apparatus and its components.
An apparatus, of the present disclosure for rearing aquatic species will now be described in detail with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 2.
The apparatus (100) comprises a tank (104), typically cylindrical or rectangular in shape, configured to hold water and accommodate multiple aquatic species. In an embodiment, the tank material is preferably selected from a group of material consisting of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or transparent acrylic to allow both durability in aquatic environments and visual inspection of the species.
The tank has an opening at the top, a pipe hanger beam (126), and an outlet (122) at the base, which facilitates water drainage. Each tank (104) contains a plurality of cages (106), which are arranged horizontally and stacked vertically to maximize space utilization. In an embodiment, the cages (106) are formed from a corrosion-resistant metal or from a polymeric mesh, to allow optimal water flow while restricting the movement of the aquatic species inside each cage. Each cage (106) defines a boundary that limits the movement of aquatic species to directs their metabolism toward growth rather than unnecessary motion. This is particularly important for promoting somatic growth, as limiting movement redirects the energy of the aquatic species toward muscle and tissue development rather than maintaining activity levels.
In an embodiment, the cages are dimensioned to contain species of different sizes. For example, in a tank with 10 cages, each cage may have dimensions of 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m for smaller species or 1m x 1m x 1m for larger species. In one experimental setup, when rearing species such as tilapia, the restricted movement within the cage resulted in 30% greater weight gain over a 60-day period compared to those reared in open environments, due to energy conservation and efficient feeding.
Further, the apparatus includes a plurality of passages (108) that extend vertically through the hanger beam (126), with each passage (108) aligned directly with each cage (106) below. The pipe hanger beam (126) is configured to hold the passage (108) and the cages (106) in position. The passages (108) are configured to be in fluid communication with the cages (106), to allow food to be directly dispensed to the aquatic species inside the cage (106).
Each passage (108) is fitted with a dispensing means at its upper mouth, which can automatically release food into the water at predetermined intervals. In an embodiment, the dispensing means is powered by an integrated timer and control unit, which can be programmed to release a fixed amount of food in a predefined interval, depending on the dietary requirements of the species. This helps in preventing the overfeeding of the species and thus ensures uniform growth, and reduces water contamination.
In an example, a feeding schedule was programmed to release 200 grams of food every 3 hours into a cage containing 50 juvenile fish. The automated feeding mechanism not only ensures that the aquatic species receive consistent nutrition but also minimizes food waste and maintains water quality.
Further, the apparatus includes a water recirculation unit (118) to ensure that water within the tank remains oxygenated. The recirculation unit (118) is fitted to a conduit (124), which connects the outlet (122) at the base of the tank to an opening at the top of the tank, allowing water to be continuously recirculated. The recirculating unit (118) is mounted along the conduit, driving water back to the opening of the tank. The recirculating unit (118) also integrates an aeration module, which injects oxygen in water to maintain dissolved oxygen levels in a predefined level (around 6-8 mg/L).
In an embodiment, the recirculation unit (118) is typically powered by an electric pump, capable of moving 5000 liters of water per hour, ensuring that the tank receive a steady flow of fresh water.
Further, maintaining the water quality is critical for the health of aquatic species. Therefore, a filtration unit (116) is fitted between the outlet (122) and the recirculating unit (118). The filtration unit removes impurities, such as solid waste, excess food, debris, and harmful chemicals, before it is recirculated back into the tank.
In one test case, the recirculation unit and the filtration unit -maintained the water clarity and oxygenation for a period of 90 days without requiring a full tank water change.
In an embodiment, the apparatus may be equipped with a regulating means (120) for real-time monitoring of quality parameters of the recirculating water. The regulating means (120) consists of:
• Sensing Unit: measures critical water parameters such as temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrate levels, and dissolved oxygen. The sensors are placed at strategic locations in contact with the water flowing through the conduit (124).
• Repository Unit: Stores threshold limits for each water quality parameter. For instance, the optimal temperature range for species like catfish is set between 22°C and 28°C, while the pH range is maintained between 6.5 and 7.5.
• Control Unit: Compares the real-time sensor data with the stored threshold limits and generates alert signals if the water quality deviates from the set parameters.
• Alerting Unit: Includes an LED that emits visual alerts when any parameter exceeds the threshold limit.
In a trial, the regulating means (120) was set with thresholds of 20-25°C for temperature and 7.0-8.0 for pH levels. The regulating means alerted the operator when the temperature exceeded 26°C, allowing immediate adjustments to the recirculating water temperature. This prevented potential heat stress on the aquatic species, maintaining an optimal growth environment.
Further, the apparatus is configured to maintain the different cages (106) at specific heights within the tank (104). A plurality of support members (102) is placed at the operative bottom portion of each cage (106) to secure the cages at the desired height, which can vary based on species size and density. The support members are typically adjustable, to allow the modifications to the height of the cage (106) depending on the specific requirements of the aquatic species.
In an embodiment, each cage (106) is further configured to enable the co-culture of different species. In one embodiment, multiple cages can house complementary species, such as shrimp in the lower cages and fish in the upper cages. This arrangement leverages the waste from one species as a resource for the other, promoting an aquaponic symbiosis within the tank.
In an example, 200 tilapia were reared in the upper cages, while 500 shrimp were housed in the lower cages. The different components maintained the water clarity and nutrient balance, thus allow both species to grow simultaneously with minimal waste accumulation.
In another embodiment, clamping means (110) are provided to secure the passage (108) tightly against the hanger beam (126).
In yet another embodiment, the tank (104) is constructed from a durable, non-toxic material such as fiber glass-reinforced plastic (FRP), or stainless steel. These materials are selected for their corrosion resistance, durability, and inertness in aquatic environments, ensuring the safety and health of the aquatic species. The tank (104) can be transparent for allowing light to refract and to monitor the movement of the fish visually.
In an embodiment, the cages (106) are modular and detachable, to allow easy cleaning, maintenance, and reconfiguration of the cage (100). Fasteners such as screws, bolts, nuts, and clips are commonly used to attach and detach at least two cages. The cages are made from materials such as stainless-steel mesh or food-grade plastic, which provide durability and resistance to corrosion while ensuring the safety of the aquatic species. Further, the cages are positioned in such a manner that it restricts the undesirable movement of the aquatic species ensuring to increase the quality of fish meat.
Advantageously, the proposed apparatus provides an advanced, modular method for rearing the aquatic species, limited movement cages, integrating efficient water management, precise feeding control, and real-time monitoring. By limiting the movement, and optimizing water quality, the apparatus promotes faster somatic growth and ensures the sustainable and healthy development of aquatic species in controlled environments.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described hereinabove has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of an apparatus for rearing aquatic species that:
• facilitates efficient feeding, optimal water quality management, and ease of maintenance.
• restricts fish movement to reduce energy loss and ensure better quality of fish meat.
• enables co-culture of different aquatic species.
• has an automated feeding system that ensures consistent and efficient delivery of food.
• has real-time monitoring of water quality parameters.
• has a modular cage design that facilitates easy removal, maintenance and reconfiguration.
• co-culture capability enables the rearing of multiple species within the same tank.
The aspect herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation. , Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. An apparatus (100) for rearing aquatic species, said apparatus (100) comprising:
• a tank (104) having an opening and an outlet (122), said tank (104) configured to store water;
• a plurality of cages (106) configured to be disposed in said tank (104), each of said cages (106) configured to receive at least one aquatic species of a desired size;
• a plurality of passages (108) configured to extend vertically through in said tank (104), each of said passages configured to be disposed in fluid communication with each of said cages (106) to provide a pathway to supply food to the aquatic species within said cages (106);
• a pipe hanger beam (126) configured to hold said passage (108) and said cages (106) in position;
• a conduit (124) configured to fluidly connect said outlet (122) with said opening; and
• a recirculating unit (118) configured to be fitted on said conduit (124), said recirculating unit (118) configured to recirculate water from said outlet (122) to said opening,
said apparatus is characterized whereby each of said cage (106) is configured to define a boundary to limit the movement of the aquatic species within said cage (106) to prevent the loss of energy of the aquatic species while movement and promote somatic growth.
2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said cage (106) is configured to be aligned horizontally and stacked vertically within said tank (104).
3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, includes clamping means (110) is configured to secure each of said passages (108) with each of said cages (106).
4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, includes dispensing means, configured to be fitted on the mouth of said passage (108), said dispensing means is configured to dispense a predefined amount of food at predefined intervals.
5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, includes a plurality of support member (102), each of said support members (102) is configured to be mounted on an operative bottom portion of each of said cages (106), said support member (102) is configured to maintain each of said cages (106) at a desired height within said tank (104).
6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, includes a filtration unit (116), configured to be fitted on said conduit (124) between said outlet (122) and said recirculating means (118), said filtration unit (116) is configured to remove impurities and unwanted particles from the water flowing through said conduit (124).
7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, includes a regulating means (120), positioned in fluid communication with said conduit (124), said regulating means (120) is configured to real-time monitoring of water quality parameters within said tank (104), said regulating means (120) includes:
• a repository unit, configured to store water quality parameters and threshold limits;
• at least one sensing unit, configured to be in communication with the water flowing through said conduit (124), said sensing unit is configured to sense at least one water quality parameter of water flowing through said conduit (124) and generate corresponding sensed signal(s) data;
• a control unit, configured to receive said sensed signal data, said control unit is configured to compare said sensed signal data with the respective threshold limit and is further configured to generate an alert signal if said sensed signal data falls below or exceeds above the range of threshold limits; and
• an alerting unit, configured to receive said alert signal, said alerting unit includes an LED configured to emit a visual alert in response to said alert signal.
8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said water quality parameters are selected from a group consisting of temperature, pH level, ammonia level, nitrate level, dissolved oxygen level, and water level.
9. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said cages (106) are further configured to enable co-culture of different aquatic species within said tank (104).
11. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recirculating means (118) is further configured with an aeration module to enhance oxygenation of the water in said tank (104).
12. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tank (104) is made of a transparent material to allow visual inspection of the aquatic species.
Dated this 29th day of October, 2024

_______________________________
MOHAN RAJKUMAR DEWAN, IN/PA - 25
OF R.K. DEWAN & CO.
AUTHORIZED AGENT OF APPLICANT

TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT NEW DELHI

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