Some 15 years ago and
following visits to Florida, Singapore, Malaysia a construction
programme was set in motion. The point was grasped that if the
moment was not siezed there would never be a second
chance! Accordingly a major building project was
carried through to finality - the end object was to NEVER - EVER -
OVERCROWD FISHES! This dictum is as valid today as it
has ever been...
Not counting the glass aquaria and holding facilities in the main
fish house building, some 370 concrete tubs are in existence, with
two thirds of these being either 1,200 or 1,000 litres capacity. The
smaller 500 litre tubs are obviously suitable for smaller
collections of fishes. Every tub has an air supply and most
have automatic water reticulation.
The ponds are ideal for holding "numbers" fishes and also
for open water fishes that do not take kindly to making the change
from open lake to captivity... Just imagine what an open
- free swimming fish must go through finding itself being cooped up
in a tiny 90 litre (or smaller) receptacle. It is obvious that
these fishes can make full and successful recovery from the
stress of being caught and being held...
The filters are powered by air - two large air blowers. The filters
are simple but effective - and a good throughput of water develops
through the funnels drilled round their periphery. Every
morning some 50 tubs' filters are cleaned in a roster basis by the
fish house personnel, ensuring all to be covered with a seven day
period. The better the cleaning - less daily DOA - as simple
as that.
