Aquaculture

Aquaculture Water Treatment Calculations

System Volume – Knowing the
volume of water in the recirculating
system is important to calculating
water exchange requirements,
applications of therapeutants for the
fish, and the amount of chemical
disinfectants required for sterilization.
The calculation of the volume of a
given system is a function of the ge-
ometry of the culture tank, filters, and
plumbing. The portion of the system
to be treated also depends on the goals
of the farmer; for instance,
a bath treatment will likely only be
done in the culture tank with the
water flow shut off, and should not
include the full volume of the system.
Figure 1 (page 2) shows some
formulas for calculating the volume
of some commonly used tank shapes
in recirculating aquaculture. A useful
tool for calculating system volume
can be found at www.calculator.net/
volume-calculator.html.
Active Ingredient Calculations –
Each product added to an aquaculture
system as a therapeutant or steriliz-
ing agent has a portion of the mass
or volume that is active ingredient
(i.e., performs the desired task) and a
portion that is inactive, which serves
a purpose other than performing the
desired task. Recommendations for
chemical applications generally should
be calculated as a specific concentra-
tion of active ingredient.

(Active Ingredient Mass)

Active Ingredient (%) = × 100
Total Mass

( )
Desired Chemical Concentration
Chemical Addition Requirements = × Container Volume

( Active Ingredient (%)

100 )

FA 0004 December 2014

Aquaculture
COMMONLY USED TANK SHAPES AUTHOR
Prepared by D. Allen Pattillo
r Extension aquaculture specialist, Iowa
State University Extension and Outreach
(515) 294-8616
h Cylinder V = π · r2· h pattillo@iastate.edu
www.extension.iastate.edu/fisheries

Rectangular
h V = l · w· h
Tank

h
{ Cone V= 1
3
π · r2· h

h1
{ Cone
Bottom (
V = π · r 2 · h1
(
)
·h )
{
1
Tank + 3
π·r 2
2
h2

Elliptical
h Raceway (
V = π · r2· h )
Tank + (l · 2r · h)
{

l
…and justice for all
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
Figure 1. Formulas for calculating the volume of some commonly used discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of
tank shapes race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable,
sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion,
sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal,
or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from
any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative
means for communication of program information (Braille, large
print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrim-
ination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or
call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an
equal opportunity provider and employer.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts

of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Cathann A. Kress, director, Cooper-
ative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and
Technology, Ames, Iowa.