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Title: EVALUATION OF THE SOCK SAVER AERATION UNIT UNDER COMMERCIAL CATFISH FARMING CONDITIONS IN ARKANSAS

Author
item Pearson, Philip
item Green, Bartholomew - Bart
item MINCHEW, C.DOUGLAS - MISSISSIPPI ST UNIV
item BEECHAM, RACHAEL - MISSISSIPPI VA ST UNIV
item Kim, Jin

Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2004
Publication Date: 1/17/2005
Citation: Pearson, P.R., Green, B.W., Minchew, C.D., Beecham, R.V., Kim, J.M. 2005. Evaluation of the sock saver aeration unit under commercial catfish farming conditions in Arkansas [abstract]. Book of Abstracts, Aquaculture America. p. 319.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretive summary not required.

Technical Abstract: Commercial channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) producers in the Southeastern United States typically use paddlewheels to provide supplemental oxygen to a catch being held overnight in a live car. Research indicates that the Sock Saver, an aeration system designed to diffuse pure oxygen gas into live cars, may be a practical alternative to the paddlewheel. In August 2004, ten field trials were conducted under commercial harvesting conditions in southeastern Arkansas. Channel catfish were crowded into two live cars (8ft x 50ft), separated by approximately 100 feet of open water. One live car was aerated with a paddlewheel; the second received pure oxygen gas from the Sock Saver. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) data were collected from three locations and two depths within each live car and from one location and two depths outside each live car. Mean DO levels for Sock Saver versus paddlewheel are based on Harvests 7 through 10, which occurred during the only period in August 2004, when the ambient air temperature approached 30-year normals. Pond water temperature ranged between 80 and 85 degrees fahrenheit. Analysis shows that the DO concentration in live cars aerated with the Sock Saver did not differ from the DO concentration in live cars aerated by paddlewheels under these conditions. Additional research is needed to assess Sock Saver performance at water temperatures greater than 85 degrees fahrenheit. Interactions among and between the oxygen flow rate, pond depth, water temperature, and live car loading rate should be investigated. Future research should include a formal benefit/cost analysis and a study of the effects of DO levels in live cars on weight loss and fillet quality.