How to ensure water temperature in aquaculture in winter?

In the process of aquaculture , winter management also needs attention. If there are still fish in the pond during the winter, they must also be properly managed for the winter, especially the water temperature. So how do we ensure water temperature in aquaculture in winter? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. Adjust the water level

The water level in the pond in winter has a great impact on farmed animals . New water should be added in advance to raise the water level by 30-50cm. Raising the water level in the pond can not only slow down the rate of water temperature drop and improve the adaptability of aquatic animals to the environment, but also prevent aquatic animals from frostbite or stress response caused by a sudden drop in water temperature to below 5°C.

2. Add a greenhouse

Building a greenhouse or windbreak above the fish pond can effectively reduce the impact of cold air on the water temperature of the fish pond. The design of the greenhouse or windbreak should take into account the needs of ventilation and lighting to ensure that the water quality and light conditions in the fish pond are appropriate. Heating equipment such as special constant temperature heat pumps can control the temperature of aquaculture water within the optimal temperature range suitable for fish growth.

3. Fertilizer and water insulation

The water temperature in a fertile pond is higher than that in a lean pond because fertile water is beneficial for keeping the water warm. By applying fertilizers properly and cultivating an appropriate amount of algae populations, the thermal insulation performance of water bodies can be improved. At the same time, the oxygen produced by algae photosynthesis is also necessary for fish survival.

4. Water injection to increase temperature

On sunny afternoons when the temperature is high, shallow water that has been heated by the sun is injected into the fish pond to increase the temperature of the fish pond through the flow of shallow water. However, it is necessary to control the speed and amount of water injection to avoid excessive impact on the fish pond.

5. Reasonable stocking

According to the breeding conditions and market forecasts, a reasonable breeding plan for the next year should be formulated, and pond dredging, repair and disinfection work should be carried out in time before stocking. Select seedlings with no damage on the body surface, strong vitality and no specific pathogens tested for release. Add water and fertilizer to the water in a timely manner before releasing the seedlings to ensure that there are palatable bait organisms after the seedlings enter the pond.

6. Water quality management

Regularly test the dissolved oxygen, pH value, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite and other indicators of aquaculture water to ensure the water quality is fresh, the dissolved oxygen is above 5mg/L, the pH is 7-8.5, and the transparency is 40-50 cm.

7. Daily management

Check fish diseases frequently, deal with problems promptly when discovered, and be careful when pulling the net to prevent fish from overwintering with diseases or injuries. Before wintering, you can use net pulling exercises to strengthen the fish's physique in the ponds. It is best to do this when the water temperature is around 10℃.

The above is an introduction to how to ensure water temperature in aquaculture in winter. Farmers can use tools such as water thermometers to regularly test the water temperature in fish ponds to understand changes in water temperature. In cold weather, try to minimize operations such as pulling nets and fishing to reduce mechanical damage and stress to fish.