There are dozens of different types of aquaculture, and then dozens more individual techniques and ideas within each category. Yet, all of them benefit from the use of proper liners chosen specifically for fish and plant use. Without a liner, the various ponds, trenches, tanks, and other units of an aquaculture system is prone to develop leaks and fail over time. While early systems only relied on natural or hand-dug dirt ponds, today’s systems are much more advanced and perform best with the right liner. A geomembrane is a type of geosynthetic that’s highly impermeable, meaning that it traps water so it can’t seep out. These products are flexible, adaptable, chemically resistant, and easy to install in ponds of any size. Find out precisely why geomembranes work so well as liners in nearly any aquaculture project.
Fewer Contamination Risks
Putting in a truly impermeable barrier, instead of hoping the natural soil and clay layers will control water flow, is the only way to prevent soil and water contamination. The nutrient solution used for raising crops is too likely to cause damage if allowed to seep out through the soil. Even rigid barriers, like concrete, can allow the water to slowly seep out of the ponds or raceways and spread. Controlling seepage is the key to preventing contamination and it is best accomplished with the use of a geomembrane liner with a high impermeability rating.
Better pH Control
Exposing the water in a fishpond or raceway to the bare soil also makes it harder to maintain the water quality parameters. In particular, pH levels tend to stay lower or higher than fish like depending on whether the soil is acidic is alkaline. By adding a physical barrier between the soil and the water, it’s much easier to maintain the exact pH desired. Dissolved mineral and ammonia levels are also easier to manage with the help of the right liner. Rising groundwater levels can infiltrate the pond or raceway and dilute a nutrient solution to the point where crops fail. Liners stop this from occurring as well.
Prevention of Water Loss
Aquaculture projects, that don’t take place in an established natural body of water like the ocean, require a steady supply of fresh water. This is increased greatly if the design is open and non-recirculating. When you consider the value of each gallon of water pumped or diverted into the system, you can’t afford to lose a large percentage of the total water to seepage or leaks. Combine the system with enclosed greenhouses and other covers and you can even reduce evaporation dramatically. If you’re planning to recirculate the same water over and over again, you’ll definitely want to minimize water loss at all points.
Larger and More Predictable Harvests
Some studies of aquaculture, especially those involving shrimp and fish like carp, find that lined systems produce larger and healthier products at harvest time. This can also occur in crop-production systems. For shrimp and fish, the larger growth and faster rate of development are mostly due to stable water quality and increased food sources gathering at the bottom of the pond. This also help crops, along with greater concentrations of nutrients since they’re not being lost to the surrounding soil. If you’re trying to turn a profit or support a charity with a large-scale aquaculture project, you’ll definitely want the largest and fastest possible harvests.
Reduced Disease Build-up
Lining a pond or raceway gives you more opportunities for cleaning and controlling the conditions. Pond dry down is a common process between batches of fish or crops to kill off lingering water-carried diseases and pests. Clay and soil ponds rarely dry out completely because the sediment at the bottom traps a lot of moisture. Shrimp and shellfish, like mussels, are particularly prone to the build-up of diseases and other issues that reduce their production rate. By lining the pond, you can dry it down completely as often as you like and clean out all the sludge to achieve full sanitization.
Don’t start designing your aquaculture system or planning out business objectives until you’ve found the right liner. Waiting to pick a liner until you’re ready to get started will only leave you overwhelmed with the number of options on the market. Turn to us here at BTL Liners for help. We can supply all the geomembrane liners you need for fish and plant production.
