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The Role of Geomembrane Liners in Water Quality Management

Water quality directly influences your fish’s health, growth, and, ultimately, your hatchery’s productivity. Since even the most carefully managed feeding and handling practices can be undermined if the water is compromised, a pristine aquatic environment is essential.

While many mechanical factors contribute to water quality, from aeration to filtration, don’t overlook your pond liner! After all, it’s the very interface between the water and the surrounding environment. While a poorly chosen or deteriorating liner can become a source of contamination, a well-chosen, high-quality liner actively supports healthy conditions.

This chapter explores how geomembrane liners prevent contamination, simplify cleaning, and minimize chemical interactions for a stable, healthy, and productive fish hatchery.

Preventing Contamination from the Ground

It might seem counterintuitive, but the soil surrounding your fish hatchery ponds can be a hidden source of water quality problems. Soil can contain an array of natural and man-made substances that can actively harm your fish.

Naturally Occurring Elements

Minerals, heavy metals, and other elements present in the soil can leach into the pond water, altering its pH and chemistry.

Agricultural Runoff

Rainwater can create a toxic environment for hatchlings by carrying pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural chemicals into ponds.

Industrial Pollutants

Depending on your location, industrial waste and contaminants may be present in the soil, introducing devastating effects such as direct toxicity and developmental abnormalities.

A high-quality, chemically-resistant geomembrane liner, like BTL’s AquaArmor series, provides a robust barrier to keep harmful substances from migrating from the soil into your ponds:

Impermeability

An impermeable liner eliminates contact between the pond water and the underlying soil.

Chemically Inert

Since AquaArmor liners are naturally chemically inert, they won’t react with the soil or release harmful substances.

Try This:

  • Before constructing your ponds, conduct thorough soil testing to identify contaminants and verify your liner’s resistance.
  • Choose a geomembrane liner with proven impermeability.
  • Install the liner correctly to prevent breaches that could compromise its effectiveness.

Facilitating Easy Cleaning and Disinfection

A clean, pathogen-free pond environment is essential for healthy fish and a successful hatchery. High-quality geomembranes are easy to clean and aren’t damaged by most common aquaculture chemicals.

Smooth Surface

The smooth surface of a geomembrane liner makes it significantly easier to clean compared to materials with rough surfaces, like concrete. Since removing algae, debris, and other contaminants requires only simple scrubbing and water pressure, the time and effort spent on pond maintenance is reduced.

Chemical Compatibility

AquaArmor liners are formulated to resist many cleaning and disinfectant chemicals commonly used in aquaculture. However, to avoid damage, always confirm the compatibility of specific chemicals and concentrations with the liner material.

Reduced Biofilm Formation

The smooth, non-porous nature of BTL’s geomembrane liners can help reduce the formation of biofilm, a thin layer of microorganisms that can harbor pathogens and reduce water quality. This supports better water quality and reduces the need for harsh cleaning agents.

Long-Term Durability

Reinforced AquaArmor liners are designed for long-term durability, minimizing the need for frequent liner replacements and the disruptions to your operations that come with them.

Try This:

  • Choose an appropriate geomembrane liner for fish hatchery applications. Liners described as fish-safe are a good bet, but those certified for potable water (NSF/ANSI-61 certified) have been proven to provide the highest level of safety.
  • Develop a detailed cleaning and disinfection schedule based on your pond size and species.
  • Use cleaning agents and disinfectants that are compatible with your liner material.
  • Monitor the condition of your liner at each cleaning so potential issues can be promptly addressed.

Minimizing Chemical Interactions

Maintaining optimal water chemistry in a fish hatchery is a delicate balance. Unwanted chemical interactions can quickly disrupt quality parameters, harm your fish, and create significant operational challenges. Geomembrane liners help minimize these risks:

Inert Barrier

High-quality geomembrane liners are designed to be chemically inert. This means they do not readily react with the pond contents (water, waste, and treatments such as disinfectants and medications).

Preventing Leaching

Some pond materials can leach harmful substances into the water. For example, concrete can alter the pH by releasing lime, and some liner materials have been found to release harmful chemicals like phthalates. Geomembranes eliminate this risk by providing a non-reactive barrier.

Avoiding Degradation

Certain chemicals can degrade or weaken some liner materials over time, releasing harmful byproducts and degrading the liner. AquaArmor liners are formulated to resist degradation from typical aquaculture chemicals.


Liners by BTL

AquaArmor Pond Liner

The most versatile liner on the market today, AquaArmor maximizes protection from harmful UV rays, tear resistance and punctures that cause leaks. Simply the best liner on the market.
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