The Fish Vet's Blog

Check out the latest review for “Fish Vetting Essentials” in Veterinary Record. This is an established and well-regarded scientific journal with a worldwide distribution.

“it really is one of the most practical fish books I have come across and it is absolutely fascinating… given the unique qualities of this book, and its comprehensive yet practical coverage of fish medicine, I would strongly recommend it to anyone keen on seeing fish, whether experienced or just dabbling. And if you’re still not keen on taking the plunge, just find the number of the nearest aquarist and recommend they get a copy.”

More information about the book can be found by clicking on the following link:

Fish Vetting Essentials

Dr Loh has also published a second book.

Fish Vetting Medicines: Formulary of Fish Treatments

You can purchase these books at The Fish Vet’s site.

Please feel free to forward it to others who may be interested.

Thank you.

Book Review – Veterinary Record

I’ve seen several aquaponics setups that utilise the flood/drain method to water the plants, and hence act as the filtration for the fishes. I had always wondered whether there is enough filtration of the water for the health of the fish especially when the water runs only 4x per day.

This is why my DIY (do-it-yourself) backyard set up is a continuous flow method (nutrient film technique) utilising a submerged biofilter to filter the fishes’ wastes. I thought it’d be better for the fish to be in a proper aquaculture setup and then have the plants as an accessory. See Facebook fanpage link here.

This paper details the work done to come up with the conclusions that:

1. Removal of organic nitrogen and ammonia was higher in flood/drain biofilters.
2. Removal of nitrites and nitrates was better in submerged biofilters
3. The use of combined flood/drain and submerged biofilters may offer the best solution to the treatment of aquaculture waste.

Having said this, I’d like to do some water quality testing of my own for those with the flood/drain design, to look at TAN and nitrite levels.

Aquacultural Engineering
Volume 50, Number 2 (September 2012)
	Nitrogen removal and changes to microbial communities in model flood/drain and submerged biofilters treating aquaculture wastewater
	Authors:	Simon P. Gregory 1, Paul J. Dyson 2, David Fletcher 3, Philip Gatland 4, Robin J. Shields 1
	Author Affiliations:	1: Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK  2: Institute of Life Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK  3: RAS Aquaculture Research Ltd, Pen Lon, Maes y Llan, Llandwrog, Gwynedd, UK  4: 31 Spindlewood, Brough, East Elloughton, HU15 1LL, UK
	Source:	Aquacultural Engineering, Volume 50, Number 2 (September 2012)
	Page Numbers:	37 – 45
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: Unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: Publisher’s Site
	Abstract:	? Flood/drain biofilters were compared to submerged biofilters for the treatment of marine aquaculture wastewater. ? Analysis of 16s rRNA and amoAgenes by T-RFLP revealed distinct bacterial communities in the submerged and flood/drain biofilters. ? Removal of organic nitrogen and ammonia was higher in flood/drain biofilters. Removal of nitrites and nitrates was better in submerged biofilters. ? The use of combined flood/drain and submerged biofilters may offer the best solution to the treatment of aquaculture waste.
	Citation:	Simon P. Gregory, Paul J. Dyson, David Fletcher, Philip Gatland, Robin J. Shields . Nitrogen removal and changes to microbial communities in model flood/drain and submerged biofilters treating aquaculture wastewater. Aquacultural Engineering, Volume 50, Number 2 (September 2012), pp. 37-45, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=41AF998AA0FB9C7061FB&gt;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=41AF998AA0FB9C7061FB

I have just joined AquacultureHub (http://www.aquaculturehub.org).

AquacultureHub is a site for Aquaculturists, teachers, students and everyday people interested in aquaculture.

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
BSc BVMS MPhil MANZCVS (Aq & Pathol)
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

Heaps of online and educational opportunities on aquatics can be found on the following web site: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/

The Spiel:
The University of Florida Aquatic Animal Health program now offers online courses through the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. These courses are designed for undergraduate students interested in this field of study as well as veterinary/graduate students and professionals already immersed in aquatic animal medicine. We invite you to take part in this unique learning experience .

The Fall semester is approaching and Registration is OPEN for our fall course, Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues (http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/courses/distance-learning-courses/aquatic-animal-conservation-issues/). To learn more about our courses and program please visit the links below or contact us.

We look forward to having you with us this Fall!
Best regards,

Iske Larkin, PhD
Education Coordinator

Aquatic Animal Health Program
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Florida

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This article highlights the importance of removing suspended solids because of the pathogenic bacteria that could be associated with them.

Aquaculture International: Journal of the European Aquaculture Society
Volume 20, Number 4 (August 2012)
	A dead-end filtration method to remove particle-associated pathogens in aquaculture systems
	Authors:	Songzhe Fu 1, Jiazheng Shen 2, Kang Chen 2, Junling Tu 1, Ying Liu 2
	Author Affiliations:	1: Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 833 Lijing Road, Honggutan District, Nanchang, 330038 China 2: Institute of Oceanology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071 China
	Source:	Aquaculture International: Journal of the European Aquaculture Society, Volume 20, Number 4 (August 2012)
	Page Numbers:	657 – 672
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: EBSCOhost EJS
	Abstract:	Abstract To reduce the incidence of bacterial diseases in recirculating aquaculture systems, 27 marine bacterial species were introduced into Instant Ocean maintained at 25°C. Those species were enumerated before and after filtration to evaluate the efficiency of the filtration procedure. The effects of sari filter and nylon filter on the survival of sea bass challenged with Vibrio alginolyticus were also determined. The results of laboratory studies indicated that the ability to remove pathogens was typically 1–3 log orders. Above 90% Vibrio sp., i.e., which were attached to particles, were removed by either 20-µm nylon net or four layers of sari. A 9.53% mortality of sea bass was reported in pilot filtration test using sari material as an end filter, while this percentage increased to 33.35% in control groups. It is concluded that a simple filtration procedure that involves the use of four-layer sari material can reduce the numbers of pathogens attached to particles in aquaculture system. The results of this study provide the basis for pathogen reductions in full-scale facilities.
	Citation:	Songzhe Fu, Jiazheng Shen, Kang Chen, Junling Tu, Ying Liu . A dead-end filtration method to remove particle-associated pathogens in aquaculture systems. Aquaculture International: Journal of the European Aquaculture Society, Volume 20, Number 4 (August 2012), pp. 657-672, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4A15AF4746923D49C3F2&gt;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4A15AF4746923D49C3F2

These two fish foods look similar, but after using the cheaper brand, the owner started seeing algal issues. A simple theory is that the cheaper food is not as digestible and is not as well assimilated by the fish, creating more wastes in the water, favouring algal growth.

Click on this link to see…