Taiwanese scientists have invented a high-tech aquarium that dispenses with the need to change the water. The new fish tanks swam onto the domestic market earlier this month.
According to researchers at Chung-hwa Bio-Tech Aquaculture Inc
"You will never need to change the water because the aquarium is combined with a patented multi-layer aerating filter," said Hoover Tai
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMESN
The technology -- granted six domestic and international patents -- was developed in 1992 by the company's president, Hsieh Chin-hui
Tai, however, said that a biological preparation
A version of the preparation has been applied not only in prawn farms in Pingtung County but also in other countries, including China, the Philippines and Ecuador. Experience has shown that the technology can provide pollution-free and natural-smelling breeding environments for fish and shellfish, including prawns and crabs.
A slightly modified version of the biological formula -- for aquarium use -- utilizes natural bacteria and dozens of the chemical elements in sea water to solve water quality problems. The preparation can turn the toxic chemicals contained in fish excrement into nitrates, which do not hurt the fish.
Tai said aquariums with the improved aqua-farm environment can increase the survival rate of the fish they contain. One aquarium created by the company, measuring 2.6 x 0.9 x 0.65m3, has demonstrated its ability to keep 1,260 red parrot fish (
"You don't even have to clean your aquarium. All you have to do is to add the biological preparation once a week and replace the active carbon and filter net once a month," Tai said.
He added that the convenience brought by high technology made keeping an aquarium more enjoyable.
The high-tech aquarium was introduced in Shanghai in May, where its convenience has created a growing market.
Tai said that improving the immunity of fish to disease was another necessary element to keeping fish healthy.
The company has also invented special feeds incorporating ingredients such as aloe, the rhizome (underground stem) of Chinese goldthread (
Statistically, the success rate for raising prawns in the traditional outdoor fish farms is less than 20 percent, compared to the rate of between 60 to 80 percent in the outdoor aqua-farm fitted with the company's technology.
The company has rejected a price offered by the Council of Agriculture to purchase the technology.
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