ES2712348B2 - Individual maintenance system of living aquatic organisms. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Individual maintenance system of living aquatic organisms.

Technical sector

Technology related to the maintenance of several living aquatic organisms individually. It can be used in aquaculture, research, teaching or transport applications of organisms.

State of the art

The present invention relates to a system for the individual maintenance of living aquatic organisms, such as octopus or crustaceans, which allows their maintenance for an indefinite period without physical, chemical or visual contact with other organisms maintained in the same system.

The consumption of aquatic organisms, such as octopus and crustaceans, has grown in recent years (Conners and Levine, 2017. Characteristics and discard mortality of Octopus bycatch in Alaska groundfish fisheries. Fisheries Research 185, 169-175). On the contrary, catches in the environment are being reduced by various problems of anthropic origin. One of the solutions to continue producing this type of animals is to do it under controlled conditions of aquaculture (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).

Some of the problems in keeping these species in reduced environments are usually intraspecific aggression, cannibalism and competition for space.

The experience of cephalopod culture (where octopus is framed) is scarce (Fiorito et al., 2015. Guidelines for the care and welfare of cephalopods in research-a consensus based on an initiative by CephRes. FELASA and the Boyd Group Laboratory Laboratory 49, 1-90). On the other hand, the cultivation of some species of crustaceans appreciated by the market is not yet carried out, so their consumption depends exclusively on catches in the wild (Méhault, Morandeau and Kopp, 2016. Survival of discarded Nephrops norvegicus after trawling in the Bay of Biscay. Fisheries Research 183, 396-400).

Current systems for the maintenance of organisms such as octopuses include community structures where animals share the same volume of water (Garrido et al., 2017. Assessment of stress and nutritional biomarkers in cultured Octopus vulgaris paralarvae: Effects of geographical origin and dietary regime Aquaculture 468, 558-568), although physical barriers are established for their separation (ES 2121700, Hebberecht and Pérez Homem de Almeida, 01.12.1998; JP 2017006054A, Masami et al., 12.1.2017). Options for the individual maintenance of octopuses include designs where the animal is locked in a boat with holes and screw cap inside a tank with other boats that contain more animals (CN 205802644 U. Zhang, 01.25.2017). The designs for transporting these live animals include their individual distribution in closed structures with holes, allowing the exchange of water with the outside, inside tanks maintained in conditions of regulated salinity and temperature, together with other structures with more individuals (CN 102124970A, Zheng et al., 07.20.2011). Until now, all the technology and methods available for the maintenance or transport of octopuses require systems where, although individuals are physically separated to avoid intraspecific aggressions, water is shared by several animals, so chemical communication between them is inevitable.

Something similar occurs with crustaceans, where several individuals are kept in the same volume of water (WO 03/037077, Mann, Asakawa and Pizzutto. 08.05.2003; US 4228762, Kemp, 21 10.1980). The transport of these organisms is currently carried out in tanks with several animals inside, even in dry conditions, without enough water for the proper development of normal vital activities in these organisms (US 5555845, Flynn, 09.17.1996).

It is known that certain metabolic residues and hormones produced by aquatic animals can affect other individuals, either by contamination of water with nitrogen compounds or by endocrine control (Deane and Woo, 2007. Impact of nitrite exposure on endocrine, osmoregulatory and cytoprotective functions in the marine teleost Sparus sarba. Aquatic Toxicology 82, 85-93). This endocrine control by hormones dissolved in water can cause changes in the state of sexual maturation (Phuc Thuong et al., 2017. The hormone 17 (3-estradiol promotes feminization of juveniles protandrous hermaphrodite false clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris). Marine and Freshwater Behavior and Physiology. DOMO. 1080 / 10236244.2017.1361788), in behavior (Saraiva et al., 2017. Chemical diplomacy in male tilapia: Urinary signal increases sex hormone and decreases aggression. Scientific Reports 7, 7636) or even produce due responses to a stress situation (Furtbauer and Heistermann, 2016. Cortisol coregulation in fish. Scientific Reports 6, 30334).

Stress responses can be divided into primary, secondary and tertiary (Barton, 2002. Stress in fishes: a diversity of responses with particular reference to changes in circulating corticosteroids. Integrative and Comparative Biology 42, 517-525). Primary ones include activation of the sympathetic nervous system, releasing catecholamine hormones from chromaffin tissue (Reid et al., 1998. The adrenergic stress response in fish: control of catecholamine storage and release Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C 120, 1-27), and interrenal axis stimulation, which releases corticosteroid hormones to the circulatory system (Wendelaar Bonga, 1997. The stress response in fish. Physiological Reviews 77, 591-625). Secondary responses are defined as those actions produced by these hormones (Mommsen et al., 1999. Cortisol in teleosts: dynamics, mechanisms of action, and metabolic regulation. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 9, 211-268), summarized in the release of energy metabolites to plasma, increase in respiratory rate to promote oxygen availability, and increase in heart rate to mobilize these substrates throughout the body. Tertiary responses extend to the organism and population level (Wedemeyer et al., 1990. Stress and acclimation. In Methods of Fish Biology. Schreck and Moyle, eds. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda MD, USA. Pp 451-489), affecting the performance of the animal (growth, reproduction and behavior), and may even lead to the death of the individual.

The nature of the released hormones and their secondary responses may vary between taxonomic groups and others. Thus, it is known that the primary responses correspond to the release of cortisol in teleost fish (Mommsen et al., 1999). of 1ahydroxycorticosterone in elasmobranchs (Hazon and Balment, 1998. Endocrinology. In The physiology of fishes. Evans, ed. CRC Press. Boca Raton FL, USA. Pp 441-464) and hyperglycemic hormone in crustaceans (Lorenzon et al., 1997 Lipopolysaccharide-induced hyperglycemia is mediated by CHH release in crustaceans. General and Comparative Endocrinology 108, 395-405).

The recovery process after a stressful situation includes recovering body homeostasis to sustainable levels, either by returning to the basal state or by establishing an allostatic state (McEwen and Wingfield, 2003. The concept of allostasis in biology and biomedicine. Hormones and Behavior 43, 2-15).

Certain scientific experiments have been conducted to evaluate octopus survival rates (Conners and Levine, 2017. Characteristics and discard mortality of Octopus bycatch in Alaska groundfish fisheries. Fisheries Research 185, 169-175) and crustaceans (Méhault, Morandeau and Kopp, 2016. Survival of discarded Nephrops norvegicus after trawling in the Bay of Biscay. Fisheries Research 183, 396-400). However, all work has been done with the animals kept in the same volume of water, even if it were in structures that physically separated each other. This fact, as explained in the previous paragraph, can cause unwanted metabolic responses as a result of chemical communication between individuals.

Therefore, to carry out survival and recovery studies of aquatic organisms, such as octopus and crustaceans, or to keep these animals in non-stressful or limiting conditions, and not have problems derived from communication between animals, a system of individual isolation This system must also maintain adequate water quality conditions for the organisms it contains.

Description of the invention

The present invention aims at a system for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, such as octopus or crustaceans, by means of which the animals are handled individually within the system, for an indefinite period and without physical, chemical or visual contact with other organisms. maintained in the same system, in closed or semi-open circuit.

According to the system of the invention, the animals are kept in independent aquariums that prevent the animals from leaving, but allow the renewal of the water in these compartments. These aquariums are opaque walls, avoiding the visual contact of the different animals with each other, which allows the grouping of several aquariums in adjoining spaces.

The system allows the management of aquariums independently, and can be extracted from the system for cleaning or handling without altering the organisms of adjacent aquariums.

Aquariums are grouped into modules with a separate filtering system for each module. These modules can be arranged on board ships or in fixed or mobile installations on land.

The general operation of the invention requires a water circulation system. This system can be closed or semi-open depending on the availability of clean water and / or the needs of the moment.

The clean water enters the aquariums through a hole in their cover, and is carried to the bottom of the aquarium. There it creates an updraft and overflows through holes made in the upper part of the aquarium. Aquariums should pay special attention to possible escape routes of the organisms they contain. To this end, the invention includes the closing of the covers by suitable systems (pressure bands, flanges, clamps, wires, ropes, etc.), as well as the adaptation of the size of any entrance / exit hole to the aquariums to avoid the escape of organisms through them.

The water that comes out of the aquariums is collected in a structure where the aquariums are maintained, which has an outlet drain. This water is carried, by gravity and without the need for automatisms, to a water reservoir container.

The water reservoir in turn allows the entry of a clean water line to adapt the system to a semi-open circuit regime. In this mode of action, the excess water in the system overflows from this reservoir.

The amount of oxygen in the water is maintained at levels suitable for aquarium animals by including an air / oxygen diffusion system within the water reservoir.

Water temperature, another relevant factor for the proper maintenance of animals can be controlled by incorporating heating / cooling systems in the water reservoir.

Within the reservoir the invention includes a filtration system suitable to maintain the aquarium water conditions sufficiently clean. This includes the elimination of nitrogen residues, waste substances, residual molecules resulting from the metabolism of organisms, as well as hormones or other substances produced by animals that could reach other individuals and cause responses to them.

The filtration system is the most variable part of the invention, since its composition depends on the water conditions that are needed at all times, which depend on the animal species, size, number of individuals and their metabolic status. . The filter includes filter material such as perlón and sponges for the retention of the thickest material. Other materials may also be included, depending on the needs of organisms, such as materials with a high surface-volume ratio, to favor the establishment of microorganisms capable of converting metabolic (toxic) residues into substances safe for animals. The use of materials such as activated carbon, capable of eliminating hormones and some metals, is necessary.

Within the filter or reservoir can be incorporated a system of elimination of proteins and nitrogen compounds, either by micelle formation, ozonation or any other means.

The invention describes a filtration system that is easy to clean and handle, with good accessibility to operate on any of the elements included at any time.

The flow of water is forced to pass through the filtering materials through a water pump included in the filtration system. This pump sends the filtered water to the aquarium system, which is located above the water reservoir. The water flow will depend on the needs of the system: number of aquariums, animal species, and size of organisms.

The mill admits the possibility of installing more than one filtration and water pumping system to ensure the continuous operation of the invention, being able to perform cleaning or manipulation of one of the systems while the mill remains active.

The distribution of the filtered water, coming from the water pump, will be done by coupling the outlet pipe to a "T" type distribution piece. Next, a flexible pipe is included with its two ends coupled to the two outlets free of that piece type "T", leaving the system as a circular pipe, without edges. This closed system allows the maintenance of a homogeneous pressure inside the pipe. The water outlet occurs through several holes, all of them of the same size to maintain the same output flow for each of them, practiced on this pipe. The outlet diameter of these holes and that of the hoses attached to them must be substantially smaller than that of the pipe from which they arise.

The number of hoses is equal to or greater than the number of aquariums. Valves that regulate the output flow of these hoses can be used and even stopped, in order to control the water from each individual aquarium Each of these hoses is introduced through the hole in the lid of an aquarium, providing filtered water to the animal inside it.

All the elements of the modular system of the invention are susceptible to scaling, both in number and size, to adapt to the characteristics of the organisms to be maintained. The use of usual materials, with the premise that they are harmless to organisms, allows to build a modular structure quickly and with low economic cost.

Description of the content of the drawings

Figure 1. Shows one of the independent aquariums that make up the system. The arrows indicate the direction of the water flow. The following elements are distinguished:

1. Aquarius.

2. Aquarium lid.

3. Hole for entering the clean water inlet tube.

4 Hole to introduce air / oxygen

5. Aquarium water overflow holes.

6. Handle attached to the body of the aquarium.

Figure 2. It shows an overview of the elements that constitute the support tank where the aquariums are placed, as well as the water reservoir, filtration system and water pipes. The arrows indicate the direction of the flow of water (dashed arrows) or air (thick and continuous arrows). The following elements are distinguished:

7. Support tank where aquariums are kept.

8. Tank drain 7.

9. Pipe connecting the drain 8 with the water reservoir (10).

10. Water reservoir.

11. Filtration system.

12. Water pump.

13. Water outlet pipe from the pump.

14 Type "T" part to divide the water pump outlet connection in two.

15. Pipe or hose that joins the two outlets of part 14.

16. Diffuser stone, connected to an air pump or oxygen circuit.

17. Inlet pipe of clean water outside the system.

18. Water outlet hole by overflow.

Figure 3. Aerial view of the support tank (7) with several aquariums (1) placed inside.

Figure 4. Detail of the pipe or hose (15) for the entry of clean water, where the following elements are represented.

19. Exhaust pipes from the water line (15) to the aquariums (1).

Embodiment of the invention

The proposed system for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms comprises:

a) One or more aquariums (1) intended to contain living organisms indefinitely and without physical, chemical or visual contact with other organisms maintained in the same system.

b) A support tank (7) to contain them, which channels the water that flows from them to a water reservoir (10).

c) A water reservoir (10) located below the baseline of the aquariums (1). d) One or more filtration systems and maintenance of the physicochemical conditions of the water.

e) One or more water pumps (12) that allows to distribute the filtered water and bring it to the level of the aquariums.

f) Water pipes through a system of pipes and hoses to the aquariums individually.

The system can operate in closed or semi-open circuit.

The size and shape of the different elements are optimized to keep several animals at the same time, without hindering access to any part of the system at any time.

a) Aquariums

Each aquarium (1), intended to contain a living organism is independent of the others, and will be placed vertically on the surface of the support tank (7), with the lid facing up. Each aquarium (1) must be made of waterproof and harmless material for organisms. Its walls must be opaque or painted / coated darkly with ink / materials safe for organisms. The darkening of the aquarium prevents the animal's eye contact with the outside of it. Its measures may vary depending on the organism to maintain.

Access to the animals inside the aquariums is done by removing the cover (2) from them. Each aquarium will have a transparent lid (2) to observe the organisms inside the aquariums without opening the lid.

The opening of the covers (2) allows the introduction / removal of animals, cleaning, feeding, or any other necessary action. On the other hand, this cover (2) must seal the aquarium sufficiently to prevent the animal lodged inside it from escaping. It can be fixed to the body of the aquarium (1) by clamps, flanges, ribbons, rope, wire or any other element of union. The lid (2) can also be covered with some type of opaque material that prevents the entry of light into the aquarium.

The cover (2) has a hole (3) for introducing the water inlet tube (19).

The cover (2) also has another hole (4) to introduce air / oxygen into the aquarium (1). The aquarium (1) also has water overflow holes (5), located at the top of the aquarium. These holes must have a diameter small enough to prevent the escape of organisms.

The aquariums are extracted manually by means of a handle (6) attached to its upper part, being able to carry out the relevant manipulations in a more favorable area. The handle (6) attached to the body of the aquarium allows to lift and move the aquariums (1) independently and comfortably.

b) Support tank

The support tank (7) must be made of waterproof material and harmless to organisms. It will have a variable size depending on the number of aquariums (1) that you wish to incorporate into the system and its structure will be robust enough to support the weight of aquariums filled with water.

The tank (7) has a drain (8) that collects the water that overflows from the aquariums (1), which passes through a pipe (9) that connects the drain (8) with the water reservoir (10).

c) Water reservoir

The water reservoir (10) is located below the level of the support tank (7) and its size may vary depending on the number of aquariums (1) included in the system.

This reservoir (10) incorporates elements of filtration and maintenance of the physicochemical conditions of the water (11).

The system can operate both in closed or semi-open circuit by adapting a clean water inlet (17) coupled to the water reservoir (10). In this case, the excess water from the system exits overflow (18) from the tank (10), having to take this fact into account to optimize the waste disposal system of the organisms.

d) System / s of filtration and maintenance of the physical-chemical conditions of the water. The filtration system (11) must contain elements that remove impurities from water such as remains of animal metabolism (nitrogen residues, hormones, etc.). It is possible to include a skimmer or protein separator, an ozonator, or eliminate residues that can create micelles with the air through an overflow system (18) (for the latter it would be necessary for the entire system to be in semi-open circuit, with continuous supply of clean water). The incorporation of materials such as activated carbon that remove hormones produced by organisms is necessary. Other filtration materials can be included in this filtration system (11) such as perlón, sponges or materials with a high volume surface ratio (such as arlite or baked clay, among others) to facilitate the establishment of microorganism colonies and convert the Toxic waste in harmless elements for aquarium organisms. The size of the filtration system varies depending on the number of aquariums and the size / metabolism of the organisms to be maintained. Oxygen levels are kept high by means of a diffusing stone (16) or element similar, connected to an air pump or oxygen circuit, to facilitate the diffusion of oxygen in the water.

e) Water pump / s

The water pump flow rate (12) will depend on the number of aquariums (1) and the needs of the organisms to be contained therein.

The system can be complemented with the duplication of water filtration and pumping systems, which allows the manipulation and cleaning of one of the duplicates, the other remaining active, without prejudice to the activity of the system.

f) Set of water pipes

The set of clean water inlet pipes to the system comprises:

- A filtered water outlet pipe (13) from the pump (12).

- A "T" type piece (14) to divide the water pump outlet connection (12) in two - A pipe or hose (15) that joins the two outputs of the "T" type part ( 14), whose function is to maintain the water pressure throughout its length and has holes equal to each other along its surface for the exit of water from the water pump, which allows to obtain equal flow rates at all Departures. The number of holes is given by the number of aquariums present.

- Water outlet pipes (19) from the hose (15) to the aquariums (1). Their number is given by the number of exit holes in (15), as well as by the number of aquariums (1). Its diameter should be substantially smaller than the hose gauge (15) and slightly smaller than the hole in the lid (2) of the aquariums, thus allowing its introduction into the aquarium (1). At some point in these tubes (19) a valve is placed that controls the flow of the outlet water.

Industrial application

This invention allows the maintenance of several aquatic organisms independently of each other, without visual, physical or chemical contact, for an indefinite time.

It allows an escalation of the number and size of aquariums that will depend on the needs of the user and the accompanying scaling of the rest of the elements presented in this invention. It could therefore be applied to the aquaculture industry, whether for maintenance, fattening, or transport of live animals, as well as used in research or education organizations. It is not considered necessary to make this description more extensive in order to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements will be subject to variation, provided that this does not imply an alteration to the essentiality of the invention.

The terms in which this report has been described must always be taken broadly and not limitatively.

Claims (20)

1. - System for the individual maintenance of living aquatic organisms comprising: a) One or more aquariums (1) destined to contain different living organisms for an indefinite period, without physical, chemical or visual contact with other organisms maintained in the same system, made of waterproof and harmless material for the organisms to be housed, their walls are opaque, and each is independent of the others, and will be placed vertically on the surface of the support tank (7), with the lid facing up. b) A support tank (7) to contain them, of a variable size depending on the number of aquariums (1) to be incorporated and its structure will be robust enough to support the weight of aquariums filled with water, which channels the water that leaves them to a water reservoir (10). c) A water reservoir (10) located below the baseline of the aquariums (1), which incorporates filtration elements and maintenance of the physicochemical conditions of the water, and has a clean water inlet coupled (17) and overflow (18) that allows the system to operate in both closed and semi-open circuits. d) One or more filtration systems (11) and maintenance of the physicochemical conditions of the water, which includes a skimmer or separator of proteins and nitrogen-type ozonator residues, in addition to eliminating the residues capable of creating micelles with the air through a overflow system (18) in semi-open circuit, with continuous supply of clean water (17). e) One or more water pumps (12) that allows to distribute the filtered water and bring it to the level of the aquariums. f) Water pipes through a system of pipes and hoses (13, 14,15 and 19) to the aquariums individually, which allow filtered water to be pumped through a pipe (13) connected to a dividing piece type "T" (14), connected by its other two ends to the same hose (15) that closes the circuit. 2. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claim 1, characterized in that each aquarium (1), has a practicable cover (2), which allows the introduction / removal of animals, cleaning, feeding and maintenance, and It is transparent to observe the organisms inside the aquariums without opening it. 3. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cover (2) of each aquarium (1) must be sealed sufficiently to prevent the animal housed inside it from escaping and is fixed to the Aquarium body (1) by clamps, flanges, ribbons, rope, wire or any other connecting element. 4. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover (2) of each aquarium (1) has a hole (3) for introducing the clean water inlet tube (19). 5. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cover (2) of each aquarium (1) has a hole (4) for introducing air / oxygen into the aquarium. 6. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claim 1, characterized in that each aquarium (1) has water overflow holes (5), located in the upper part of the aquarium with a diameter small enough to prevent escape of organisms. 7. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claim 1, characterized in that each aquarium (1) has a handle (6) fixed to its upper part. 8. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claim 1, characterized in that the support tank (7) has a drain that causes the water that overflows from the aquariums to reach a reservoir (10) by gravity through a pipe ( 9). 9. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claims 1, characterized in that the water reservoir (10) incorporates a water heating / cooling system to maintain adequate temperature conditions for the organisms. 10. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claim 1, characterized in that the filtration system (11) contains elements that remove impurities from water such as remains of the metabolism of animals and also because the water reservoir has elements of maintenance of adequate dissolved oxygen levels (16). 11. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claim 1, characterized in that the filtration system (11) incorporates active carbon to remove hormones other metabolic compounds that can produce responses in aquarium animals. 12. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claim 1, characterized in that the filtration system (11) incorporates perlón, sponges or materials with a high volume surface ratio (such as arlite or baked clay, among others) to facilitate the establishment of colonies of microorganisms and convert toxic waste into harmless elements for aquarium organisms, and the filtration system contains a water pump that recirculates the filtered water. 13. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claims 1, characterized in that the hose (15) incorporates a series of holes in its surface, all of the same size, from which the water outlet pipes (19) start from the hose (15) to the aquariums (1). 14. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claims 1, 13, characterized in that the diameter of the tubes (19) is substantially smaller than the size of the hose (15) and slightly less than the hole of the cover (2) of the aquariums, thus allowing their introduction into the aquarium (1). 15. - System for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms, according to claims 1, 13 and 14, characterized in some point of the tubes (19) a valve is placed that controls the flow of water of exit. 16. - Use of the system, according to claims 1 to 15, in activities associated with the recovery of aquatic organisms. 17. - Use of the system, according to claims 1 to 15, in activities associated with survival of aquatic organisms. 18. - Use of the system, according to claims 1 to 15, in transport activities of aquatic organisms. 19. - Use of the system, according to claims 1 to 15, in maintenance activities of aquatic organisms. 20. - Use of the system, according to claims 1 to 15, in teaching activities where aquatic organisms are included.