Aqua-business con: Types of fish ponds a farmer should consider when want to start fish farming

Types of fish ponds a farmer is supposed to know

In this chapter we will discuss various types of fish ponds that a farmer may opt to use and their advantages and disadvantages.

The following are type of a pond farmer can choose

Earthen pond /dug out pond
Plastic/fibre glass tank
Concrete tanks
Wooden ponds

1. Plastic pond /Fibre glass tanks

Plastic tanks used as fish pond

Plastic pond

Plastic pond are made by using plastic or other elastic materials. Some rubber water tanks have been re-constructed and converted to fish pond by farmers at home.

Advantages

Easy to make and install
Long life span
Easy to manage
Good when other type of ponds are not good to construct
Can be used in areas where the soil type is not favorable to build earthen pond forexample in areas with the soil rich with Magnesium like Arusha-Tanzania
Can be movable hence good for the farmer who do not have permanent area

Disadvantages

Require large area of land when farmer want to stock large number of fish
Low stocking density due to their small size

2. Concrete pond/Block pond

concrete pond

Concrete pond

Type of pond which is made by using blocks or mixture of cement, gravel and sand. Very durable which can sustain harsh climatic condition like heavy rainfall.

*Due to be permanent structure, a careful planning of the fish farm should be interlink with future goals of the farmer before make final decision of building this type of pond.

Advantages

· Tend to have a long life span

· Can be built in any place

· Less being attacked by diseases

Disadvantages

It is very expensive to construct hence require a farmer to have enough capital
Permanent structure

3 .Earthen pond

Earthen pond

Type of pond which is constructed by dig up on the land .This type of pond should be constructed by very experienced expert due to pond stability be highly affected by soil type and nature of the slope.

Advantages

Cheap to construct
Long life span
High production due to fish raised in their natural environment

Disadvantages

Disturb the natural structure of the land hence not environmental friendly
If not careful constructed and managed may attract harmful animals and mosquitoes
Tend to be selective mainly are built on clay soil

4. Wooden pond

Wooden pond

Wooden pond

Wooden pond as term ” wood” means ,they are built by using wood and inside of the the pond are lined by using hard plastic sheet or normally tarpaulin.

Wooden pond is not a permanent structure hence a care should be taken to protect the inner line from leakage and also the frame (wood) should frequently reinforced in order to withstand water volume.

Advantages

· Not expensive

· Can be constructed in any place

· Good for beginner who start fish farming

· Movable hence flexible

· Does not take long time during construction

Disadvantage