What is laminar/directional current? 層流とは何か？
Rivers and ocean in the world produce tremendous currents, but the water is pushed directionally, without turbulence. Fish and other aquatic animals have evolved to swim in this laminar current, often with little effort. A conventional pump produces a turbulent circular current, which pushes on the sides of an animal swimming into it, spinning its body around. Swimming in such currents is difficult for the animal and can be stressful if there are not enough areas of calm water in the aquarium. The Hydrowizard’s laminar current allows even small fish to swim in the center of the flow, as their streamlined shape allows them to stay in the flow with little effort. This fundamental difference in the form of the water flow produces an enormous change in an artificial environment. Within little time the animals will get used to the more natural flow of water and display more natural behavior, increased activity, improved appetites, reduced aggression and better overall health.
自然が生み出す驚異的な海流や河川流は一定方向へ水を押していく。魚や貝などの水生動物はこの水流の中で泳ぎ、進化してきた。そのため魚介類は流線型に発達し、水流の中で泳ぐためにつかうエネルギーは極僅かだ。従来のポンプは乱流かつ回転する流れの為、その流れで泳ぐ魚の胴体の側面を押すために、魚はスピンしてしまう。このような環境なかで泳ぐのは難しく、もし充分なスペースがなければ生体にストレスを与えてしまう。この製品がつくりだす層流はごく小さな魚でもその中で泳ぐことができる。魚の体型、流線型がほとんどエネルギーをつかうことなく居続けことができるのだ。この水流の違いが人工的な環境の中で大きな変化をもたらすことができる。導入まもなく生体は自然な水流に慣れ、本来の行動を見せるようになる。活動が活発になり、食欲がまし、攻撃性が減少し、総合的な健康が改善する。
The pump can be used as a single unit or simultaneously in a group, allowing endless possibilities to change the existing dynamics of any body of water. For nearly all fish, a straight laminar current would be present in their natural environment. Even lakes and seemingly still bodies of water in nature have currents, while oceans, rivers and streams have powerful directional movement. This environment of laminar current has been difficult if not impossible to simulate in aquarium conditions. The Hydrowizard presents a game changing solution to this problem.
What are some examples of fish environments that would greatly benefit from such a change?
Marine Reef species and all aquatic invertebrates will show much improved health and behavior with both strong current and waves to simulate the tides and weather of their environment in nature.
Marine Pelagic species such as sharks, tuna and others do best in strong currents and high waves. Changing the position of an array of Hydrowizard pumps allows the current in an exhibit to be reversed, solving issues with sharks and other fish used to swimming in the same direction all the time.
Mangrove fish and invertebrates can now be kept in a changing environment reflecting the tides, waves, and alternating currents found in mangrove habitats worldwide.
Rheophile fishes, including many native North American species, fishes from the Amazon, Orinoco, rivers of the Brazilian or Guyana shields, Congo or any habitat in Central America. For these species, one or more Hydrowizards can be used to create a current equal to that of their habitat, greatly reducing aggression and increasing vitality.
Lake fishes, such as the cichlids of the Rift Lakes, Great lakes temperate species and all fish found in apparently still bodies of water thrive with additional mild to medium currents and waves.
What behavioral enrichment is possible for marine mammals, birds and other animals?
The digital controller can be programmed for any period of time by updating the program with the use of an SD media card. This allows for specific programs to be written for animals such as seals, polar bears, penguins, otters, beavers, whales and others. The program will be different each day, changing from mild current to strong waves, currents coming from different directions, different depths etc. This greatly reduces boredom for the animals and gives husbandry staff another dimension to entertain the animals, or perhaps simulate seasnal changes in their natural environment.
Why does a venturi fed Hydrowizard add gases differently than a conventional pump?
Two low and one high pressure zone are created within the water flow of the pump. Gas bubbles grow from the intake to the rotor zone, where they enter a high pressure zone and collapse. Gas is diffused to reach maximum levels before the water enters another low pressure zone from just in front of the rotor to the exhaust. Here the remaining gas grows into large bubbles again and is ejected. This saturation allows no micro-bubbles to remain in the water, eliminating the problems with gas embolism caused by micro bubbles of excess gases clinging to the gills of the fish and entering the blood stream. It is absolutely safe to add any gas with the use of the Hydrowizard injector collar added to the back of the pump. With a 1/4„ hose, any gas (air, oxygen, ozone) can be injected in the intake path of the Hydrowizard to diffuse the gas to the water stream. Hydrowizard use in aquaculture The Hydrowizard will greatly improve the health and vitality of any aquaculture environment for fish and shellfish. As an additional benefit to those already mentioned, the fish will taste better due to a better distribution of fatty tissue throughout the flesh. Stocking capacities may be increased.
What are the effects of increased current in an artificial environment?
- Improved health and vitality of fishes and all aquatic species
- Reduced stress and aggression
- Ideal oxygen saturation
- Increased appetite of all animals
- Elimination of sediment and detritus
- Elimination of stagnant pockets of water hidden in decorations and the substrate
- Increase in dancing light effects from sun or lights above the surface
- Sand will pile up in small wave effects just like in nature
- Difficult rheophile and pelagic species thrive in laminar current environments
- Better fish health through increased exercise, reduction of fat deposits
- Added dimension for marine mammals and other aquatic species
- Added dimension for visitors and spectators
- Gas exchange happens principally on the surface of the water
- The added surface movement greatly benefits microorganisms involved in the nitrification process
