aero tube vs paddle wheel report

here are my findings comparing the aero-tube and paddle wheel usage for large pond either for udang galah or fish, with the help from internet archives and the aero-tube supplier report.

Water movement and mixing capabilities

Equipment used :

1. 1 Hp 3-Grid Aero-Tube™ Air Lift

2. 1 Hp Paddle Wheel

Pond dimensions :

Area : 0.4 hectare (4,000 m2)

Depth : 6 feet (1.83 meters)

Method :

1. Both the 1Hp Aero-Tube™ Air Lift and 1Hp Paddle wheel were started 5 minutes before the dark purple dye was released into the ponds at the exact same time.

2. The coverage of the dye in the pond was then compared at certain time intervals - 18 mins, 30 mins and 55 mins

Outcome :

Status : 18 minutes after dye release in both ponds

Observation : Both the 1 Hp Aero-Tube™ Air Lift and the 1 Hp paddle wheel are able to move the water well in the pond.

The colour of dye coverage in both ponds are dark purple.

Status : 30 minutes after dye release in both ponds

Observation : Both the 1 Hp Aero-Tube™ Air Lift and the 1 Hp paddle wheel are still moving the water at the same rate with similar coverage of dye in the pond. The colour of dye coverage in both ponds are still dark purple.

Status : 55 minutes after dye release in both ponds

Observation : Both ponds are completely covered with dye.

However, there is a noticeable colour change in the
pond using the 1 Hp paddle wheel.

For Paddle wheel : the dye had sunk to the bottom of the pond. For Aero-Tube™ Air Lift : the dye is continually brought to
the surface of the water.

Conclusion :

1) Both Aero-Tube™ Air Lift and Paddle wheel were able to circulate the water at similar rate.

2) However, the Aero-Tube™ Air Lift was able to provide better vertical mixing, bringing the water and aeration from the bottom of the pond to the surface.

Hence, that would mean more aeration for our aquaculture species across the entire pond.

i am going to investing a modified air-lift type using 1HP blower that will cost some fortune but it is worth a try if can resulting long term saving to my business

Fatality of my udang galah

2 days ago, the moment of truth hit us when 20% of our baby freshwater prawn udang galah cannot be save, 3pm and suddenly they all came to the surface of the tank and start dancing like a drunk man, we quickly pump more water into the tank but eventually they died,oooh

our findings, remains of food starter has become acidic, that increasing ammonia levels and the bottom of the tank was full of them, we have clean the tank and now they live happily ever after.....

the solution,
1. only small amount of food given
2. we monitor the eating rate
3. check regularly on the tank bottom surplus
3. change the water 2 times a week

our pond still need at least 1 week to full, the paddle wheel is here, the fencing using fish nets is 40% done, what we need now is a rain of 1 hour and we can release the baby udang galah to the pond

we also have segregate the pond into two section which we can bring in new baby 'P' for the next batch, hopefully by early april and can be harvest during puasa

Aero tube - I have got many updates from the aero-tube supplier, Mr Francis and will post the review soon, they also doing some testing in our friend trueaqua ponds in ulu bendul

New location - i manage to find a suitable lands for expansion, 2.2ac and got permanent water source, now doing some discussion with the bank and the owner...update..bank cannot help startup enterprise like us! So plan B, get a rented land and building the business foundation first....

paddle wheel vs aero tube

i had ordered a 1hp paddle wheel made in china and when i start use it, i will post a review on this blog. i also will set up an aero tube system maybe an air-lift type and will compare them both..i had email to the aero-tube distributor in singapore for a supply of few metres but they have not answer my queries...hope i can get the aero-tube and report my findings here soon..

Please visit the aerotube manufacturer web site at
aero-tube.com ,distributor planetasia
and a youtube video of aerotube in china

logo udang galah for elmeena aqua

i am pleased to present our udang galah sketch logo for our farm...need to put into software and render in color to make him look more fierce lah.. please please do not copy

New land for new development

yesterday we went to search and try to deal few strategic locations for our future udang galah expansion plan, 3 acres of swampy and have natural water source..i really love a location with natural clear water stream, got few durians and other fruit trees... but on my way to those lands, i saw lots of small agri projects eg. red chillies, bananas, serai and even tilapia and goats being develop and maintain by my fellow bumiputra, i am really touched by the scenery and hope they all succeed and thrive forward..

I will upload few pictures taken from the land that I hope it will be reasonably price and i can buy it immediately...and i can start and target start supplying the first batch of udang galah by next aidilfitri....

Update : We failed to get the 2 acres land as the owner have sold it...but i will have a visit soon to a new location nearby...have faith insyaAllah

economics for aquaculture

why am I investing in aquaculture/ freshwater prawn? malaysia still have vast land to develop + whole year round of rain that God gives for free, udang galah or freshwater prawn farming/rearing are still niche market, I hardly find any udang galah being sell in our local market or hypermarket, either in JB, Seremban or KL...compare to India, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, they exported tonnes of freshwater prawn... now US dan New Zealand become new contributor...

Udang galah or freshwater prawn should be rear/farm systematically and in large community areas... hopefully I can assist/encourage my community of young and old to venture into farming freshwater prawn lah....

Enough said... I always think this is a good business either supply LIVE to pay fishing ponds or supply frozen to the wet market... I need to add few more ponds so I can supply the freshwater prawn constantly and steady stream for at least 100kg to 200kg per week...my business plan will be discuss later lah ya....

Hot & Harsh

Yesterday weather was great in JB, rain pouring in the afternoon, but at our pond in Mersing, different story, hot day lah...my brother struggling to fix the fence, our pond size is 30m x 50m, we have finish fence part of the perimeter, all the neighbour came and comments, biasalah...but the most important the baby 'P' (prawn) are active all the way.. we have fatality of 20 baby 'P' due to they was suck into the water filter...apa nak buat, here some pictures of our pond and our nursing tank..i would express my love to my wife for her support..thanks dear

2 x 100 gal poly tank as a saviour ....

D Day of Inspiration

For 2 years I have been searching for information of investing in freshwater prawn and accidentally came across a blog , very informational and EMOTIONAL for me, contact them and went to their mini course...great guys, young and energetic...called themselve trueaqua enterprise...true sport guys...i've included their bloq address at my links...here some of the pictures taken during the course.....

The Beginning of a Journey 10 Feb 09

Assalam, saya dan adik telah memulakan projek ternakan udang galah secara komersial di felda tenggaroh 1 (16100 benih), setelah mengikuti kursus pendek di ladang 'rakan muda' trueaqua di ulu bendul negeri sembilan.

Musim kemarau telah melanda, so kolam utama tak dapat dipenuhi air on-time, kami pun fikir alternatif terbaik ialah kolam asuhan sementara.

Alhamdulilah, anak udang sihat dan asyik running around... happy dan lega...

Tugas utama sekarang ialah memenuhkan air ke kolam utama dan menyiapkan pagar (fencing) untuk mengelakkan pemangsa masuk....