An Introduction to the Cefas Experimental Facility (EF)

Ian Tew

Aquatic Services Manager

APEG Tank Facilities• World Class Tank and Aquarium facilities

• Biosecure facility with additional security containment for exotics

• Continuous flow (general) and batch treated (secure)ozone treated waste streams

• Flow-through freshwater and seawater systems

• Computer controlled temperature 5 – 35°C ( 0.1°C)

• Bespoke partial or full recirculation systems if required

• Flexible computer controlled dimmable lighting to replicate any location in the world (with dawn/dusk effects)

• 24-hour 7-day, 365 days callout (alarmed tanks and plant)

• Fully GLP compliant, member of the UK GLP compliance programme

Overview Plan

• Restricted Access• Security• Biosecurity• 12 Tank rooms• 2 Isolation Suites (exotics)• Over 220 flow through GRP tanks• 7 standard GRP tank volumes

(15,30,50,150,300,450, 900 litres)

• Numerous static and flow through glass aquaria systems

• Sea and Freshwater supplies• Temperature control & logging• Programmable, dimmable

illumination• Alarms• Home Office Standards/Systems

Room layout and tank map

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Display last data every 12 hours beginning at 0:00 on 04/02/2000 and ending at 0:00 on 19/04/2000.

Point: FISH_TANK_11_27 010011601027

Temperature control in a typical study tank - data logging at 10 minute intervals

Tanks• Insulated GRP tanks with lids• Full height and half height capability

• 18 x 1000 litre• 44 x 300 litre• 30 x 50 litre• 140 x 30 litre

• Each Tank:– Flow through: 5-10 changes per day– External standpipes– Low pressure air for aeration.– Dimmable fluorescent lights – Range from 0 – 400

lux at water surface (with lids on)– Control photoperiod and dawn/dusk effects– Temperature control to +/- 0.1oC– Temperature logging via tank control system.– Can be set to run on freshwater, seawater (35ppt)

or any intermediate salinities

• Water Flows:– Fresh Water - Up to 350m3/day– Sea Water - Up to 350m3/day

• Max Capacity: 660m3/day through ozone plant

Standard tanks available in three sizes.

Many other bespoke combinations/ arrangements available

44 x 300 L

140 x 30 L

18 x 1000 L

Disease High Security Unit

Ozone Treatment of All Effluents

OzonePlant

General EffluentUp to

600m3/day

Secure EffluentUp to 60m3/day

OzonatedEffluent

Main SewerEffluent Treatment

Atlantic salmon Rainbow trout

Stickleback Cyprinids

Sea bass Zebra danios

Brown troutTilapia

Pacific white shrimp Gourami

Wide Range of Test Species (not exhaustive)

Amphibians

Dover sole European Lobster Crayfish

In-house rearing of salmonids, sticklebacks, amphibians and Zebra Danios in the Aquatic Production Unit (APU)

Shellfish

Some of the aquatic animals reared and used in studies

Summary• Freshwater or Seawater systems with controlled

temperature, flows and lighting

• A range of small or large flow-through or re-circulation test systems

• Experience of a wide and growing list of species

• In house rearing of salmonids, sticklebacks, native amphibians, zebra danios and Pacific white shrimp

• We can design and build systems to meet your specific requirements

• Flexibility, reliability, experience and dedication