Abstract
AbstractAn ultra‐low‐flow water delivery system was developed and tested for use in research studies requiring low flow in small water volumes. Small test systems save on the amount of fish, chemicals, and biologics needed in disease challenge and treatment experiments. The ultra‐low‐flow system, consisting of a semi‐enclosed header tank with a variable‐height standpipe and dulled, guarded syringe needle nozzles, can produce flows that result in 1–20 water exchanges/d for a 10‐L volume. Water was prefiltered through two inline, 70‐μm filters to limit flow loss due to particulates blocking the small‐orifice nozzles. Accurate and precise flows are produced by the system, and needle nozzles should last at least 7 d before fouling requires them to be changed; nozzle changes can be made in about 5 s. Flows in the range of 5–135 mL/min were produced by using 3.8‐cm‐long needles (16, 18, 20, and 21 gauge) with standpipe heights of 15.2, 30.5, and 45.7 cm. Water flows through selected needle nozzles and standpipe heights varied by no more than 5% over a 7‐d period. This ultra‐low‐flow system provides a practical, inexpensive, and precise water delivery system that should have multiple uses for fisheries research.
Published Version
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