Cleaning System Eliminates Marine Growth Build up on Aquaculture Nets

Tuesday, 07 December 2010 12:11

HUGHES Pumps have claimed that their range of Aquaculture Net Cleaning Systems provide the first truly reliable way of removing marine growth from aquaculture nets in situ, giving exceptional levels of reliability, maximum productivity with very low levels of maintenance. The company says: “Aquaculture producers are only too aware that marine growth build up reduces the tidal flow of oxygen rich seawater through nets, limiting fish growth and increasing the possibility of disease. In severe cases the weight and additional drag of marine growth can damage nets, leading to a breakdown of the cage allowing predators in and fish to escape. “These revolutionary Aquaculture Net Cleaning Systems combine Hughes’ range of high pressure pump sets that bring a level of engineering and performance not seen before in the net cleaning market, with the unique range of Terminator net cleaners. “Traditional in-situ net cleaning systems are inherently inefficient, because the pumped high-pressure seawater is split between the net cleaning process and holding the cleaning discs in position, which can cut the high-pressure seawater available for net cleaning by around 50%. The Hughes Pumps range of Aquaculture Net Cleaning Systems allow the net cleaning system’s cleaning discs to be held against the net using only a small amount of the high-pressure seawater pumped to the cleaning heads. “The Hughes package, that combines the HPS2200 pump set and Terminator 9 disc net cleaner, has become the pump of choice among net cleaning contractors. This package is available in two versions; a conventional stand alone pumpset fitted with an acoustic canopy that is generally used from a workboat deck, and a marine engine driven version designed to be installed below deck, that uses seawater to cool the engine, making for a very compact installation.” -Katie