Farming Fish In A Floating Tank

Farming Fish In A Floating Tank LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous A fishless trip to the family farm pond inspired Jim Frey to raise fish to stock the pond Half a century later his hobby has evolved into a fish hatchery custom pond stocking design and construction of pond aeration systems and custom dock building and installation Along the way Frey invented a floating fish tank for farm ponds and old quarry ponds When Jim died in late 2023 his son Russell and daughter-in-law Dawn took over the business “The fish hatchery was Dad’s passion and the floating fish tank was 100 percent his deal ” says Russell “He started with a 5-gal bucket for his first prototype Then he went to a lick tank Finally he went to the big tank ” Frey’s concept was a tank that could float in a larger body of water It would contain the growing fish while maintaining fresh water When starting a batch of fish he could open a valve and the tank would sink to a target depth Harvesting the fish would be expedited by opening another valve and letting the tank rise to the surface “We had been renting a 5-acre 36-ft deep quarry pond for 26 years and using hanging net pens in the deepest part ” says Russell “He installed the tank there ” Frey’s floating tank started as an above-ground 7 500-gal fish tank in an indoor fish farm It had a 16-ft dia with a height of 5 ft When that aquaculture business closed Frey bought several tanks at $3 000 each He modified one of the tanks with the help of a $9 000 grant from the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education SARE Projects His final SARE research report outlined his plans and progress before his death The tank was wrapped in blocks of Styrofoam for flotation and set on a treated wood base After floating it in the quarry pond he poured a concrete floor at the bottom with a 1/2-in slope to a center drain The concrete and epoxy on the tank seams sealed it from possible leaks A 6-in drainpipe with an exterior standpipe maintains the tank’s water level Four 4-in airlift pumps create circulation and aeration in the tank completing a water exchange every 27 min Frey added a wood framework for sunscreen over the tank He also added outriggers around the tank to stabilize and support an eventual walkway around the tank During assembly Frey learned his lease on the quarry pond would not be renewed and he had to move the partially completed tank back to his farm Once there he set it up next to one of his farm ponds to evaluate water usage and circulation However it never again floated The Frey fish grow to a good size for farm pond fish Over the past 50 years the Freys have selected male bluegills to breed with selected female green sunfish Some of the males weigh as much as 2 1/4 lbs each They also raise sell and stock trout crappies catfish bass walleye perch muskie and more “We mainly stock private waters ponds and lakes often around housing developments ” says Russell “Most of our business is in the tri-state area of Iowa Minnesota and Wisconsin ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jim Frey Fish Hatchery 403 W Bradford St West Union Iowa 52175 ph 563-422-3368; jimfreyfish@gmail com; www jimfreyfishhatchery com; https://projects sare org/project-reports/fnc19-1163/

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