Cold Water Research Laboratory

The cold water wet laboratory is designed to operate as a limited water resource recirculation facility. The “Main” system, the largest of the recirculating systems, has four 12-ft, 2000-gallon tanks for studies requiring larger fish.  Water treatment begins with the settling of solids in the 15 ft x 39 ft settling pond.  Aquamats that assist biofiltration by providing a substrate on which beneficial bacteria can colonize are placed within the settling pond.  Water is then exposed to ozone in seven contact towers before returning to the culture tanks.

In addition to the main system, there are eight independent recirculating systems that can accommodate cold water species.  We have reared many species of salmonids and sturgeon, as well as burbot in these systems.  Each system has individual chilling, biofiltration, and UV treatment.  In addition to large tanks for larger fish, there are also systems designed to hold many separate groups of smaller fish.  One system designed for studies involving fish has 120 five-liter tanks and the lab has capabilities to incubate eggs in heath tray incubators and McDonald jars.  Fry can also be held in fiberglass troughs and  fed with either single pass or recirculating water.  Temperatures in the systems can be controlled as low as 4° C and as his as 20° C.

The Moscow campus wet lab facilities are available to researchers across UI and WSU campuses for a nominal fee.