The product:
The principle active ingredients in Aquacube are a synthetic gum and hydrated calcium sulphate as a pellet hardener.
Pellet quality is of considerable importance in aquaculture. Finished feeds are typically high in protein content and as a result there is limited natural carbohydrate binding capability.
Pellets that break down in the water not only waste valuable nutrients, but also are degraded by bacteria, increasing the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) as well as introducing an additional risk of pathogen survival.
To maintain pellet integrity it is necessary to use a water-activated binder which is strong enough and flexible enough to bind the fibres of the raw materials used.
The open matrix of floating pellets requires a hardener to maintain pellet integrity during handling, storage and transportation.
High inclusions of squid or tuna oils, used as attractants, further exacerbate the problem of pellet quality. If possible these ingredients should be sprayed onto the pellet using a post pelleting spray applicator.
Major benefits:
- Aquacube is water activated in the conditioner. It then becomes relatively non hygroscopic unlike lignosulphonates or zeolites.
- Aquacube makes the pellets more durable so they maintain physical integrity during handling.
- Aquacube is slowly biodegradable and has minimal effect on the BOD of aquaculture ponds.
- There is a reduction in fines, and hence waste, with low dust losses both in the mill and during deliveries.
- Aquacube improves pellet quality enabling more oils to be incorporated into feed to keep costs down.
- Aquacube is low inclusion and is invaluable in fish feeds where formulation space is at a premium.
Usage:
1 – 7kg / t of feed, depending on the raw materials used.
The feed must contain some cereals, ideally wheat, to 10 – 20% of the formulation and achieve a pellet core temperature of 90ºC.
Packaging:
Aquacube is packed in 25kg multi-walled paper sacks.
