K Box Cones – solution for temporary aquatic holding systems

John Kowarsky, of John Kowarsky & Associates in Australia, has developed a solution for aquaculturists and aquarists who need temporary holding systems for aquatic animals and plants. K Box Cones™, used to make the K Box™ system, provide an inexpensive and efficient means to hold your live fish, shellfish and aquatic plants.

According to John, the K Box™ system is a series of tubs, each fitted with a conical overflow pipe – the K Box Cone™ – towards one end. The tubs are then stacked so that the overflow of one is at the opposite end to the one below. The principle is simple - introduce water into the top tub, and it will overflow through the K Box Cone into the tub below, and so on, down the stack. The cascade effect assists with aeration and reduces the chances of stagnant areas in the tub. Water that has passed through the stack can be recirculated, or filtered and then re-circulated, or put to waste.

This basic principle can be applied to stacks of tubs of any safe height; the beauty of the system is that you can remove any number of tubs and the system remains fully functional. Because of the simple overflow pipes, the plumbing is built-in and the system continues to deliver the same quantity of water to each tub as before.

An advantage of using Cones, rather than fabricating overflow standpipes from cylindrical material, is that the tubs can nest when not in use, saving space during storage.

John reports that he has undertaken several trials using a simple recirculation system holding freshwater crayfish (yabbies); the system was effective in keeping the crayfish healthy for weeks with minimal attention.

I asked John how this idea came to him or what provoked him to develop this solution. He replied that the development of the K Box system, and hence the Cones, arose as the result of several observations:

• People often hold fish and other aquatic animals in very large tanks that have no flexibility in terms of use versus holding capacity. As the product is taken out, the producer still has to use the same size tank and the same amount of water. The K Box system has maximum flexibility – expanding and contracting as the need to hold live product changes. Plumbing needs are minimal and one person can set up and get running, or take down, a large stack in a short time.
• Some products benefit from being individually housed due to adverse interactions (e.g., Siamese fighting fish, or cannibalism with crustaceans when they moult). An extension of this concept is that many fish and other aquatic animals are bottom dwelling, so if you have large (deep) tanks to hold them in, the fish are crowded on top of each other. The K Box system allows you to effectively increase the available floor space per creature without needing larger premises.
• The use of large deep tanks leads to an increased risk of dead pockets and possibly lower levels of oxygen, which then requires aeration mechanisms to supplement water turnover. The K Box system cascades water and thus reduces the risk of poor water conditions.

In addition to its application as temporary holding units for aquatic organisms, the K Box system can be used for:

• Depuration or purging systems
• Live seafood holding systems for crustaceans, finfish and molluscs
• Spawning tanks for crustaceans, finfish and molluscs
• Acclimation systems
• Larval rearing or nursery systems

Perhaps you can think of another application! If so, I am sure John would like to hear from you.

All the info you need about the K Box Cone is posted here, including specifications and details for ordering.

What we like about the K Box Cone and K Box system is that it is a simple solution (the KIS principle), easy to set up and use, and provides a practical way to solve the temporary holding needs that many aquaculturists and aquarists frequently have.

Cheers!