Silicone will be your best friend when it comes to fixing leaks! You should always have some on hand in a hatchery. You can also use PVC cement to create a watertight seal between two PVC connection points.
Lesson 2
Assemble Your System
Back to: Build Your Hatchery
Do a Runthrough & Troubleshoot
It is important to test your tank system before the start of each and every season. Fill your tanks with water, and run your entire set-up as if there are spools in there. Take a look at your circulation, make sure your tanks are maintaining a consistent water level, check for leaks, take the temperature of your water to verify it’s chilling properly, and double check all your other equipment is working as it should. The last thing you want is to start your season only to realize there’s a leak in one of your pipes, or a chiller or other piece of equipment is broken.
Industry Tip
After your tank system is set up, there are still a few other components to prepare before the season starts. This is when you’ll build any spool stands, cut hoses for air lines, construct stands to hold your lights, and more. Your list will vary depending on the configuration of your hatchery and your equipment needs. In the next lesson we’ll discuss some of the common pieces of custom equipment that you may need to make.