Aquaculture
Intensive - recirculating aquaculture is one of many experiments preparing students for the future at the Alternative Farming Center at Johnson County Vocational School. As the population increases and agriculture land decreases, we need to study the feasibility of alternative agriculture for our region.
For more information about purchasing fish & plants or touring the facility, please call 423-727-2150 or 423-727-2670 weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (eastern)
Aquaculture Center:
The center is a 9,000 square ft. Stuppy Greenhouse with a computer controlled geothermal heating and cooling system. The system consists of 4 tanks which measure 72x8x5 and one tank which measures 50x6x5. The tanks are rubber lined and hold 100,000 gallons of water. The water is recirculated through bead filters (removes gases) 9 times per day. Air is added to the water using air stones and oxygen saturators located on the heating loop. The system can handle up to 25,000 lbs. of fish or 300 lbs. of feed per day.
Aquaculture Classes:
Students can take two classes
in aquaculture. Aquaculture I introduces 
students to animal species, nutrition, health,
filters, waste management, and water quality. Students also participate in labs in
which they study water testing, diseases, and dissection. Aquaculture II prepares
students to operate a productive facility. Students assist in running the facility
from working with the fish to maintaining the equipment. Students will have hands-on
experience in raising and marketing fish.
Tilapia:
Tilapia is a warm water fish grown for food. It was first raised by the Egyptians over 4,500 years ago. It may also be the fish in the Bible story of Jesus feeding the multitudes. Tilapia grows from birth to 1 ½ lbs. in one year, in 80º water with stocking densities of ¼ lbs. of fish per gallon of water. Tilapia will eat any commercial fish feed and can live with dissolved oxygen rates as low as 2 ppm. Tilapia can be handled without causing them harm as grading, sizing, and counting is performed. They are very disease resistant and hardy - they may be shipped live to their destination.
Koi:
A member of the Carp family, Koi make a great pond cleaner. They eat algae, manure, or commercial feed. Koi's popularity comes from their unusual colors. Red, black, white, or a mixture of many colors makes each fish different. Koi make excellent fish for water gardens. They can live in water temperatures from 35º to 90º, live up to 75 years old and make excellent pets.
Alternative Agriculture:
As the world changes so will agriculture. We are experimenting with different plants and animals. We are working on symbiotic relationships that benefit each other. We are raising fish in the water, aquatic plants on the water, direct flow hydroponics above the water, and irrigating traditional hanging baskets and bedding plants from the fish water, all under one roof with one utility bill.
Agriculture Department Home Page
Johnson County High School Home Page