SWIM TUNNELS
LOLIGO® SYSTEMS SWIM TUNNELS
Swim tunnels from Loligo® Systems can be used to test aquatic animals in a controlled flow and environment. Through years of research and laboratory use, Loligo® Systems swim tunnels have been used in studies of fish physiology, bioenergetics, behavior, biomechanics, kinematics, as well as for visualizing flow around moving or static objects.
Each swim tunnel is designed to contain a swimming fish inside a test section large enough to allow for “free swimming”, while keeping the total water volume of the (closed) entire swim chamber small enough for reliable oxygen consumptions measurements. The swim chamber sits submerged in a surrounding water bath for temperature control purposes. The transparent material surrounding the test section provides a clear view of the swimming animal(s), e.g., for video filming from various angles.
We have various sizes of swim tunnels available. Continue reading for more information.
MINI SWIM TUNNELS
Mini swim tunnel
Fiber optic oxygen sensor
Use an oxygen dipping probe for oxygen measurements. Use a fiber optic light guide for flow calibration via DPTV.
Flush inlet tubing
The flush inlet tubing should be as short as possible, and should be submerged to avoid unwanted temperature changes from the ambient air in your system.
Flush outlet tubing
The flush outlet tubing should be as short as possible, but should end above the water surface.
Water must not escape via the flush outlet tubing, when the motor is running. If it does, extend the flush outlet tubing.
Water must escape via the flush outlet tubing, when the flush pump is running. If it does not, shorten the flush outlet tubing.
Propeller shaft
Motor shaft
Fixture for fiber optic cable
Alternative way of measuring oxygen consumption inside the swim tunnel chamber. The fixture locks a fiber optic cable in place, and the cable is connected to a Witrox 1 or Witrox 4. An oxygen sensor spot will be mounted on the inside of the chamber.
Water bath
The swim tunnel chamber is submerged in a surrounding water bath to allow for precise water quality control.
Propeller
The motor spins the propeller which creates a water current inside the swim chamber.
Swim tunnel motor
The motor spins the propeller inside the swim chamber. The spinning of the propeller creates a water current inside the chamber.
Hover and click on the different objects on the picture for more information.
Loligo® mini swim tunnels are made in a modified Blazka-type design. Inside an inner glass tube, the fish is swimming against the flow, and the water is returned via an outer glass tube thanks to the doughnut shaped end caps. This compact design allows force-swimming tiny bio assay-sized fish or inverts like zebrafish, medaka, killifish or Xenopus tadpoles. Use single or multiple animals, and setup up your own swimming protocols, e.g., for finding critical swimming speeds (Ucrit). Oxygen consumption measurements can also be made in real-time via an oxygen dipping probe or via an oxygen sensor spots for fiber optic cables.
Animal weight
1-
0
g
Water velocity
0.7 -
0
cm/s
Chamber volume
170 or
0
ml
LARGE SWIM TUNNELS
Large swim tunnel
Test section
The test section will vary in size depending on the swim tunnel size.
Flush outlet
The flush outlet tubing should be as short as possible, but should end above the water surface.
Water must not escape via the flush outlet tubing, when the motor is running. If it does, extend the flush outlet tubing.
Water must escape via the flush outlet tubing, when the flush pump is running. If it does not, shorten the flush outlet tubing.
Temperature probe
This inlet port is used for the temperature probe connected to the Witrox 1 or Witrox 4.
Oxygen dipping probe
This inlet port is used for the oxygen dipping probe connected to a Witrox 1 or Witrox 4.
Swim tunnel motor
The motor spins the propeller inside the swim chamber. The spinning of the propeller creates a water current inside the chamber. The motor size will vary depending on the swim tunnel size.
Motor shaft
Propeller shaft
Detachable lid
The small lid covering the test section is detachable, and the lid is completely transparent allowing for a clear view of the animal. A lid with a circular opening for flow calibration is available (see image). Other types of lids are available: Ask us for more info.
Water bath
The swim tunnel chamber is submerged in a surrounding water bath to allow for precise water quality control.
Propeller
The motor spins the propeller which creates a water current inside the swim chamber.
Flush tubing
Hover and click on the different objects on the picture for more information.
Loligo® swim tunnels in a square box-shaped Brett-type design are designed to provide a uniform recti-linear flow profile inside a closed swim chamber. Oxygen consumption rates of fish during forced-swimming can be measured in a reliable way due to the minimum volume of the chamber. At the same time, the square walls surrounding the test section allows for easy access and instrumentation as well as for undistorted video recordings. Larger individual fish, or groups of smaller ones, can be tested at variable water velocities controlled automatically via PC software or manually on a dial. Oxygen consumption measurements can be made in real-time via an oxygen dipping probe. The swim tunnel chamber is submerged in a surrounding water bath for stable temperature control and regulation.
Animal weight
20 -
0
g
Water velocity
5 -
0
cm/s
Volume
5 -
0
L
EXAMPLE SETUPS
RELIABLE OXYGEN MEASUREMENTS
Each swim tunnel is designed to allow for precise oxygen consumption measurements. The oxygen measurements can be done using our rugged Witrox oxygen instrument. The Witrox uses fiber optic oxygen sensors (e.g., oxygen dipping probes), and transmit data via Bluetooth communication to your Windows PC for a wireless interface. The Witrox also includes a temperature probe to allow for accurate temperature compensation – a must in obtaining reliable oxygen consumption measurements.
OXYGEN INSTRUMENT
The Witrox oxygen instrument comes with either four oxygen channels (Witrox 4) or a single oxygen channel (Witrox 1), and both instruments come with a highly accurate temperature probe. Both versions are designed for everyday use in harsh environments, like tropic marine laboratories.
INTUITIVE SOFTWARE
Whether you are measuring maximum metabolic rates, comparing Ucrit values or simply want to force swim your animals for behavior studies or measure oxygen content in the water, our user-friendly Windows software will be a helpful tool in getting your data.
EASY VELOCITY CALIBRATION
FLOW TRACKING CALIBRATION
Performing your water velocity calibration is a breeze when using our digital particle tracking velocimetry software, DPTV 2 software. After preparing the swim tunnel for calibration, the calibration procedure can be automated and completed with just a few clicks. DPTV 2 comes as part of the Flow Tracking System (DPTV).
DPTV PROCEDURE
SETUP
ANALYSIS
DATA
FLOWMETER CALIBRATION
For our large swim tunnels, we also offer a handheld, battery-operated flowmeter for exact measurements of water velocities, flow rates, temperature and other parameters.
The large swim tunnels come with a secondary lid with a circular cutout. The circular lid makes it easy to measure the flow at different positions in the test section of the swim tunnel.
SETUP, CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Setting up your swim tunnel is simple. Our step-by-step quick guides and instructional videos take you through each step to make sure that your swim tunnel is set up correctly. If you get stuck or have any questions, our friendly support staff are ready to assist you via email, phone or remote sessions.