FEATURES
- Swimming respirometry system for aquatic organisms
- Forced exercise in swimming animals
- Fully automated computerized intermittent flow respirometry
- State-of-the-art AutoResp™ 3 software for Windows 11 included
- In-depth analysis, statistics, and data export
- Build multi-channel setups for high throughput experiments (up to 10 swim tunnels!)
- Many different swim tunnel sizes and volumes to match your swim tunnel organism
- Specialized swim tunnels for filming or with built-in treadmill
- Made for use in freshwater and full-strength seawater
- Real-time oxygen consumption rate measurements and analysis
Use our swimming respirometry systems for forced exercise protocols and for measuring oxygen consumption rates in aquatic organisms while swimming. Applications include maximum metabolic rate (MMR), aerobic scope (AS), cost of transport (COT), Ucrit, but also physiology, behavior, bioenergetics, biomechanics and kinematic studies in fish and invertebrates of many sizes. The core swimming respirometry system includes user-friendly AutoResp™ 3 software for Windows, a swim tunnel, and everything needed for fully automated oxygen consumption rate measurements, device control, and data analysis. In other words, true computerized intermittent flow respirometry.
Multi-channel = High throughput
Once you have a CORE system, you can expand the number of channels/swim tunnels with our ADD-ON system to work with up to 10 swim tunnels at a time – all operated from a single PC.
All the tools in one place
The foundation of our swimming respirometry systems is our state-of-the-art software solution, AutoResp™ 3. AutoResp™ 3 lets you jump-start aquatic intermittent respirometry and automates your swim tunnel experiments including real-time data acquisition, sensor calibration, hardware control, water velocity control, water quality regulation as well as data post-analysis, statistics, and export. Visit the AutoResp™ 3 site for more information.
Swimming respirometry in small organisms
Our smallest swim tunnels are the 170 and 1500 mL models. These swim tunnels are of the “blazka type”, and are typically used for individual swimming respirometry/performance of small fish like adult zebrafish, killifish, medaka, sticklebacks, etc.
The test section of the swim tunnel is located inside an inner glass tube surrounded by an outer glass tube. A stopper can be removed for quickly adding/removing fish. The swim chamber sits in a water bath for temperature control and water quality regulation.
The swim tunnel is fitted with an external electric motor controlled by a motor control box. The motor control box connects to the DAQ-BT instrument, which connects wirelessly to AutoResp™ 3 via Bluetooth. This allows for automated software driven control of water velocity (e.g., via protocols) while not disturbing the animal during the trials.
A submersible water pump is included with the system. The pump is placed inside the water bath and connected to the flush inlet of the swim chamber. A flush outlet makes sure that the water inside the swim chamber can be replenished throughout a swim trial. The submersible flush pump connects to our PowerX4 4-fold power strip for software-driven ON/OFF control and monitoring of equipment via cabled LAN/Ethernet or wireless Bluetooth. This allows for independent pump control via AutoResp™ 3.
An included oxygen dipping probe can be fitted into the test section for non-invasive optical oxygen measurements. The Witrox, our high precision oxygen instrument for wireless Bluetooth communication, then uses the fiber optic cable to collect oxygen data from inside the swim chamber. A high precision PT1000 temperature is placed in the water bath for real-time temperature compensation of oxygen data with unbeaten accuracy.
A complete flow tracking system (DPTV) is included for easy and automated water velocity calibration against motor RPM. When you have performed the calibration in DPTV 2 software, simply load the exported calibration file into AutoResp™ 3 and you are good to go.
The Witrox, DAQ-BT, and PowerX4 connect to AutoResp™ 3 on your PC via Bluetooth (or LAN), and so you can keep your PC in a separate room away from any water hazards while collecting data for in-depth analysis directly in AutoResp™ 3.
Swimming respirometry in large organisms
Our large swim tunnel models range in size from 5-850 L. These swim tunnels are made mostly from acrylics, and are typically used for determining swimming performance (Ucrit) and measurements of maximum metabolic rate in individual fish with wet weights from 20 g and up to 15 kg, or even for shoals/schools/groups of smaller fish.
The test section of the swim tunnel is located towards the side of the water bath. This allows for an unobstructed view of the animal – ideal for filming or visualizing flow. A removable lid is screw unto the test section for access/removal of the animal. For quick access to test organisms, e.g., for schools of zebrafish, consider our quick removal lid.
The swim chamber is mounted inside a water bath for temperature control and water quality regulation. The entire swim chamber can be removed for cleaning and maintenance.
The swim tunnel is fitted with a powerful external motor controlled by a variable frequency drive, i.e., motor control box. This motor control box connects to the DAQ-BT instrument that connects wirelessly to AutoResp™ 3 via Bluetooth. This enables you to automatically control water velocities (e.g., via protocols) while avoiding disturbing the animal during the trials.
A submersible water pump is included with the system. The pump is placed inside the water bath and connected to the flush inlet of the swim chamber. A flush outlet makes sure that the water inside the swim chamber can be replenish throughout a swim trial. The submersible flush pump connects to our PowerX4 allowing for automated and protocol-driven control of the pump via AutoResp™ 3.
An included oxygen dipping probe can be fitted into the swim chamber for non-invasive optical oxygen measurements. The Witrox, our high precision oxygen instrument for wireless Bluetooth communication, then uses the fiber optic cable to collect oxygen data from inside the swim chamber. A high precision PT1000 temperature is placed in the water bath for real-time temperature compensation of oxygen data with unbeaten accuracy.
A high precision vane wheel flow probe and meter is included with the system for easy water velocity calibration directly inside AutoResp™ 3. The oxygen sensors are also calibrated using the software.
The Witrox, DAQ-BT, and PowerX4 connect to AutoResp™ 3 on your PC via Bluetooth (or LAN), and so you can keep your PC in a separate room away from any water hazards while collecting data for in-depth analysis directly in AutoResp™ 3.
Swim tunnel with a treadmill
Our treadmill swim tunnel is a specialized 28 L swim tunnel for walking fish or invertebrates with a built-in, motorized, and transparent belt as floor of the test section. The speed of the belt can be controlled independently of the water velocity making this model ideal for physiology, behavior, bioenergetics, biomechanics, or kinematic measurements on walking fish/inverts.
Swim tunnel for filming
Our 360O swim tunnel is a specialized 51 and 130 L swim tunnel for 3D imaging of swimming animals with an expanded dry mid-section for installation of cameras and other optical equipment. The transparent top, floor, and side walls of the test section allows you to film swimming animals or visualize flow from all four angles, i.e., from above, beneath, and both sides.
Need help?
If you need help to set up your swim tunnel system, get started with the AutoResp™ 3 software, or if you need inspiration for your next experiment, have a look in large resource base of quick guides and user manuals, our YouTube channel for useful video tutorials, and our ever-expanding list of peer-review published papers using our swim tunnels.
