Installation of a fish breeding station at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology

In the basement of the building section O of the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried near Munich, a fish breeding station was installed. The fish department comprises a large fish room, a plant room for water treatment as well as the pertaining laboratories and offices.

The fish tanks in which zebrafish are bred contain a total of approx. 12,000 litres of water at a water temperature of 28°C. The water is provided by a reverse osmosis system and is treated in the water technology room. Since genetically modified fish are involved, the waste water must flow through a thermal disinfection system.

The fish room is operated at an air temperature of 26°C and a temperature stability of ±1K. Due to the high relative humidity of up to 70% at 26°C, there is a significant risk of condensation and corrosion. For this reason, the entire interior of the fish room was insulated with vapour-tight foam glass panels. All materials used inside had to be non-corrosive. For being able to exchange the fish and samples with the pertaining laboratories on the first floor, a small elevator was installed which serves three floors.