ZAF Plus Tubing
The tubing is an essential component of ZAF+, just as for ZAF, but with a twist. In ZAF+ the totality of the food liquid mix is distributed to each tank. In order to connect the pump to multiple valves (30, in our case) we used manifolds that split the water flow into several tubes. Therefore, the food is distributed to one tank by opening the valve downstream of the pump and upstream of the tank to be fed.
The outside diameter of the pump tubing (3/8" from McMaster 5233k65) and the valves tubing (1/4" McMaster, 5233K52) is different so we used some push-to-connect straight reducers (McMaster, 5779K355) to connect the two differently-sized tubes. In ZAF+ we used 3 manifolds (McMaster, 52045K216), to circulate the water to up to 30 tanks using only one distribution pump. The first Manifolds are connected using t-shape push to connect adaptor (McMaster, 51055K27) and the last one with a right angle push-to-connect adapter (McMaster, 51055K195). We used an empty fish tank of the fish facility as the water reservoir tank to supply water to ZAF+.
Note - this time we used PVC based tubing because they are cost effective and have good specifications for ZAF+ food delivery.
The following schematic diagram represents the tubing connections between the different ZAF+ components (e.g, pumps, valves, food preparation containers, fish tanks etc...).
Example of manifolds tubing.