VAKI Pico 2.5" User manual

Pico Counter
Manual

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 1
www.vaki.is
Waste management
Sort and recycle electronics and batteries to reduce waste and conserve resources. Many elec-
tronics contain hazardous chemicals that must be handled appropriately, as well as precious
metals that can be used again.
PREFACE ........................................................................................................................3
Pico range counter features .................................................................................................4
Warranty...............................................................................................................................5
1 Assembly......................................................................................................................6
1.1 Counter parts and other equipment supplied .................................................................6
1.2 Equipment setup ............................................................................................................7
2. The Software ....................................................................................................................8
2.1 Starting the counter and the computer...........................................................................8
2.2 Main screen....................................................................................................................8
2.2.1 Main buttons................................................................................................................9
2.2.2 Counting session controls .........................................................................................10
2.2.3 Tabs...........................................................................................................................11
2.2.3.1 Throughput.............................................................................................................11
2.2.3.2 Video ......................................................................................................................11
2.2.3.3 Spread....................................................................................................................11
2.2.3.4 Visibility ..................................................................................................................12
2.2.3.5 Information .............................................................................................................12
2.2.4 Counter capacity .......................................................................................................12
2.2.5 Settings .....................................................................................................................13
3. Performing a count...................................................................................................14
3.1 Preparation...................................................................................................................14
3.2 Setting fish size ............................................................................................................14
3.2 Starting a session.........................................................................................................15
3.3 Moving fish into the counter .........................................................................................15
3.4 Ending a session..........................................................................................................15

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 2 www.vaki.is Page 3
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 5 | 25
PREFACE
We at VAKI Aquaculture Systems thank you for choosing our Pico Range Counter designed for
accurate, high speed counting of fry and smolt. The Pico Counters are easily deployed and maintain
a high accuracy. The Pico Counter has all the benefits of the complete Macro Counter Range with
remote online support, count reports and image recording for count validation. The Pico Counter can
be used to count all non-transparent fish and has proven to be one of the best shrimp counters
available.
The counter uses VAKI computer vision technology originally developed for counting fry, smolts and
juvenile fish. The fish is pumped through a scanner with an imaging line scanning camera to grab a
silhouette image of every single fish. The silhouettes are analyzed and used for counting and size
estimation. The touch pad screen on the counter head is used to operate the counter. After each
count an image file and a report file are saved. Files can be displayed on screen and transferred to a
flash drive or internal network or the VAKI Cloud.
This manual will guide you through the setup, use and maintenance of the Pico Counter.
If you have questions or need help, please contact VAKI by:
e-mail [email protected]
or phone +[phone]
We wish you happy and productive counting with your VAKI Pico Counter.
4. Reports & Records...................................................................................................16
4.1 VAKI Cloud ...................................................................................................................16
4.2 Reviewing the counting session...................................................................................17
5. Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................18
5.1 Visibility issues .............................................................................................................18
5.2 No light detected ..........................................................................................................18
5.3 Aperture problems........................................................................................................18
5.4 Camera not connected.................................................................................................19
6. Samples Of Use Case...............................................................................................20
6.1 VAKI Syphoning System ..............................................................................................20
6.2 Counting Shrimp ..........................................................................................................21
6.3 Screenshots .................................................................................................................22

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4 www.vaki.is Page 5
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 6 | 25
Pico Range Counter features
The VAKI Pico Counters are designed for accurate, high speed counting of fry in 2,5”, 4” and 6”
fullwater pipes. The Pico Counters are easily deployed and maintain high accuracy. The Pico Counter
has all the benefits of the complete Macro Counter Range with remote online support, count reports
and image recording for count validation. The Pico Counter is available for all non-transparent fish
and has proven to be one of the best shrimp counters available.
Pico 2.5"
Pico 4"
Pico 6"
Capacity at 1m/s (1g fish)
100.000 fish/hr @ 1g
160.000 fish/hr @ 1g
240.000 fish/hr @ 1g
Fish size
0,0003g - 3g
0,0003g - 10g
0,01g - 30g
Weight
45kg
50kg
85kg
Dimensions
70 x 50 x 130cm
70 x 50 x 130cm
70 x 50 x 130cm
Counting channel width
156mm
250mm
375mm
Counting channel height
(water depth inside counter)
25mm
41mm
61mm
Power supply
110/220V
110/220V
110/220V
Table 1: Pico Counters in comparison
PICO Counter Manual
Page 7 | 25
Warranty
VAKI Aquaculture Systems Ltd. offers a warranty for manufacturing defects that appear within two
(2) years from the date of delivery from VAKI Iceland, on condition that the equipment has been
assembled, used and maintained in accordance with the instructions for assembly and use. Changes
affecting the start of this warranty, such as a delayed delivery, must be reported to VAKI immediately.
VAKI undertakes the repair of all defects that are due to faults in the design, materials used, or
manufacture of the equipment. These defects will be fixed by repairing or replacing the faulty
components. The customer may be required to return the complete unit or parts of it to the factory in
Iceland for repair. VAKI accepts a corresponding warranty for original parts fitted by VAKI as
replacements, for a period of one (1) year from the date supplied.
VAKI is not liable for defects resulting from:
● incorrect assembly and use, or inadequate maintenance
● fitting of materials, components or devices by the user that are not supplied by VAKI
● changes made to the equipment by the user without the written consent of VAKI
● faulty or inadequate repairs carried out by the user
● normal wear and tear of the equipment
● faulty connection of electrical equipment
● faults caused by excessive voltage
● damage or stoppage due to immersion of the computer or camera in water
● damage to electrical supply cables
● any economic loss that may arise from production stoppage
Any faults or defects in the equipment must be reported to VAKI in written form as soon as possible.
The report must be sent within two (2) weeks from the expiration date of the warranty.

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 6 www.vaki.is Page 7
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 8 | 25
1 ASSEMBLY
The counter is fully assembled on delivery, the only thing to do is to attach the computer and connect
all the cables. The 2.5", 4" and 6" counters all use the same type of computer and cables.
1.1 Counter parts and other equipment supplied
The following parts are included in the delivery:
1. Computer
2. Ethernet cable
3. DC Power cable
4. AC Power cable
5. Computer stand
6. 2xWIFI antenna
7. USB connector
PICO Counter Manual
Page 9 | 25
1.2 Equipment setup
The counter should be placed on a flat and stable
surface, in a location with minimal exposure to
water and direct sunlight. Fasten the computer
stand to the counter. Place the computer on the
stand. Connect all the cables (the cables are
designed in a manner that they can only be
plugged in where they are supposed to be).
Attach the antennas to the computer. Finally plug
the counter in 110-230VAC. When the counter is
plugged in the light inside the counter will turn on.
Fully assembled the counter should look like it is
presented here on the right.
Figure 1: Cables connected

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 8 www.vaki.is Page 9
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 10 | 25
2. THE SOFTWARE
The VAKI Pico Counter software has been in development for over 25 years and is running on
Windows 10 ltcs. The counter operates by having the fish / shrimp pass through the counter over a
light source in front of a high-resolution digital line scanning camera. The shape of the counter is
designed to separate the fish / shrimp from one another for accurate counting. In the middle where
the counter is the widest, the fish pass over the light source and a mirror above reflects silhouette
images back to the camera. The VAKI software analyses and counts each individual. All of this is
done in real time. The images are stored and can be used to validate and check the accuracy of the
count later.
2.1 Starting the counter and the computer
To turn the counter on, press the button on the left side of the computer. The
counting application is called Ori and it will start automatically. It takes about 1-2
minutes from turning on the computer to the system being ready to operate.
2.2 Main screen
The main screen of the program holds all the functions to operate the counter and displays counted
fish, average weight and throughput. A graph shows the rate of fish going through the counter and the
recommended maximum capacity. If the counter be overloaded a warning signal will appear.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 11 | 25
2.2.1 Main buttons
1. Flow last one minute changes between "Total count" and the "Flow last X minutes" as it’s pressed.
The button is used to see the flow through the counter for the last 1-10 minutes (the number of minutes
can be adjusted with the Up / Down arrow buttons to the right.
2. START/STOP SESSION button starts a new counting session, stops the current session and
generates a report.
3. Settings opens the settings menu.
a. When a counting session is running the Settings button will turn into a store button.
b. Store stores the current values for the counting channel but does not clear the values. The
stored values are shown in the counting report.
4. Images displays the recorded images from previous counting sessions.
a. When a counting session is running the Image button will turn into a pause button.
b. Pause lets you pause the session, for example if you need to clean the mirror during a counting
session. The counter should not be paused for extended periods, it is only meant for
short time pausing.
5. Report is used to review the count report from a previous counting session.
6. The counter needs to be run through a system check before each counting session by pressing the
Calibrate button.
7. Exit closes the counting software.
Figure 2: The main screen

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 10 www.vaki.is Page 11
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 12 | 25
2.2.2 Counting session controls
A. Capacity indicator. The bar will be
green at 0-70% of maximum counting
capacity, yellow at 70-100% and red at a
load over 100%. The risk count accuracy
decreases when the load is over 100%.
B. Channel. The name can be changed by
pressing on the channel name, the on-
screen keyboard will then appear.
C. Total number of fish counted. Double-
clicking the field will clear the number to
zero. The cleared number will be stored
in the report.
D. Weight adjustment buttons to select
the average size of the fish to be
counted. Choose the weight closest to
the expected average. Selected weight is
displayed directly above the buttons.
E. Counting/Not Counting indicates the
state of the counter. If this area is red,
"Not counting" is displayed and there is
an error message regarding visibility and
/ or calibration. See chapter Calibration
and Visibility for more details.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 13 | 25
2.2.3 Tabs
Different information about the counter can be accessed by the tabs in the main screen. Each view
holds different information about the counter, and all of them assist in getting the best results out of
the counter.
Figure 3: The main counters tabs and views
2.2.3.1 Throughput
Graph will show the number of fish per minute passing
through the counter. The red line indicates the
maximum capacity and the blue line shows the actual
number of counted fish per minute.
2.2.3.2 Video
Real-time display of the camera's video. This can be
used to see fish passing through the counter, any
impurities or bubbles in the water, or residue on the
glass or mirrors.
2.2.3.3 Spread
A graphical representation of where fish are passing
through over the width of the counting channel.

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 12 www.vaki.is Page 13
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 14 | 25
2.2.3.4 Visibility
Represents the light intensity recorded by the camera.
An optimal visibility curve is square shaped with a light
intensity @ 200 or above.
2.2.3.5 Information
Technical information about the counter. In the
information field, it is important to note the Scan rate –
it shows how many scans the camera performs each
second. This value should be ~ 2250.
2.2.4 Counter capacity
The maximum counter capacity is shown at any given moment on the throughput graph (Ref. 2.2.3.1).
It is in direct relation to the fish size. The smaller the fish the higher the counting capacity. During
counting the counter will note the average size of the fish going through and adjust the maximum
capacity.
Figure 4: Counter capacity example
The capacity is an important factor for counting accurately. The capacity indicator at the top of the
counter software will display a green progress bar. when counting below the maximum counter
capacity. When the counter is reaching its upper limit, it will turn yellow and eventually red as
represented in the figure. Continuing a count for extended periods at red capacity can result in a
miscount. This will be discussed in more detail in the chapter Getting the best results.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 15 | 25
2.2.5 Settings
In the “Settings” you can change the operating
language, name of the counter and the
sensitivity of the counter. The most important
factor is the sensitivity. The sensitivity controls
how sensitive the counter is to light. The more
sensitive it is the more likely it is to see small
and transparent objects, like juvenile eels and
shrimp. The downside to a high sensitivity is
that the counter is more likely to count bubbles
and small debris in the water. To avoid this the
operator has to be more careful when counting.
In the “Folders” tab the name of the
operator/company and a logo can be set. This
information is displayed on all reports generated
by the counter.

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 14 www.vaki.is Page 15
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 16 | 25
3. PERFORMING A COUNT
When in operation the counter is always counting but will not record and store any data unless a
counting session has been started. Before starting a counting session some things need to be
addressed first.
3.1 Preparation
The counter should be on an even surface, try to make the counter level. Before starting a counting
session, it is a good practice to make sure the counter is in a good condition. The glass in front of the
camera and over the light should be clean. This can be checked by looking at the visibility curve
(2.2.3.4 Visibility) and the video (2.2.3.2 Video).
If necessary, clean the counter and then make a system check, by pressing the calibrate button on
the main screen. It is important to calibrate without water in the counter. The calibration resets
the camera and checks visibility etc. While the calibration is in progress the counter will turn red and
“Not Counting” will appear at the bottom left corner of the screen, this will change to ”Counting” when
the calibration is successful. It is helpful to review the visibility curve and the video while cleaning and
calibrating.
Now all hoses can be connected to the counter and water can be pumped into the counter. While the
counter is filling up with water the counter will count a lot of water droplets and bubbles. Before
starting a counting session, continue to pump water on the size setting you plan to use to ensure the
counter is not counting bubbles, debris or anything else. Keeping an eye on the video is very helpful
here. If the counter is counting, it may help to increase the size settings and let the counter adjust a
little. When the counter is not counting with only water going through then the counter is ready to start
a new counting session.
3.2 Setting fish size
The size settings should be reviewed and adjusted before starting a new counting session. Using the
size group buttons (D), set the size group closest to the average size you intend to count. Each size
setting covers a range of fish approximately five times smaller and five times larger than the size
setting. If a small size setting (like for very small fry) causes counting of air bubbles, water
disturbance, or suspended particles, it is advisable to increase the size.
The size groups are as follows: 0.001g, 0.003g, 0.01g, 0.03g, 0.1g, 0.3g, 1g, 3g, 10g and 30g.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 17 | 25
3.2 Starting a session
To start a counting session press “New counting session” and enter the session data. It is important
to use only letters and numbers in the session description field. The session details will be reflected
in the final counting report, which is generated when the counting session is ended. The counter
should now be reset and show 0. At this stage the counter is ready to receive fish. It's a good practice
to start off by moving a small amount of fish through the counter to make sure the counter is counting
well. Steadily increase the amount of fish, while being careful not to overflow the counter. Here it is
good to monitor the capacity and throughput.
3.3 Moving fish into the counter
Whether the fish are pumped or siphoned into the counter, it is important to have an even and steady
flow of fish going through the counter within the counter’s capacity limits and minimize any air bubbles
or debris in the water to ensure accurate counting .
The most common ways of moving fish into the counter is via a syphoning or centrifugal pump. We
recommend using the VAKI Syphoning System or the VAKI Fish Pump.
3.4 Ending a session
When all fish have been counted end the counting session by pressing the stop button. When the
session is stopped the counter will close all data logs, move files and generate a report. Depending
on the counting time this process may take several minutes. If the counter is connected to the internet
and the VAKI Cloud, all the data from the count that was just performed will be automatically
synchronized to the cloud. We highly recommend using the VAKI Cloud - see chapter 4.1 for more
details.

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 16 www.vaki.is Page 17
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 18 | 25
4. REPORTS & RECORDS
For each count that is performed a count report is generated alongside image records of the counting
session. The count report and image record can be used to review the counting session to evaluate
count quality. If necessary, the image record can be used to recount a session. If the biomass
measurement is activated, the report will also contain average weight, total biomass, standard
deviation and a chart showing the size distribution.
Figure 4: A sample report
4.1 VAKI Cloud
VAKI Cloud is a web application that provides the user with an overview of detailed information and
data from a VAKI Counter. A copy of the data created by the counter is uploaded to a remote
database. The VAKI Cloud web application gives authorized users and VAKI Customer Support
technicians the ability to view this data from anywhere, at any time. The VAKI Cloud is an extremely
valuable tool that is utilized by commercial fish farming operations worldwide. VAKI Cloud enables a
new level of quality control and ease of use.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 19 | 25
4.2 Reviewing the counting session
Press “Images” on the main screen to view records or images of previous counting sessions. These
files have the same name as the report, date and description. Each image represents approximately
one second of the recording.
Figure 6: Counting session in review
1. The upper graph shows the fish flow through the counter,
2. The black pointer shows from where in the recording the images shown are being viewed.
3. The smaller pointer below the graph can be used to navigate to a point in the recording.
4. Navigation buttons:
◄ ► - the arrow buttons are used to move back/forward one step. The outer buttons with
vertical lines are used to go directly to the beginning end of the record.
5. This field contains the name of the channel, the size setting and the number of fish shown in
the image. Note that if ► is pressed, the number shown will be added to the previous screen
number. If ◄ is pressed, the number displayed will reset to the current number of the current
image. Partial fish images are counted in the next frame.
6. The START / END button is used to select a specific section of the count to be analyzed. The
number of fish in a selected start and end point within the count can be recounted as follows:
○ Set the pointer (3) to the desired start time.
○ Press the START button (the button then changes to END).
○ Move the pointer (3) to the desired end time and press the END button.

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 18 www.vaki.is Page 19
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 20 | 25
5. TROUBLESHOOTING
In this chapter usual problems are showcased with
examples and possible solutions. The most common
problem is with the camera visibility. If the visibility is
insufficient the counter will appear red, not count and
display the following error message.
5.1 Visibility issues
The diagram on the right shows how the graph can
look like if there are impurities on the glass located
over the light source, and the brightness is somewhat
low. It is reasonable to assume that there are
impurities on the glass when there are abrupt falls in
the brightness graph, possibly at the x-axis value
between 750 and 850. In this case, it would be good
to clean the glass and calibrate the counter.
5.2 No light detected
To the right is an example of how the visibility graph
may look if the light is not turned on or the camera is
incorrectly mounted. In both cases service is needed
and VAKI service technicians may need to be called
in to adjust the camera or fix the light.
5.3 Aperture problems
If the aperture on the camera lens is too wide open,
the visibility curve will resemble something like the
image on the right. To fix this you need access to the
camera. To gain access to the camera the panel on
the counter must be removed. On the lens there are
two calibration rings with screws holding the ring. The
one closer to the camera is the focus and should be
set to just above one (1). The second ring further from
the camera controls the aperture and should be set to
16. These are just approximate settings - for fine
tuning it is recommended to have VAKI service technicians on site or on the phone. Look for “Light
strength” in the Information tab - it should be set to 1200 (± 100). If it is not, try moving the aperture in
1mm or less increments (recalibrate after each movement) until it is within that range.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 21 | 25
5.4 Camera not connected
If the counter cannot find the camera an error message will be displayed which reads. The Camera is
not set up correctly. The most common reason for this is that the camera cable is not connected or
is loosely connected. The camera cable is shown as time 2 in chapter 1.1. If that does not resolve the
issue, please contact VAKI Service Support.
Figure 7: Pico 4" open
Figure 8: Pico 2" open

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 20 www.vaki.is Page 21
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 22 | 25
6. Examples of use
The Pico Counter is available for all non-transparent fish and has proven to be one of the best shrimp
counters available. The Pico Counters have been successfully deployed to count small juveniles of
lumpfish, salmonids, shrimp, eel and fish ova.
In most cases the counters are used to count when moving fish without having to dewater. It gives the
farmer the ability to know the exact number of fish or shrimp in a tank when moving in various growth
stages without having to dewater.
6.1 VAKI Syphoning System
The syphoning system consists of two Priming Fixtures, Control Valve and a Priming Pump. The
Priming fixture is placed at the pipe’s highest point (usually over the edge of a tank). When syphoning
between two tanks, one Priming Fixture is placed on each tank. Once the system has been set up,
the priming can start.
1. Keep the Control Valve open and connect the Priming Pump to the Upstream Priming fixture.
2. Start pumping and wait until the water level is higher than the Control Valve. Note that there
should still be air in the Upstream Priming Fixture.
3. Once the water level is above the Control Valve, close the Control Valve and keep pumping.
4. Stop the pump once all air has been pumped out of the Upstream Priming Fixture.
5. Unplug the Priming pump, connect to the Downstream Priming Fixture and pump until all air is
out of the system.
6. Once the Priming Pump has been unplugged, a counting session can be initiated on the Pico
counter and the Control Valve can be opened to start the flow.
Figure 9: VAKI Syphoning System
PICO Counter Manual
Page 23 | 25
6.2 Counting Shrimp
When using the Pico Counter to count shrimp the following should be observed.
1. The counter uses machine vision technology to
identify each counted individual. Thus, it will
function best in relatively clear water. Counting
can become difficult when biofloc levels are too
high. This is especially prudent when dealing
with smaller sized shrimp.
2. Biofloc is usually the thickest at the bottom of
the tank and can cause faulty counts at the end
of an otherwise successful counting session. It
is the best to keep an eye on the video feed of
the counter. If the biofloc gets too thick it will
become obvious on the screen. The count
should be paused and resumed once the issue
has been resolved. The relative biofloc level can be lowered by straining/filtering the biofloc
away or diluting with water.
3. The counter is not very sensitive to changing water speed. A good goal for the flow is to be
around 1 meter / 3 feet per second however the water flow should be fast enough so that
individuals are not able to swim against the direction of the flow.
Figure 10: Transporting fish/shrimp with VAKI 6" Pump and 4" Pico Counter

Page 3
www.vaki.is
PPRREEFFAACCEE––SSmmaarrttFFllooww
Grading live fish is a fairly hard and complicated process. The system normally
consists of three to four grades where the operator can dynamically adjust the grades
on the fly. The system falls under the category of a multi input, multi output system
(MIMO). The system is operated by two to four persons at a time and it is sensitive to
any changes, a small change to the input can cause a dramatic change in the output
and it’s not uncommon that 100 of thousands of fish are graded in one session and the
size range varies from few grams to a few hundred grams.
All these factors contribute in making the system fairly complicated and hard to tune
and more often than not results in an unsatisfactory output. It requires a lot of
knowledge about the system and a lot of practice to obtain a reasonable result.
SmartFlow connects all the devices used for grading fish in a hatchery to allow for an
automatic grading. SmartFlow is a control system that optimizes the grading process
by controlling the entire process. With SmartFlow you only need one person to
operate the whole system with fundamental knowledge of grading. You can control all
aspects of the grading fromwithin SmartFlow. Enter in your desired output and the
system takes care of the rest.
Set up
When setting up SmartFlow the following
system configuration is required:
● A VAKI counter (Micro/Macro/EXEL).
● A VAKI Smart Grader
● A VAKI pump
● A VAKI density controller
● SmartFlow configured and running on
the counter.
PICO Counter Manual
Page 4
www.vaki.is
VAKI Smart Grader
The Smart Grader delivers accurate fish grading while minimizing the impact on your
fish as they pass through the outlets. The dewatering unit distributes the fish evenly
over the width of the grader, so all 10 tracks are used effectively.
Further the inclination of the main sorting unit can be adjusted from 5-14° with an
electric actuator. The opening of the grader is controlled with electric linear actuators
that can be manually operated from a control panel on the grader or automatically
from the VAKI Counter which counts, size measures and calculates the split between
the grades. The opening for each grade is displayed on a digital display. The grader is
built in high grade stainless steel 316L and selected plastic materials that are corrosion
and water resistant.
The rollers are machined with high precision laser welding tools and balanced out with
specialized equipment. It delivers an accurate grading of the fish. The outlets are
designed to minimize the impact on the fish and can be mounted to deliver the fish on
either side of the grader. These outlets can easily be removed for cleaning. The
rotation speed of the rollers can be adjusted with a frequency controller.
The grader functions by sliding the fish between two rolls, where the distance
between them gradually widens. Where two pairs of rollers rotate away from each
other to make sure that the fish doesn’t get squeezed between the rollers, but instead
lifted up and pushed forward so they fall through in the correct place. The expansion
of the slits on both ends can be adjusted. When operating the grader you have to
keep in mind that the grades are all related to one another. One single grader gap
PICO Counter Manual
Page 22 www.vaki.is Page 23
www.vaki.is
PICO Counter Manual
Page 24 | 25
6.3 Screenshots
Figure 11: Lumpfish with some air bubbles, quality ok
Figure 12: Salmon fry without air bubbles, quality very good
Figure 13: Shrimp with a lot of air bubbles and debris, medium quality

Akralind 4 l+[phone]
201 Kópavogur l Iceland
www.vaki.is