by
Rob J Davies, Principal Aquaculture Consultant & Head of RAS Projects,
Malta
In order to survive you must adapt and evolve. As the need for land-based fish farms and research centres grows, so does the need to advance the design and efficiency of such facilities and reduce operating costs to enhance long-term feasibility. In order to do this, new technological advances must be tested before they are implemented in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), which makes having an R&D Centre essential.
Moreover, the newer facilities need to see tangible benefits from these recent advances; the more you build, the more efficient and lower the operating costs should be. Replicating the same design over and over is a recipe for failure.
A selection of these new technologies, in combination with those already established, have enabled rapid progress in RAS design in the last few years. The use of micro-dosing of oxygen and ozone using in-system redox and DO probes has allowed for a considerable reduction in the operating costs of these expensive gasses.
The implementation of nano-bubble technology (not to be confused with micro-bubble), where super-saturated oxygen remains in the water for longer without degassing, means that not only the injection efficiency of this gas has improved and is elevated beyond maximum saturation, but its secondary effects of partial sterilisation of water (reducing bacteria and pathogens) and lowering its density (thus helping to reduce pumping costs), has added more benefits to the overall operating efficiency. Lastly, the use of ozonated protein skimming in both sea and freshwater, cannot be underestimated.
The benefits of this technology are on multiple fronts:
• Removing micro-particulates- (Much beyond the capability of low micron mesh drum filters), enhancing water clarity, gas transfer efficiency, sight of feed and appetite, whilst reducing gill irritation and risk of hydrogen sulphide poisoning from excess solids in the system
• Constant partial sterilisation of the system - Reducing detrimental bacterial colonies and pathogens, and various life stages of some parasites
• Fish stress reduction - Especially when in handling situations, which improves appetite upon recommencement of normal operations and enhances general health
• Reduced heterotrophic competition in the biofilter - Increasing its efficiency, whilst partially directly reducing ammonia and nitrite with the use of low levels of ozone
• Increased degassing of CO2 - Especially with the use of cascade type skimmers which combined the skimming process with degassing, and increased oxygen levels in the system as the ozone reverts to oxygen
Read more HERE.
In order to survive you must adapt and evolve. As the need for land-based fish farms and research centres grows, so does the need to advance the design and efficiency of such facilities and reduce operating costs to enhance long-term feasibility. In order to do this, new technological advances must be tested before they are implemented in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), which makes having an R&D Centre essential.
Moreover, the newer facilities need to see tangible benefits from these recent advances; the more you build, the more efficient and lower the operating costs should be. Replicating the same design over and over is a recipe for failure.
A selection of these new technologies, in combination with those already established, have enabled rapid progress in RAS design in the last few years. The use of micro-dosing of oxygen and ozone using in-system redox and DO probes has allowed for a considerable reduction in the operating costs of these expensive gasses.
The implementation of nano-bubble technology (not to be confused with micro-bubble), where super-saturated oxygen remains in the water for longer without degassing, means that not only the injection efficiency of this gas has improved and is elevated beyond maximum saturation, but its secondary effects of partial sterilisation of water (reducing bacteria and pathogens) and lowering its density (thus helping to reduce pumping costs), has added more benefits to the overall operating efficiency. Lastly, the use of ozonated protein skimming in both sea and freshwater, cannot be underestimated.
The benefits of this technology are on multiple fronts:
• Removing micro-particulates- (Much beyond the capability of low micron mesh drum filters), enhancing water clarity, gas transfer efficiency, sight of feed and appetite, whilst reducing gill irritation and risk of hydrogen sulphide poisoning from excess solids in the system
• Constant partial sterilisation of the system - Reducing detrimental bacterial colonies and pathogens, and various life stages of some parasites
• Fish stress reduction - Especially when in handling situations, which improves appetite upon recommencement of normal operations and enhances general health
• Reduced heterotrophic competition in the biofilter - Increasing its efficiency, whilst partially directly reducing ammonia and nitrite with the use of low levels of ozone
• Increased degassing of CO2 - Especially with the use of cascade type skimmers which combined the skimming process with degassing, and increased oxygen levels in the system as the ozone reverts to oxygen
Read more HERE.
The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
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