ARS | Publication request: DETERMINATION OF THE SOLIDS REMOVAL EFFICIENCY FOR SYSTEM COMPONENTS IN A RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEM USING PARTICLE SIEVE ANALYSIS

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2004
Publication Date: February 1, 2005
Citation: Pfeiffer, T.J., Osborn, A., Davis, M. 2005. Determination of the solids removal efficiency for system components in a recirculating aquaculture system using particle sieve analysis [abstract]. Book of Abstracts, Aquaculture America. p. 326.

Technical Abstract: A major target in the recirculating water treatment scheme of an aquaculture production system is removal of suspended solids. The large volumes of waste fish generate are highly organic in nature and contribute to filter clogging, ammonia production, oxygen consumption, and disease for systems employing high water reuse. Generated from feces, uneaten feed, and biofloc materials, the particles varying in size. To determine the solids removal performance of a 165 gallon swirl separator, a 10-ft3 propeller-wash bead filter (PWBF), and the fluidized sand filter (FSF), water samples from each component were serial filtered through nylon mesh screen of size ranges from 500, 250, 105, 55, and 23 microns. The swirl separator removed over 80% of particles greater than 100 microns. The PWBF removed over 50% of the particles between 23 and 100 microns. The FSF was effective at removing particles between 55 and 100 microns in size.