ARS | Publication request: A low energy, bio-secure, 'hybrid' recirculation system incorporating air lift pumps for water circulation, aeration, and CO2 degassing

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2007
Publication Date: February 9, 2008
Citation: Van Toever, W., Pfeiffer, T.J. 2008. A low energy, bio-secure, 'hybrid' recirculation system incorporating air lift pumps for water circulation, aeration, and CO2 degassing [abstract]. Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America 2008: Beyond Magic-Competing in World Markets.p.405.

Technical Abstract: A ‘Hybrid’ recirculating aquaculture system design utilizes elements of both a ‘Centralized’ design concept with a single water treatment system for a number of fish tanks and the ‘Modular’ design concept which employs a individual treatment system for each fish culture tank. The ‘Hybrid’ recirculating aquaculture system was designed with nine 5 ft. diameter tanks with double drain design and paired with a moving bed torrus biofilter for biofiltration and solids removal. Air lift pumps powered by a low pressure air supply lift water from the fish tank into the filter. The filter contains 4 cubic feet of floating plastic media which is aerated and moved in a torritional pattern by air diffusers located below the media bead. The filtrate returns to the tank by gravity. The air lifts provide filter media movement, and a low cost energy efficient pumping, aeration, and degassing system. A downsized secondary ‘polishing’ treatment loop is included for the total system flow for fine particle removal, oxygen supplementation, and UV sterilization. These processes are to costly to add for each tank but lower in cost because the main water treatment efforts and flow are conducted with the paired filter/air lift pump of each tank.