Aeration
All the culture systems require aeration. The most efficient delivery system
we have used is known as a Roots Blower. Aeration plumbing will be piped to
all required locations. These include growout, broodstock, hatchery and nursery
locations.
Roots Positive Displacement Blowers
ROOTS manufactures a full line of low-pressure air and gas handling blowers,
exhausters and systems. ROOTS has been in continuous operation since 1854 when
the Roots brothers discovered the principle behind the rotary lobe blower. Since
1854 ROOTS has developed extensive experience with providing solutions for a
wide range of applications
Operational Plan
This recirculating aquaculture design is a closed loop vertically integrated system incorporating parental broodstock management, fingerling and nursery production feeding into a growout culture production of export quality live fish.
The 50 tonne units are capable of culturing approximately 80kg/1000 liter which equates to 4 - 8 tonnes per year which equals approximately 80 - 160 tonnes per annum at maximum production.
That figure equates to a growout demand of approximately 200,000 x 100 gram fingerlings from nursery production.
And that figure requires the hatchery to produce approximately 500, 000 juveniles per annum.
This design is capable of providing these results within current commercial aquaculture parameters and production targets have been set reasonably conservatively. The calculated maximum output of these types of systems is almost double that as stated. However there are many good reasons to avoid super intensity culture.
These culture systems require daily water exchange but rely on internal mechanical and bio-filtration to sustain the biomass. It is at this point where 90% of solids are removed.
This type of system allows for a degree of quarantine both of incoming water issues and operational function as well as animal health issues.
The effluent management system is highly efficient while being passive and consequently represents a cost effective means of nutrient loading reduction.
Effluent water flows in channels to an effluent treatment process which is basically a sedimentation system to remove fine solids. We have added a unique system to recover dissolved nutrient loading prior to returning water to the ocean. Our trials indicate this type of system reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loading to zero under maximum culture demand. This ‘state of the art’ system also allows for unprecedented water re-use that can be imagined as 20 inner recirculating systems governed by an outer recirculating purification system which can then be ultilised as a culture system for high protein feed sources. Please refer to aquafarmer.com.au web site and reference commercial zooplankton production.
The growout system will need to be covered from the sun. We suspect that 90 % shade cloth should be sufficient to provide the necessary mix of light and shade.