Determining design parameters for recovery of aquaculture wastewater using sand beds

Design information for the use of sand beds to remove suspended solids from wastewater discharged from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) was developed. Wastewater from a commercial RAS tilapia farm with 2% total solids and 1.6% total suspended solids (TSS) was applied to sand columns to determine infiltration rates and phosphorus capture. Various hydraulic loading rates and drying periods between application events were evaluated. Infiltration rates stabilized after five application events to 3.5 cm/day (S.D.=1.7). Practically, all suspended solids were captured at the top of the columns, creating the primary resistance to infiltration. Concrete sand removed approximately 93% of the soluble phosphorous in the wastewater and wollastonite, an economical aggregate alternative to sand, removed at least 98%. A modified Darcy equation is presented to predict infiltration based upon TSS and the number of sequential applications.     

Denitrifying bioreactor inflow manifold design for treatment of aquacultural wastewater

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) facilities subject to point-source effluent regulations need to implement cost-effective N remediation for their wastewater outflows. Relatively low-cost denitrifying “woodchip” bioreactors can effectively remove N from aquaculture effluents for at least one year, but questions remain about bioreactor lifespan for aquacultural wastewaters. Four pilot-scale bioreactors (L × W × D; 3.8 × 0.76 × 0.76 m), two with a conventional single distribution inflow manifold and two with an experimental multiple-header, feed-forward distribution manifold, were operated over 784 d to observe second-year N removal performance and to determine if the manifold design can influence bioreactor effectiveness. The study also quantified performance metrics for chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and phosphorus. Manifold style did not have notable impact on bioreactor performance when treating wastewater under the facilities’ normal operating conditions, but the multiple distribution style demonstrated an 11 % increase in nitrate and 12 % increase in total suspended solids removal efficiency over the single distribution manifold toward the end of the study when bioreactors treated higher strength wastewater. Additionally, bioreactor performance in both manifold designs decreased from an average of 92 % total suspended solids removal efficiency under normal operating conditions to <76 % when treating the high-strength wastewater. The bioreactors provided N removal rates of 17−25 g NO₃-N m⁻³ d⁻¹ during the second year of study, demonstrating woodchip bioreactors can effectively treat aquaculture effluent for at least two years without major detrimental impacts due to clogging.     

循环水养殖系统中的固体悬浮物去除技术

循环水养殖系统(Recirculating aquaculture systems,RAS)中固体悬浮物(Suspended solids,SS)的去除效果直接影响到鱼类生长、生物净化效果、系统配置和运行成本等诸多重要因子。根据固体悬浮物产生、物理特性和分布规律,结合颗粒悬浮物去除工艺特点,对去除技术进行系统研究分析。固体悬浮物源自饲料,密度一般为1.05~1.19 g/cm3,运用重力分离、过滤和泡沫分离等工艺通过预处理、粗过滤和精处理三道工艺步骤,可分别去除不同直径的颗粒物质,在达到合理含量的前提下,获得低能耗、低成本和系统稳定运行的综合效果。固体悬浮物的去除符合目标明确、排出及时和区别对待三原则,去除工艺注重相关技术的优化集成。     

Solids removal at a recirculating salmon-smolt farm

The objective of this study was to determine the solids separation efficiency of the four swirl separators and the drum filter within one of the water recirculation systems (RAS) of a salmon-smolt hatchery. Water flowrates and concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) within the RAS were measured weekly over 5 weeks in 2004 and 4 weeks in 2005. During the study, the hydraulic retention time in the tanks was 2.8 h and the feed rate ranged between 0.16 and 0.84 kg/m³ of make-up water. The system volume replacement rate and the water flow recycle rate were respectively 21%/day and 96% in 2004, and 50%/day and 91% in 2005. A mathematical model was developed to determine the transient concentration of fine particles in the recirculation loop. By fitting the predictions of the model to the measured TSS concentrations, it was determined that about 15% of the waste generated within the RAS (assumed equal to 20% of daily feed rate) was removed by the system overflow water. Using this information and TSS data from the backwash water of the drum filter, it was calculated that the swirl separators and drum filter removed respectively 63% and 22% of the waste solids rejected by the fish.     

Hydroponic plate/fabric/grass system for treatment of aquacultural wastewater

Hydroponic plants can efficiently absorb and uptake soluble compounds in wastewater but they have low abilities to remove suspended solids due to the lack of culture media to trap solids. This paper presented an improved hydroponic method for effective treatment of the wastewater from the backwash of recirculating aquacultural systems. The ryegrass (Lolium perenne Lam) was cultured with improved media consisting of perforated plastic plates and several layers of unwoven cotton fabric. The plate/fabric/grass cells with one, three, five, and seven layers of fabric were studied. After one vertical filtration pass through the cells, the removals were 48, 59, 60 and 63% for total solids (TS), 48, 58, 63 and 69% for volatile solids (VS), and 4, 7, 14 and 25% for suspended solids (SS), respectively, for different cells with one, three, five, and seven layers of fabric. It was found that increasing the number of vertical filtration passes through the cells improved the solids removal. The 1-day treatment in the recycling irrigation and treatment system with five cells ( = 0.8 m² grass) removed 66% TS, 71% VS, and 91% SS, and absorbed 72% total nitrogen (TN), 80% total phosphorus (TP), 63% chemical oxygen demand (COD), and 85% total ammonia nitrogen (TAN). This hydroponic plate/fabric/grass system is a simple and efficient technology for the effective eco-treatment of aquacultural wastewater with relatively high concentrations of suspended solids.     

Settling velocity and particle size bioengineering parameters gathered from solids generated by wild-caught premature punctuated snake-eels (Ophichthus remiger) reared in a marine prototype recirculating aquaculture system

This research reveals the applied engineering basis for determining the particle size and settling velocity distributions of solids generated while rearing wild-caught premature punctuated snake-eels (Ophichthus remiger) in a prototype recirculating aquacultural system. Settled solids were sampled from the bottom of the rearing tanks, and suspended solids were sampled before filtration within the drum filter and analyzed to characterize their settling velocity and particle size properties. These particle properties are considered bioengineering parameters since they will provide biological information to improve engineering solutions for RAS solids removal processes. The average settling velocity for the settleable solids in the rearing tanks was 2.89 ± 0.02 cm s⁻¹, and the average particle size ranged between 7.32 ± 3.41 and 19.44 ± 8.58 mm. Suspended solids within the drum filters before filtration had an average settling velocity of 0.35 ± 0.11 cm s⁻¹ and it was found that 69.93 % of the particles size was greater than 200 μm, 15.40 % were within the range of 120 μm and 90 μm sizes, and 6.53 % were between 70 μm and 40 μm sizes. The particle physical properties, settling curves, and particle sizes curves obtained from this experience represent valuable information to be used to improve engineering design of solids handling mechanisms, especially in marine land-based systems, and in this case, applied for rearing wild-caught punctuated snake-eels. The present investigation constitutes an advance in the knowledge of applied engineering to the design of a marine aquaculture fattening operation targeted to feed up wild-caught premature punctuated snake-eels to the point of sale or trade.     

Hydroponic plate/fabric/grass system for treatment of aquacultural wastewater

Hydroponic plants can efficiently absorb and uptake soluble compounds in wastewater but they have low abilities to remove suspended solids due to the lack of culture media to trap solids. This paper presented an improved hydroponic method for effective treatment of the wastewater from the backwash of recirculating aquacultural systems. The ryegrass (Lolium perenne Lam) was cultured with improved media consisting of perforated plastic plates and several layers of unwoven cotton fabric. The plate/fabric/grass cells with one, three, five, and seven layers of fabric were studied. After one vertical filtration pass through the cells, the removals were 48, 59, 60 and 63% for total solids (TS), 48, 58, 63 and 69% for volatile solids (VS), and 4, 7, 14 and 25% for suspended solids (SS), respectively, for different cells with one, three, five, and seven layers of fabric. It was found that increasing the number of vertical filtration passes through the cells improved the solids removal. The 1-day treatment in the recycling irrigation and treatment system with five cells ( = 0.8 m² grass) removed 66% TS, 71% VS, and 91% SS, and absorbed 72% total nitrogen (TN), 80% total phosphorus (TP), 63% chemical oxygen demand (COD), and 85% total ammonia nitrogen (TAN). This hydroponic plate/fabric/grass system is a simple and efficient technology for the effective eco-treatment of aquacultural wastewater with relatively high concentrations of suspended solids.     

Screening and evaluation of polymers as flocculation aids for the treatment of aquacultural effluents

As environmental regulations become more stringent, environmentally sound waste management and disposal are becoming increasingly more important in all aquaculture operations. One of the primary water quality parameters of concern is the suspended solids concentration in the discharged effluent. For example, EPA initially considered the establishment of numerical limitations for only one single pollutant: total suspended solids (TSS). For recirculation systems, the proposed TSS limitations would have applied to solids polishing or secondary solids removal technology. The new rules and regulations from EPA (August 23, 2004) require only qualitative TSS limits, in the form of solids control best management practices (BMP), allowing individual regional and site specific conditions to be addressed by existing state or regional programs through NPDES permits. In recirculation systems, microscreen filters are commonly used to remove the suspended solids from the process water. Further concentration of suspended solids from the backwash water of the microscreen filter could significantly reduce quantity of discharge water. And in some cases, the backwash water from microscreen filters needs to be further concentrated to minimize storage volume during over wintering for land disposal or other final disposal options. In addition, this may be required to meet local, state, and regional discharge water quality. The objective of this research was an initial screening of several commercially available polymers routinely used as coagulation–flocculation aids in the drinking and wastewater treatment industry and determination of their effectiveness for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater. Based on the results of the initial screening, a further evaluation of six polymers was conducted to estimate the optimum polymer dosage for flocculation of aquaculture microscreen effluent and overall solids removal efficiency. Results of these evaluations show TSS removal was close to 99% via settling, with final TSS values ranging from as low as 10–17 mg/L. Although not intended to be used for reactive phosphorus (RP) removal, RP was reduced by 92–95% by removing most of the TSS in the wastewater to approximately 1 mg/L–P. Dosage requirements were fairly uniform, requiring between 15 and 20 mg/L of polymer. Using these dosages, estimated costs range from $4.38 to $13.08 per metric tonne of feed.     

鲆鲽类循环水养殖系统中病原菌的分布及杀除工艺

以半滑舌鳎皮肤溃疡病的致病菌灿烂弧菌Vibrio splendidus和哈维氏弧菌Vibrio harveyi为指示菌,研究了循环水养殖系统各环节中细菌分布和消除工艺。结果表明,不健康的苗种携带病原菌进入养殖系统后,可分布在残饵、池壁污物、养殖工具及循环水各处理环节。而弧形筛过滤、曝气池气升、紫外线消毒是循环水养殖系统消除细菌的三大环节。用5×10-6 mol/L的KMnO4溶液浸泡工具2h,对细菌的杀灭率达到100%;用25×10-6 mol/L的KMnO4溶液擦拭养殖池壁污物1.5min后,细菌杀灭率高于90%;用100×10-6 mol/L浓度的H2O2溶液对养殖舌鳎病鱼进行药浴消毒处理10min,对体表细菌的杀灭率达到了94.49%。对鲆鲽鱼类循环水养殖系统中细菌的分布和消除效果进行了系统研究,研究结果可为建立循环水健康养殖工艺提供理论数据和参考。     

Screening and Evaluation of Alum and Polymer Combinations as Coagulation/Flocculation Aids to Treat Effluents from Intensive Aquaculture Systems

As the application of intensive aquaculture systems continues to grow worldwide, so does the need for environmentally sound waste management and waste disposal techniques. The use of coagulants and flocculants to assist in removing suspended solids has long been a standard in the waste treatment field. Recently, The Conservation Funds Freshwater Institute has continued its research into coagulation/flocculation aids by examining the performance of alum coupled with various commercially available polymers. Alum is efficient in sequestering phosphorus through chemical precipitation and coagulation of fine solids through charge neutralization. Synthetic polymers are efficient in flocculating small particles together but do not efficiently remove dissolved phosphorus. The specific intention of this work was to use the qualities that distinguish both the alum and the polymer individually and combine the two to optimize wastewater treatment for the removal of both suspended solids and phosphorus. The alum/polymer combinations were first screened to determine which polymers worked best with our waste and with the alum. Once the screening was completed, the six best performing combinations were further evaluated with triplicate tests in a jar test apparatus to determine a standard optimal dosage based on phosphorus and suspended solids removal. Using a combination of alum/polymer, the effluent total suspended solids (TSS) removal rate was close to 99%, with final TSS values ranging from 4 to 20 mg/L. Reactive phosphorus was reduced by 92 to 99% to as low as 0.16 mg/L‐P. Finally, total phosphorus was also significantly reduced (98%), with treated effluent concentrations from 0.9 to 3.0 mg/L‐P. Although not intended for nitrogen removal, total ammonia‐nitrogen (TAN), nitrite‐nitrogen, nitrate‐nitrogen, and total nitrogen in the effluent were reduced on average by 64, 50, 68, and 87%, respectively. Removal rates for both 5 d carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were also significant, with an average value of 97.3 and 96.4%.     

循环水系统结合鱼菜、紫外处理对镜鲤生长及水质的影响

为探索绿色环保的循环水养殖模式,设计循环水鱼菜共生系统(鱼菜组)、紫外灯鱼菜共生系统(鱼菜紫外灯组)及循环水养殖系统(循环水组),比较三种不同处理方式对镜鲤(Cyprinuscarpio var.specularis)、叶用莴苣(Lactuca sativa var.ramosa)生长和养殖水质的影响。结果显示,鱼菜组、鱼菜紫外灯组处理对镜鲤的生长无显著影响,但会显著影响镜鲤形态学指标,鱼菜组镜鲤肠体比显著低于循环水组。体成分方面,鱼菜组全鱼粗蛋白、粗脂肪显著高于循环水组,鱼菜组肝脏粗蛋白显著低于循环水组。鱼菜紫外灯组的细菌总数显著低于鱼菜组。水质方面,鱼菜组、鱼菜紫外灯组可显著降低系统中氨氮、硝酸盐氮及总磷总氮含量,鱼菜紫外灯组硝酸盐氮、总磷及总氮含量显著高于鱼菜组。综上所述,循环水系统耦合水培蔬菜单元可改善系统水质,改善鱼体成分,并且结合紫外灯处理可降低水体细菌总数。     

Screening and evaluation of polymers as flocculation aids for the treatment of aquacultural effluents

As environmental regulations become more stringent, environmentally sound waste management and disposal are becoming increasingly more important in all aquaculture operations. One of the primary water quality parameters of concern is the suspended solids concentration in the discharged effluent. For example, EPA initially considered the establishment of numerical limitations for only one single pollutant: total suspended solids (TSS). For recirculation systems, the proposed TSS limitations would have applied to solids polishing or secondary solids removal technology. The new rules and regulations from EPA (August 23, 2004) require only qualitative TSS limits, in the form of solids control best management practices (BMP), allowing individual regional and site specific conditions to be addressed by existing state or regional programs through NPDES permits. In recirculation systems, microscreen filters are commonly used to remove the suspended solids from the process water. Further concentration of suspended solids from the backwash water of the microscreen filter could significantly reduce quantity of discharge water. And in some cases, the backwash water from microscreen filters needs to be further concentrated to minimize storage volume during over wintering for land disposal or other final disposal options. In addition, this may be required to meet local, state, and regional discharge water quality. The objective of this research was an initial screening of several commercially available polymers routinely used as coagulation–flocculation aids in the drinking and wastewater treatment industry and determination of their effectiveness for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater. Based on the results of the initial screening, a further evaluation of six polymers was conducted to estimate the optimum polymer dosage for flocculation of aquaculture microscreen effluent and overall solids removal efficiency. Results of these evaluations show TSS removal was close to 99% via settling, with final TSS values ranging from as low as 10–17 mg/L. Although not intended to be used for reactive phosphorus (RP) removal, RP was reduced by 92–95% by removing most of the TSS in the wastewater to approximately 1 mg/L–P. Dosage requirements were fairly uniform, requiring between 15 and 20 mg/L of polymer. Using these dosages, estimated costs range from $4.38 to $13.08 per metric tonne of feed.     

Integrating activated sludge membrane biological reactors with freshwater RAS: Preliminary evaluation of water use,water quality,and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss performance

Onsite research indicates that activated sludge membrane biological reactors (MBRs) are an effective waste treatment technology for aquaculture effluents. MBRs produce a filtered permeate that is nearly free of dissolved nutrients, organics, and solids; therefore, this technology could be well-suited for integration within the process control loop of recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS). A four-month study was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating single-vessel MBRs within freshwater RAS while culturing rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Triplicate RAS with and without MBRs (controls) were evaluated; mRAS and cRAS, respectively. System backwash water of mRAS was processed and retained within MBRs which allowed increased water recycling, while cRAS utilized standard dilution rates to limit nitrate accumulation. On average, mRAS required six and a half times less makeup water. Mean daily water replacement of the RAS volume for mRAS and cRAS was 1.2 ± 0.4 and 7.8 ± 0.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). A range of water quality concentrations were significantly greater in mRAS including chloride, carbon dioxide, heterotrophic bacteria count, pH, nitrate-nitrogen, total ammonia-nitrogen, total phosphorous, and true color, as well as dissolved concentrations of calcium, copper, magnesium, and sulfur. Alkalinity and ultraviolet transmittance levels were significantly lower in mRAS. These culture environment differences did not affect rainbow trout growth, feed conversion, or survival (P > 0.05). In addition, concentrations of common off-flavor compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) in water and fish flesh were not affected by MBR presence. Improvements for future MBR integration with RAS were realized including optimization of MBR permeate rates, increased RAS water exchange through the MBRs, and infrequent supplementation of a carbon source to enhance denitrification efficiency and alkalinity recovery. Overall, incorporating MBRs within RAS resulted in substantial water savings and was biologically feasible for rainbow trout production.     

The effects of different combinations of fixed and moving bed bioreactors on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) growth and health,water quality and nitrification in recirculating aquaculture systems

The effect of bioreactor design on nitrification efficiency has been well studied, but less is known about the overall impacts on water quality. Besides nitrification, submerged fixed bed bioreactors (FBBR) trap fine solid particles, whereas moving bed bioreactors (MBBR) grind solids, possibly increasing solids and particle accumulation in the system. In this experiment, the effects of different combinations of fixed bed and moving bed bioreactors on water quality, solids removal, particle size distribution, fish health based on histopathological changes and nitrification efficiency were studied in laboratory scale recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Three set-ups with triplicate tanks were used: 1. two consecutive fixed bed bioreactors (FF); 2. a fixed bed bioreactor followed by a moving bed bioreactor (FM) and 3. two consecutive moving bed bioreactors (MM). Fish performance was not influenced by the design of the bioreactor, specific growth rate (SGR) being between 1.59 and 1.64% d⁻¹ and feed conversion ratio (FCR) between 0.95 and 0.98. Water nitrite concentration was higher in the FF systems compared to FM and MM systems, whereas the average total ammonia nitrogen concentration (TAN) was not influenced by the treatments. Nitrification rate, which was measured in the laboratory, followed the water nitrite levels, indicating highest total ammonium oxidation rates in the MM systems. UV254 absorbance and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations were higher in the groups with moving bed systems, indicating accumulation of organic substances in the circulating water. The total volume of particles was higher in the MM systems as compared to the FF systems. The total solids balance was similar in all the bioreactor groups, since the removal of solids by the FBBR backwash was compensated by the drum filter in the FM and MM systems. In general, no significant histopathological difference in gill, kidney, heart and liver tissue were observed between the RAS treatment groups and the flow-through treatment.     

Water disinfection by ozonation has advantages over UV irradiation in a brackish water recirculation aquaculture system for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

By keeping tropical shrimp, like Litopenaeus vannamei, in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), valuable food for human consumption can be produced sustainable. L. vannamei tolerates low salinities, and therefore, the systems can operate under brackish water conditions. The stabilization of the microbial community in RAS might be difficult under high organic loads, and therefore, water treatment measures like UV irradiation or ozone application are commonly used for bacterial reduction. To investigate the impact of these measures, the effects of UV irradiation and ozone application were studied in small-scale brackish water RAS with a salinity of 15‰ stocked with L. vannamei. UV reactors with 7 and 9 W were used, and by ozonizers with a power of 5–50 mg/hr, the redox potential in the water was adjusted to 350 mV. Ozone had a stabilizing effect on the microbial composition in the water and on biofilms of tank surfaces and shrimp carapaces, prevented an increase of nitrite and accelerated the degradation of nitrate in the water. UV irradiation led to changes in the microbial composition and was less effective in optimizing the chemical water quality. Thus, the use of ozone could be recommended for water treatment in brackish water RAS for shrimp.     

An evaluation of solid waste capture from recirculating aquaculture systems using a geotextile bag system with a flocculant-aid

Two separate geotextile bag systems were evaluated as a means for capturing and dewatering bio-solids in the effluent stream from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Each geotextile bag system used a high molecular weight cationic polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer as a flocculant-aid. The two systems were operated under freshwater and brackish water conditions. A complete analysis including water quality and agronomic sludge analysis was conducted at the North Carolina State University Fish Barn – a large-scale, freshwater RAS demonstration and growout facility. An evaluation of water quality and performance of a similar geotextile bag system was also conducted at the Marine Aquaculture Research Center near Marshallberg, North Carolina, USA, under brackish conditions (15 PPT). Results indicated that performance of each of the systems was similar with TSS, COD, TN, and TP removal greater than 95%, 65%, 50%, and 38%, respectively, for both systems. Analysis of the sludge collected in the freshwater system after 70 days in a dewatering, inactive mode, showed a moisture content (MC) of 86%, or 14% dry matter (DM), indicating the system was effective at passively dewatering the bio-solids. Nutrient removal efficiency may be system specific based on the geotextile bag size and influent flow rate.Geotextile bag systems using flocculant-aids are an efficient means for capturing and dewatering waste solids from RAS effluents. Optimized geotextile bag system designs depend on flow rate, feed rate, and solids dewatering time, and fate of the treated effluent. This evaluation will aid in predicting the expected performance and determining the appropriate size of a geotextile bag system. The type of treatment required downstream from the geotextile bag system used for solids capture in a RAS wastewater treatment system will depend on the intended fate of the treated effluent.     

Experimental Evaluation of the Halophyte,Salicornia virginica,for Biomitigation of Dissolved Nutrients in Effluent from a Recirculating Aquaculture System for Marine Finfish

The ability of the halophyte, Salicornia virginica, planted in drainage lysimeters to biomitigate dissolved nutrients in effluent from a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for marine finfish was evaluated. Seawater effluent from a RAS producing black sea bass, Centropristis striata (filtered to reduce total suspended solids), was used as irrigant. Plant growth and dissolved N and P removal were determined as a function of leachate fraction (LF%) – that is, proportion of irrigant that leaches from the plant‐substrate lysimeter. Lysimeters were irrigated weekly to produce 30, 40, and 50% LF. A control (unplanted) lysimeter was included at the 30% LF. Plant growth was excellent in all LF% treatments until Day 141 when salt buildup in the lysimeter substrate inhibited nutrient uptake. Salt accumulation was mitigated at higher LF%, so that plant biomass and net removal (μg) of dissolved N and P by the p‐s lysimeter remained higher (P < 0.05) at the 40 and 50% than at the 30% LF. On Day 141, percent removal efficiency at the 50% LF was 79.2% for inorganic N and 73.9% for total phosphorus. Through Day 355, substrate salinity was minimized and plant biomass and nutrient removal were maximized at the 50% LF. S. virginica is an effective biofilter for dissolved nutrients in effluent from an RAS for marine finfish.     

UV treatment in RAS influences the rearing water microbiota and reduces the survival of European lobster larvae (Homarus gammarus)

The rearing environment is important for a stable production of good quality lobster juveniles. By providing an environment excluding pathogens and dominated by mutualistic bacteria, the probability of developing healthy host-microbe relationships and produce healthy juveniles is increased. Disinfection of water and sudden increase in the supply of organic matter in culture tanks are processes that open for uncontrolled microbial regrowth in the rearing water. This increase the variability in the development of the microbiota between replicate rearing tanks and promotes selection for potentially harmful opportunistic bacteria. In two start feeding experiments with European lobster (Homarus gammarus) we compared the bacterial environment in three types of rearing systems: a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with UV treatment directly in front of the rearing raceways, a RAS without disinfection, and a conventional flow through system (FTS). The RAS with no disinfection was hypothesised to stabilise the microbiota of the rearing water, select against opportunistic bacteria, and reduce variability in production outcome between replicate tanks compared to the other systems. As predicted, the three different systems developed significantly different compositions of the microbiota in the rearing water and the larvae. On average, the survival of larvae in RAS without disinfection increased with 43 and 275 %, in the first experiment, and 64 and 18 % in the second experiment, compared to RAS with UV and FTS, respectively. Also, the RAS without disinfection showed less variability in the survival of larvae between replicate tanks and batches compared to the other treatments. The results are promising for controlling the microbiota of the rearing water to improve, increase and stabilise the production of marine larvae by competent use of water treatment and selection regimes. Based on the presented and previous work, RAS is recommended over FTS, and in RAS it is recommended to avoid point-disinfection of the recirculating water, to provide a stable and beneficial microbial environment in the cultivation of marine larvae.     

Coagulation of phosphorous and organic matter from marine,land-based recirculating aquaculture system effluents

Saline effluents from marine land-based aquaculture production can neither be disposed in common municipal wastewater treatment plants, nor disposed as landfill. Furthermore, stricter environmental regulations require the reduction of phosphorous and organic matter levels from marine environment discharges to minimize eutrophication. Chemical coagulation with FeCl₃ and AlSO₄ is commonly used for removing phosphorous and suspended solids in wastewater treatment. The capacity of these coagulants for creating particle aggregations depends on the characteristics and chemistry of the treated wastewater, such as the ionic strength or mixing conditions. Marine water has a higher ionic strength than fresh or brackish water, which may be beneficial when using chemical coagulants to treat the effluents from farms operated at high salinities. The following study compared the application of FeCl₃ and AlSO₄, to treat the two effluents discharged from a marine land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) producing salmon (Salmo salar). The aim of the study was to determine; 1) in what effluent (sludge flow vs. exchange water overflow) at the end-of-pipe treatment the coagulant application is more efficient for the removal of PO₄³⁻-P, total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorous (TP) and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD); and 2) the optimal coagulant dose to apply and its associated chemical sludge production. The results show that more than 89 % removal of TCOD, TSS and TP is achieved when treating the sludge flow, arguably because the sludge flow contained the largest fraction of the target masses (P and organic matter) discharged from the system. Up to 80 % of TSS removal was achieved by simple sedimentation, and with the highest coagulant dose tested, up to 95 % of TSS could be removed from the effluent. To remove 90 % of PO₄³⁻-P, FeCl₃ and AlSO₄ need to be dosed at a molar ratio of 2.6:1 Fe:PO₄³⁻-P and 5.7:1 Al: PO₄³⁻-P, respectively. Dosing above 90 % removal efficiency did not significantly affect removal of PO₄³-P and TSS, but substantially increased the volume of chemical sludge produced. Finally, FeCl₃ is proposed as a better overall alternative for P removal at the end-of-pipe treatment in marine land-based RAS.     

Problems affecting nitrification in commercial RAS with fixed-bed biofilters for salmonids in Chile

The present case study focused on the problems that affect the nitrification process at three commercial recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for salmonids with fixed-bed biofilters operating in Chile, where the main factors were found to be management problems: (1) large variations in daily feeding, which results in unstable nitrogenous compounds (TAN, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻) concentration; (2) variable daily water exchange, producing unstable culture conditions (variations in pH and temperature); (3) high densities of culture, which results in overall bad culture conditions (high CO₂ concentration, high amount of fine solids, high oxygen consumption). When properly managed, the RAS have proven to tolerate up to 15% of daily variation in feeding, as low as 10% of daily “new” water inlet, and densities as high as 60 kg fish/m³ without showing any nitrification problems. The results from this study demonstrates that maintaining good water quality is essential to secure an efficient growth of both the target species and the nitrifying bacteria, therefore, the production strategies should consider both the target species and the nitrification process requirements.