Culture Systems

Fish culture systems are as varied in design as the variety of fish raised in them and the variety of the goals of the facility users.  PR Aqua’s culture system designs have ranged from small aquaria systems in research facilities to some of the largest land-based salmonid recirculation hatcheries and grow out facilities in the world. For saltwater or fresh, warm water or cold, intensive production plans or extensive, PR Aqua’s products and services have been integral to the success of fish culture systems throughout North America and around the world.

One of the foremost conditions influencing the complexity of the design is the water use strategy adopted for the facility. Traditionally, aquaculture facilities have been designed using single-pass water use strategies and are known as Flow-through Aquaculture Systems. Water recycle systems, involving water treatment processes, provide an alternative to traditional systems. In aquaculture, water recycle systems are usually classified as either Partial Reuse Aquaculture Systems or Recirculating Aquaculture Systems which primarily differ in the magnitude of the portion of the water that is recycled, and the complexity of the water treatment processes used.

In Flow-through Aquaculture Systems, water is passed through the culture system only once and is then discharged back to the aquatic environment. The flow of water through the culture system supplies oxygen to the fish and carries dissolved and suspended wastes out of the system. Flow-through systems became a popular and cost effective approach for aquaculture when water sources were plentiful and competing uses for the water resource were low.

Flow-through Aquaculture Systems >>>

Partial Reuse Aquaculture Systems (PRAS) use water treatment processes to allow a portion of the culture discharge water to be recycled and supplied back into the culture tanks. For aquaculture facilities faced with limited water resources, sustainability issues, or a requirement for improved control over culture conditions, reuse technology is the next step in the technological evolution of modern aquaculture systems.

Partial Reuse Aquaculture Systems >>>

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) incorporate additional treatment technologies beyond those used in Partial Reuse Aquaculture Systems (PRAS), allowing for significantly greater quantities of water to be reused. Recirculation systems afford a level of control well beyond any other technology application in aquaculture and provide significant production and economic benefits.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems >>>

Water use strategies are selected to provide a balance between the objectives of improving sustainability, minimizing cost and risk, and maximizing production and quality. The relative importance of each of these factors will vary with each facility according to the owner’s business plan and design preferences, and site specific design constraints. PR Aqua can help you achieve the right balance among these objectives and select a water use strategy that will provide the basis for operation success of the facility.

Please contact us to see how PR Aqua can contribute to the success of your new or existing culture systems.