Aquaculture

“RAS-Right worked really well for us. Our MBBR started quickly and our ammonia and nitrite numbers are right where we want them.”
Dr. A. Whiston, Great British Aquatech

Here are our results in reducing Geosmin in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems using Active Microbiome Management

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We believe Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technologies have a crucial role to play in helping aquaculture to feed a growing planet while reducing our environmental footprint.

But RAS water treatment systems – in particular biological filtration systems (bio-filters) – are often not reliable enough, or aren’t performing at their full potential. Alongside robust nitrification, biofilters need to be able to help address risks such as Hydrogen Sulphide build-up or Geosmin/MIB contamination.

Microbial Management

Our approach to RAS water treatment is based on our long experience in waste water treatment, where it is common to use bio-augmentation to ‘steer’ a biofilter over time.

Instead of just 'seeding' a bio-filter with bacteria when starting a RAS, in the expectation that the bacteria that develop will control toxins produced in the system, we have pioneered an innovative active microbial management approach.

‘Maintenance dosing’ involves continually dosing RAS biofilters with specifically selected bacteria formulations. This stops sub-optimal combinations of bacteria species developing, ensuring robust nitrification, and avoiding spikes in toxins such as H₂S or contaminants like Geosmin.

What is a RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System)?

Hatcheries need lots of water as they need to simulate a natural river environment. Flow-through systems rely on diverting large volumes of water from lakes and rivers through fish tanks and out the other end. Depending on size and the location, these are likely to have large water treatment systems at the back end to ensure the water returning to the river is as clean as possible. RAS allows the vast majority of this water (usually a 95% target) to be reused over and over again.

With the volume of water needed, this means huge biofilters for the removal of ammonia with very short retention times, often at sub-optimum temperatures for the process.

The RAS-Right range of products has been specifically developed to satisfy the nitrification and denitrification needs of the Global RAS market.

What is ‘Maintenance Dosing’?

‘Steering’ the biofilter ensures that there is always a dominant population of ‘good’ bacteria.

It is also known as ‘bio-augmentation’ or ‘active microbiome management’.

It is common practice in industrial waste water treatment, but Nova Q have pioneered this as an innovative approach to improve water quality in RAS.

We have developed a range of innovative products to implement our unique approach in RAS

RAS Right – broad consortium bacteria products, to rapidly seed and maintain a robust bacterial population in your RAS
BrewTus – purpose built ‘bioreactor’ units to grow up RAS Right bacteria to ensure easy application for larger RAS systems

Get in touch with us to find out more.

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Research

Webinar with the Scottish Association for Marine Science

We recently hosted a webinar with the Scottish Association for Marine Science, looking at Nova Q’s approach to the microbiome in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, and where we think the RAS industry is missing a trick!

We go into more detail on how we look at using bacteria differently, and the positive benefits of actively managing your microbiome. Watch now.