Nova Q - Driving Innovation in RAS Water Quality
However, RAS as an emerging technology is not without challenges, amongst the most important of which are robust nitrification and biological filtration. BluePlanet Labs have many years of experience developing bacteria consortia and have a particular expertise in functional nitrification and denitrification products with enhanced stability, now extended to 30 months from manufacture. In addition, these products can help address other challenges in RAS, from Hydrogen Sulphide buildup to Geosmin/MIB contamination.
Effective disinfection is also critical in RAS. The batch to batch nature, particularly at early growth stages, means disinfection and preservation of biosecurity involves a considerable chemical footprint.
So, what is a RAS?
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.
There are three products in the RAS-Right range:
- ACF-RAS-Right: Freshwater
- ACF-RAS-Right-Marine
- ACF-RAS-Boost.
In addition, Nova Q offers other products that are suitable for use in Aquaculture:
- Predator – a simple dechlorinator, for use after chlorine-based disinfectants.
- Aquaclean™ ACF-Sludge Abate – an organic and bacteria complex which is safe for fish and acts as a scavenger for residual biocides after cleaning and disinfection.
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 below!
