SOLVOX Solutions for RAS/Flow-through Onshore Fish Farms

Getting the Interplay Right with Onshore Farming

Global demand for fish is rising rapidly, placing a growing strain on wild reserves. Onshore fish farming has the potential to meet this demand while protecting the oceans from further over-fishing. Land-based farming models are becoming increasingly sophisticated, yet they present their own operational and financial challenges.

Land-based intensive fish farms, particularly recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) but also hybrid and flow-through systems with high stocking densities, must balance a number of factors to get the conditions right at all stages of the fish lifecycle - from hatching and growth through transfer to harvest. This extends far beyond the obvious benefits of supplemental oxygen in boosting feed conversion, powering growth and lowering mortality. Equally important in the overarching productivity and efficiency equation are variables such as water flow and hydraulics, homogenous swimming speeds, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and dissolved inert gases in the water, the avoidance of low-oxygen zones, and the effectiveness of cleaning operations in creating a healthy aquatic environment by removing dirt particles and contamination. In short, the entire system must be designed from the ground up to balance and optimize all of these factors. And that is where we come in!

Big Picture with SOLVOX^®: Engineered for Seamless Interoperability

Here at Linde, we have virtually unparalleled experience in the design of oxygenation systems and their smooth integration into overarching plant concepts. We carefully tailor all system components, including pumps, injectors and treatment units, to your specific operational parameters, such as water flow rates, (variable) stocking densities and fish species/age. We also align our technologies with your aquatic environment - which is particularly important given that gases dissolve more readily in sea or brackish water. The final result is a SOLVOX solution concept with components that dovetail to perfection to meet your current, future and even unforeseen needs. Not only do you get to reduce plant complexity, footprint and investment cost, you can also look forward to lower operating costs and more sustainable operations over time thanks to the efficiency gains of an end-to-end design mindset.

For ease of deployment, we can also support you with practical advice and training on the safe handling and injection of oxygen during normal operations, emergencies, harvests, transfers and downtime.

Supporting Standard Oxygenation Needs

Modern oxygenation systems can do a lot more than just dissolve oxygen in water. A well-designed system can also control inert gases and generate homogenous tank hydraulics conducive to both fish health and growth rates. In addition, optimized hydraulics can avoid zones with low oxygen, facilitate homogenous swimming speeds, and contribute to clear water by supporting the removal of dirt particles and contamination. The right water inlet and outlet configuration in tanks can further enhance hydraulics. Getting the hydraulics right calls for the careful evaluation and alignment of all system components and operational parameters including oxygen need, water flow rates, retention times and pump head pressures.

Our aquaculture team works closely with you to advise on the solutions best suited to your individual requirements. Our system design and integration experts can help you explore the lowest-energy path to your target oxygen saturation with the highest oxygen dissolution efficiency and the right tank hydraulics. Our SOLVOX family includes advanced analytics and control technologies to monitor the water flow rate and oxygen dosing rate, adjusting these parameters dynamically to maintain a healthy environment. We can also advise on the best way to keep the level of dissolved inert gases under control.

Read on to explore the SOLVOX solution combinations that can help you achieve all this and more …

Supplementing Oxygenation During Harvest and Transfer

Harvest and fish transfer processes present their own oxygenation challenges. When tank water levels are lowered for grading or harvest, this results in a higher stocking density in the remaining water volume. The increase in density can cause stress to the fish which, in turn, elevates oxygen demand. Supplemental oxygen is often the only way to maintain healthy oxygen saturation levels in the tanks in these situations. Operators typically need rapid-deployment solutions to counter the reduced flow rate (and thus capacity) of standard oxygenation systems. Flexible supplemental oxygenation may also be required if the water outlets are no longer under water. In addition, an on-demand supplemental flow of oxygen may be helpful to avoid disturbing the fish during cleaning operations.

Read on to explore the SOLVOX setups that can help you achieve all this and more …

Meeting On-demand Needs in an Emergency

Having a backup system can prove invaluable in an emergency. Supplementary oxygen may be required on demand for a number of reasons. These include general fish panic due to health treatments or a drop in water levels, for instance. A backup supply may also be required if the standard oxygenation system is offline or not working properly. This could be triggered by an interruption to the water flow due to a power outage or other technical fault.

Read on to explore the SOLVOX solutions combinations to help you achieve all this and more …