• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 2003

Nitrification efficiency of fixed film biofilters with sand, loess bead, and styrofoam bead in biofilter columns of 1-m height and 30 cm width was studied. Synthetic wastewater was continuously supplied to the culture tank to maintain total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration in the inflow water at around 8 mg/L. The hydraulic loading rate was set at 200 ㎥/$m^2$/day. TAN conversion was stabilized after about 90 day conditioning for all the selected filter media but with net accumulations of nitrite. On the volumetric basis, conversion rates of TAN and nitrite were the highest in styrofoam bead filter. Mean volumetric TAN conversion rates in the final samples were 682, 269, and 79 g TAN/㎥/day in the styrofoam bead, sand and loess bead filters, respectively. Low gravity and cost of styrofoam bead render the handling easier and more cost-effective.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2003

Nitrification performance of fixed film biofilters using coarse sand, loess bead, or styrofoam beads in biofilter columns 1 meter high and 30cm in diameter were studied at different hydraulic and organic matter loading rates. Synthetic wastewater was supplied to the culture tank in order to maintain desired TAN concentrations in inlet water to biofilters. All the biofilters were conditioned 5 months before start of sampling. TAN and $NO_2-N$ conversion rates increased with an increase in the hydraulic loading rate (HLR). However, the improvement in biofilter performance was not linearly correlated to HLR in styrofoam bead filters. This is mainly due to the characteristics of the styrofoam beads used. TAN conversion rates of sand filters increased with the increase of HLR up to $200m^3/m^2$. per day. No increase in the TAN conversion rate was observed at the highest HLR since flooding on the media surface took place. HLR had a significant impact on the TAN conversion rates in loess bead filter up to the highest HLR tested (P<0.05). TAN conversion rates were much less at organic matter loading rates of 9 and 18kg $O_2/m^3$ per day than those without the addition of organic matter in styrofoam bead filters. The addition of glucose resulted in a reduction of the TAN conversion rate from 540 to 284g $TAN/m^3$ per day. No significant difference of TAN conversion rates between the two organic matter loading rates was found (p<0.05). This indicates that the impact of organic matter on nitrification becomes less and less sensitive with an increase in the COD/TAN ratio. At an organic matter loading rate of 9kg $O_2/m^3$. per day, a great reduction of TAN conversion rates was observed in sand filters and loess bead filters. Clearly, organic matter can be one of the most Important Impacting factors on nitrification. $NO_2-N$ conversion rates showed a similar trend for TAN. Based on the TAN and nitrite conversion rates, styrofoam beads showed the best performance among the three filter media tested. Also, the low gravity and price of styrofoam beads make the handling easier and more cost-effective for commercial application. The results obtained at the highest organic matter loading rates can be used in the biofilter design in recirculating aquaculture system.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2004

To supply fresh and quality quarantined seafood in live seafood specialty restaurants, facilities for short-term culture or holding of live marine fish and shellfish are a necessity. In this study, the performance of a simple recirculating aquarium system for the culture and holding of marine fish was evaluated. The aquarium system consisted of a culture tank, a foam fractionator for solids removal, and a Styrofoam bead filter for nitrification and solids trapping. In the first trial, the aquarium was stocked with a total of 12 kg Korean rockfish, which were fed approximately $0.5\%$ of the total fish body weight daily. During the 2-month culture period, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite nitrogen $(NO_2-N)$ concentrations remained below 1mg/L and 2mg/L, respectively. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) fluctuated between 13.6 and 31.2 mg/L on selected sampling days. The total suspended solids (TSS) removed by the foam fractionator was between 2.7 and 4.6g daily. The Styrofoam bead filter not only reduced TAN and $NO_2-N$ in the culture tank water, but also trapped solids equivalent to 8.3-26.7\% of the weight of feed supplied. In Trial 2, 30kg of live fish were held in the aquarium without feeding for a 24-hour period and the water quality parameters were monitored. TAN and $NO_2-N$ concentrations first increased and then decreased to around 0.3mg/L. These results demonstrate that the recirculating aquarium system is a functional option for the short-term culture or holding of marine fish.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.256-267
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• 2019

Styrofoam beads, which are relatively inexpensive and can provide a large specific surface area, were tested as filter media. Styrofoam beads with a diameter of $3{\pm}0.5mm$ were used; the specific surface area of the beads was $1,034m^2{\cdot}m^{-3}$. Five independent recirculating culture systems were used in the experiment. Each system consisted of one culture tank and three trickling bio-filters. Using the systems, nitrification efficiency was evaluated with respect to hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The lowest ammonia and nitrogen concentrations were $0.84mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and $1.30mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively, observed at an HLR of $50.9m^3{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}h^{-1}$. Nitrification efficiency in the culture tank was highest at a C/N ratio of 0, with ammonia and nitrite nitrogen concentrations of $0.32mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and $0.90mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ammonia and nitrite nitrogen concentrations in the culture tank abruptly changed at C/N ratios ${\geq}3$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.125-125
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• 2003

Recirculating aquaculture systems consist of different treatment compartments that maintain water quality within the ranges of commonly recommended for fish culture. This paper presents the common considerations in designing different treatment compartments as well as the engineering criteria in designing closed recirculating aquaculture system including a circular tank for fish culture, a sedimentation basin and a foam fractionator for solids removal, two styrofoam bead filters for TAN removal, a sand filter for nitrate removal, and aerators. The main purpose is to outline a common procedure in designing of closed recirculating aquaculture system for marine fish culture.