Recirculation AQUACULTURE SYSTEM
• A RAS is a series of culture tanks and filters where water is continuously recycled and monitored to keep optimal conditions year round. To prevent the deterioration of water quality, the water is treated mechanically through the removal of particulate matter and biologically through the conversion of harmful accumulated chemicals into nontoxic ones.
• From the RAS plant, we use aspects of the Integrated Recycling System, which takes advantage of hydroponics, where the RAS waste feeds into the hydroponic plant crop. Carefully cultured
micro-organisms in the hydroponic bed convert ammonia to nitrates, where the nitrates and phosphates fertilize the plants.
• This water may then either flow through another filter or be returned to the aquaculture tank. The combination of agriculture and aquaculture in this way is commonly referred to as aquaponics.
• Vermiculture becomes another component of the Integrated Aqua Farm, with the worms being used as fish feed, or for the production of vermicompost. Worms have a number of other possible
uses including their value as a high-quality animal feed. Vermicomposting and vermiculture therefore offer organic farmers the opportunity to supplement their income from this source even further. In addition, the worms would feed off the waste generated from the hydroponics plants.
