Oxygen and Ozone in Aquaculture

The fourth installment in the series 'Happy Fish - How Aquaculture Operators are Growing Better Fish.' Here, we go into a detailed conversation about Oxygen and Ozone applications in the aquaculture industry.

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           While the oxygen solutions required for both RAS systems and NetPen systems might be different, Industry experts Matt Clarke of Poseidon Ocean Systems and Tim Sjostrom of Kuterra agree that oxygen as a whole is necessary for the survival and wellbeing of their fish yields. Tim Sjostrom, having experience in the RAS system operations, explained, 'It's crucial! I mean that's not even a question. Without it, everything dies. Period. Also, the consistency of the oxygen into the RAS systems, more specifically the culture tanks, is important to fish out here. When you have a nice constant level of oxygen jumping all over the map, they get stressed. And we found that as they get stressed, they consume more oxygen at an exponential rate.'

Clarke, with NetPens as his area of expertise, continued, 'For the NetPen operators, it's a little bit of a different story. All of the NetPen operations companies have hatcheries and land-based operations to start with. So, in that case, it's crucial - efficient oxygen diffusion and reliable oxygen generation are critical to their operations. But when it comes to NetPens, it's a little bit more early stage. Only about half of our customers, maybe a little less, are actively supplementing their NetPen operations with oxygen through pure oxygen generation and delivery. I guess you could argue that most of them are supplementing oxygen indirectly by using aeration systems that are not designed for oxygen transfer, but overall, it's an emerging tool for NetPen operators. Some are leading the way as far as operators go and I think there are some pretty innovative companies out there. They've been at it for a few years now and we've been working with them to supply equipment and engineering support, and the results were staggering: 10% faster to harvest and 20% bigger fish at harvest. Results like this in sometimes in as little as 6 months for a major capital expense are just unheard of in many cases. So, it's still an earlier stage for NetPens.'

Clarke continued, 'Some of the customers that have oxygen supplementation are convinced now that it's crucial and they can't live without it. The most important thing here is that there are two aspects: Either they've seen that advanced infusion systems like ultrafine bubbles or nanobubbles produce results and that there's a benefit to using those systems, or there are systems like diffusion.  Once you moved past the means of generation, reliable generation is critical. When working with systems such as Floating-Closed Containing situations, which are essentially the same or are very similar to what RAS systems are dealing with, the customers will always come with two questions. The first is 'what's the best system? What should we speck it out to be?' But then the very next question is 'how do we make sure this system never goes down?'  Therefore, that manufactured solution that has a proven track record of 99% of class-stop time becomes a critical part of the conversation of the operation and the customer. You start to realize that those NetPen operations are rarely easily accessed and that it's routine for us to have to travel 5 hours and use multiple modes of transportation just to get to the farm. It's not as simple as getting a service call one second and then being there in an hour. All that stuff speaks to needing reliable, bulletproof systems switches, which brings us back to the work you guys do at OSI.'

Sjostrom added, 'On that note, the land-based systems have always had a liquid oxygen set-up as a backup. They've been relying on it for years. I started in the industry, oxygen equipment was expensive and difficult to maintain, and we're dealing with farmers who don't like to spend the money. It seems like they'd rather react to a situation rather than prevent it. Now that the oxygen generators, specifically those at OSI, are more reliable, I'm seeing them on most land-based farms as the main supply of oxygen and other solutions are just a backup.'

 As mentioned, oxygen equipment is essential to any RAS system and growing in popularity within NetPen systems. To talk more about the future of our oxygen generation equipment, we chatted with top Oxygen Solutions engineer Libardo Estupinan, P. Eng. When talking about oxygen generation, oxygen concentration equipment, or some of the advancements in oxygen generation, he outlined some of the things that he was excited about, 'I think the development of new materials to improve the oxygen production and efficiency of the oxygen generators when we have new materials is exciting. We can find methods and materials that are more efficient in capturing the nitrogen in unpurified oxygen, which will be able to improve or reduce even more energy consumption of our machines. At OSI, we've been working on that over the last 1 1/2 years, and we've been able to reduce the power construction of our machines by 20-25%. Matt mentioned reliability as one of our main concerns because we have customers that rely completely on our systems. That's what we try to do - always have a reliable system that can give the customer the peace of mind that they need. We are now experimenting and have a panel of operations with NetPen systems, and I think so far, we've been successful. They've been working well, and we've been working on the troubleshooting and the integration of the machine. At OSI, a big part of our machines and our culture is for a customer to be able to integrate the oxygen generation machine into their control system so they can monitor, perform data analytics, and can do a much better assessment of the whole operation.'

An emerging trend in the aquaculture industry is the use of ozone and ozone generators. As a compliment to oxygen generators in RAS Systems, ozone is used to purify the water before it goes back to the ponds or the source water. The current issue in the industry, as Estupinan outlines, 'customers usually have to buy the oxygen generator from one supplier and an ozone generator from another. What we're trying at OSI is to make and offer a combined solution that has an oxygen generator and ozone generator understand generation. Part of the idea is the oxygen will be sent to the ozone generator and the part of it will be sent to the ponds to oxygenate the water.' Sjostrom added that a current major issue within RAS Systems is the offputs that come out of the water circulated within the system, and ozone is and will be an assisting element to help clean that water and keep the quality of the water high.

Check out the video linked below to see the whole conversation.

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Fish farming, also known as aquaculture, has become an increasingly popular method of producing seafood in recent years. This is due to the rise in demand for seafood and the rapid decline of wild fish populations. One of the biggest challenges facing fish farmers is maintaining the right level of oxygen in their ponds or tanks to keep their fish healthy and thriving. Oxygen is essential for the growth, health and well-being of fish, and a lack of it can result in disease, poor growth and even death.

As a solution to this problem, many fish farmers are turning to onsite oxygen generators to provide a reliable and sustainable source of oxygen for their fish. Gas generation technology is now more accessible than before, with generators to suit all levels of operations and budgets. Oxygen generators work by separating nitrogen and other impurities from the air to produce concentrated oxygen, which is then dissolved into the water. Oxygen generators are able to provide a reliable supply of oxygen to match your demand ensuring the survival and well-being of the seafood.

The benefits of an onsite oxygen generator for fish farming aquaculture are numerous:

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Oxygen Generator For Aquaculture. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

1.      Reliable, increased oxygen levels: An onsite oxygen generator provides a consistent and controlled flow of oxygen to the water, which improves the growth, survival, and health of fish. Higher dissolved oxygen content in the water allows for higher stock density and increases the average weight of stock significantly improving yields.

2.      Precise control: Another benefit of onsite gas generation is that it allows for the precise control of the gas composition in the aquaculture system. This is important because the exact amount of oxygen needed for the optimal growth and reproduction of aquatic animals and plants can vary greatly depending on the species, life stage, and water temperature.

3.      Cost Savings: One of the major benefits of onsite oxygen generation in aquaculture is the cost savings it can bring. By eliminating the need to transport oxygen from external sources, the cost of oxygenation can be reduced significantly. While the initial investment in an onsite oxygen generator may be higher, but the long-term cost savings from reduced energy costs and minimal maintenance make it a more cost-effective solution in the long run.

4.      Reduced energy consumption: The use of an onsite oxygen generator can also help to reduce energy costs. Traditional oxygen delivery systems can be energy-intensive, as they require large tanks and compressors to store and distribute oxygen. An onsite oxygen generator is more energy-efficient, producing oxygen on demand, reducing the need for energy-intensive storage and distribution systems.

5.      More environmentally friendly: Onsite oxygen generators also have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional methods of producing oxygen, especially if the site has a localised source of green energy. They use less energy as well as eliminate the need for regular transportation of gases, therefore, lowering emissions. This makes them an environmentally friendly option for fish farmers looking to reduce their environmental impact.

6.      Longer lifespan and reduced maintenance costs: An onsite oxygen generator requires very little maintenance and has a longer lifespan than traditional aerators. This results in lower costs for farmers and fewer interruptions in production.

7.      Improved water quality: An onsite oxygen generator helps regulate water conditions, including pH levels, temperature, and salinity. This results in a more stable and healthy environment for the fish.

8.      Reduced dependence on external power: An onsite oxygen generator does not require a constant power source, making it a reliable option for farmers in remote or off-grid locations.

9.      Ease of use: onsite oxygen generators are easy to use and maintain. They do not require specialised training or equipment and can be easily integrated into existing aquaculture systems. This makes them a convenient and cost-effective solution for fish farmers of all sizes.

In conclusion, an onsite oxygen generator is a game-changer for fish farmers looking to improve their aquaculture practices. It provides a reliable and efficient source of oxygen, reduces energy consumption, and helps improve the overall environment and water quality in fish ponds. This results in healthier fish, increased yields, and lower costs for farmers. Find out more about oxygen generation and aquaculture. 

About Gas Generation Australia

Gas Generation Australia offers innovative onsite gas generation solutions to the Australian industry and manufacturing. From packaged modular systems to custom-designed solutions, Gas Generation Australia provides an autonomous nitrogen or oxygen supply, where and when you need it most. Our wide range of PSA or membrane generators deliver optimal purity and reliable production volume.

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