BASIC SIZING CRITERIA FOR

BIOFILTERS USED IN RECIRCULATING

AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS
by
Douglas G. Drennan II

Biofiltration is defined as:

A technique for pollution control using living
material to capture and biologically degrade process
pollutants.
A filtration method that uses bacteria to break down
waste by means of the nitrogen cycle
An emission control device that uses microorganisms
to destroy volatile organics compounds and
hazardous air pollutants.
Biofiltration is a pollution control technique using
living material to capture and biologically degrade
process pollutants.

RAS TYPICALLY UTILIZES FIXED FILM

BIOFILTERS
Rotating
Biological
Contactor
Trickling Filter

Emerged

Submerged Rock
Packed

Fixed Film
Biofilter

Plastic Packed
Bed
Shell Filters
Upflow Sand Filter

Submerged

Expandable

Floating Bead
Bioclarifier
Foam Filters
Fluidized Bed

Expanded

Malone and Pfeiffer, 2006

Downflow
Microbead Filter
Moving Bed
Bioreactor

EXAMPLES OF BIOFILTERS
BEAD FILTERS

EXAMPLES OF BIOFILTERS
POLYGEYSER BEAD FILTERS

EXAMPLES OF BIOFILTERS
MOVING BEAD BIOREACTORS (MBBRS)

EXAMPLES OF BIOFILTERS
FLUIDIZED BEADS

BIOFILTER SIZING

In its most basic form, all biofilters perform the same

function; the removal of toxic TAN from system
water.

Biofilters are typically sized based on either the

volumetric TAN conversion rate (g TAN m-3 filter d1), or the Areal TAN Conversion Rate (g TAN m-2
filter d-1).

There is no universally accepted methodology for

sizing and comparing biofilters.

CUSTOMER REQUIRED INPUTS

Physical Characteristics

Volume of System
Number of Systems
Flushing Rate
Flow Rate/Turnover per
Hour
Fish Species
Loading Regime

Broodstock
Display
Fingerling/Ornamental
Holding Purging
Growout

Loading & Water Quality

Max Weight of
Animals
Max Daily Feed Rate
Feed Protein Content
Max Operating TAN
Max Operating Nitrite
Max TSS
Temperature/Salinity
pH & Alkalinity Source
Water

MAX DAILY TAN PRODUCTION ESTIMATE

AST
13.63 g TAN/lbs feed-day * lbs feed * Actual Feed
Protein/35% (protein correction factor) = g TAN
Produced/day (29.99 g TAN/day) (3%)
Timmons and Ebeling, 2007
Kg feed/day * % Protein Content * 0.092 kg NH3 /kg
protein = kg TAN produce/day * 1000gm/kg = g TAN
Produced/day (32.20 g TAN/day) (3.2%)
Malone and Beecher 2000
30 g TAN/kg Feed-day * kg feed per day* Actual Feed
Protein/35% (protein correction factor) = g TAN
Produced/day (30 g TAN/day) (3%)
Losordo and Hobbs 2000*
Kg feed per day* Feed Protein* 651 (calibrated constant)
= g TAN Produced/day (22.75 g TAN/day)
1

Assumes 2.5% converted to TAN but gives citation for

2.0% to 3.5%

BIOFILTER PERFORMANCE IS TYPICALLY BASED

ON

The Volumetric TAN Conversion Rate (VTR), (g

TAN m-3 d-1) is the rate at which a biofilter can
remove TAN from a recirculating system based
on the volume of media within the filter.

OR

The Areal TAN Conversion Rate (ATR), (g TAN

m2 d-1) is the rate at which a biofilter can remove
TAN from a recirculating system based on the
surface area of the media within the filter.

VTR is be related to ATR through the specific surface

area of the media

VTR CALCULATION

QR TAN i TAN e
VTR
Vm

(Malone and Beecher 2000)

VTR =

Volumetric TAN Conversion Rate (gm m-3 d-1

Volumetric Flow Rate through Filter (m3 d-1)

TANi =

TAN Concentration Entering Filter (gm m-3)

TANe =

TAN Concentration Exiting Filter (gm m-3)

QR

Vm

Volume of Media within Filter (m3)

SAMPLE VTR-BASED SIZING PLOT

VTRmax A
VTR
kA A
Note: the data presented here
are hypothetical and are to be
used for explanatory purposes
only.

VTR =
VTRmax=
A
=
kA
=

Volumetric TAN Conversion Rate (gm m-3 d-1)

Maximum VTR (gm m-3 d-1)
TAN concentration (gm m-3)
Half-Saturation Constant (gm m-3)

BIOFILTER SIZING
Using

the VTR or ATR values, the volume

or surface area, of the filter can be
determined based on the previous
estimates of TAN generation

Vm = PTAN/VTR

Where Vm is the volume of media (m3) PTAN is

the mass of TAN produced in the system (g d-1)

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Factors
In-situ Nitrification
Flushing
Factors that Affect VTR/ATR
Trophic Level
Salinity
Temperature
Safety

SAFETY FACTORS
Safety factors protect the manufacturer and client
o Procedures between manufactures vary
o Be careful not to add safety factors on top of safety
factors.
o Safety factors ultimately increase capital cost but
mitigate risk.
o

AST procedures
Run the bead filter to the maximum sustainable
feed rate under laboratory systems (2.25 lbs/ft3media)
Divide by 1.5 1.5 lbs/ft3-media is the design load
Verify with commercial experience

IN-SITU NITRIFICATION

Defined as Nitrification that occurs in the tank

and on the walls of pipe in a RAS.

Can account for 30-70% of nitrification in a RAS

Vm = (1-Is) PTAN/VTR
Where Is=0.3 (conservative)

Is can be often neglected adding to the safety

factor

FLUSHING

Ammonia mass removal by flushing can be

defined as removal=Q*TANtank

Generally ineffective when TANtank <1 ppm-N

Generally neglected and adds a little to safety

factor

TROPHIC LEVELS

Limnologists classify lakes by trophic levels to

distinguish their level of nutrient enrichment
(Holum, 1977; Wetsel, 1983).

By analogy Malone and DeLosReyes (1997)

proposed that recirculating production systems
can be classified as Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic or
Eutrophic by the level of the waters enrichment
as driven by feed application rates and defined by
the water quality objectives

RECIRCULATING
SYSTEM
CLASSIFICATION

Oligotrophic
Warmwater

Freshwater

Mesotrophic
Eutrophic

Oligotrophic
Coldwater
Recirculating
Systems

Mesotrophic
Eutrophic
Oligotrophic

Warmwater

Mesotrophic
Eutrophic

Marine
Oligotrophic
Coldwater

Malone and DeLosReyes (1997)

Mesotrophic
Eutrophic

BIOFILTER CLASSIFICATION BASED ON TROPHIC

LEVEL
Water Quality Parameter

Oligotrophi
c

Mesotrophi Eutrophi
c
c

Broodstock

Fingerling/
Ornamental

Growout

Total Ammonia (mg-N/L)

<0.3

<1.0

<2.0

Nitrite (mg-N/L)

<0.3

<1.0

<2.0

Nitrate (mg-N/L)

<50

<200

<500

>6.0

>5.0

>4.0

Carbon Dioxide (mg/L)

<1.0

<5.0

<25

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mgN/L)

<5.0

<10

<20

Total Suspended Solids (mg-N/L)

<5.0

<15.0

<25.0

Loading Regime

Dissolved Oxygen
(mg/L)

Modified from Malone and DeLosReyes (1997)

SALINITY EFFECTS ON VTR/ATR

There have been some reports that salinity

adversely impacts nitrification rates.

There are definitely impacts on acclimation rates

for the nitrite oxidizing bacteria.

In ASTs experience the freshwater design values

used for design have been readily obtained in
saltwater applications but acclimation times are
extended.

TEMPERATURE EFFECTS VTR/ATR

Temperature has a predictable impact on

bacteria growth rates.

Biofilms tend to correct for slower kinetics in cold

waters by increasing the density of bacteria in
the film.

At AST we normally do not reduce VTR in our

sizing criteria until the temperature approaches
10oC however, acclimation times are greatly
extended and backwashing procedures may need
to be modified to avoid excessive biofilm removal.

DIFFERENCES IN SIZING METHODOLOGIES

Inclusion of In-Situ Nitrification

Inclusion of TAN flushed from system during

water changes

Differences inherent to filter used.

Fluidization velocities are required for fluidized beds,

but have no allegory in packed beds.