Aquaculture system and methods for using the same
First Claim
1. A closed aquaculture system for maintaining and growing a single primary cultured species and secondary organisms essential to growth and survival of the primary species comprising(a) a tank for holding an aqueous medium, the primary species and any essential secondary organisms;
- (b) means for adding nutrients to the tank;
(c) means for selectively removing the aqueous medium from the tank;
(d) means for removing particulate matter from the aqueous medium removed from the tank;
(e) means for sterilizing the aqueous medium removed from the tank;
(f) non-biological means for removing toxins from the aqueous medium removed from the tank;
(g) means for bringing the aqueous medium removed from the tank to a steady state suitable for the growth and survival of the primary species; and
(h) means for returning the aqueous medium to the tank after the aqueous medium is treated by any or all of the means of components (d), (e), (f) and (g).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to apparatus and a method for maintaining and growing a primary cultured species and secondary organisms essential to the growth of the primary species in an aquaculture system in which the parameters which affect the maintenance and growth of the primary cultured species are carefully monitored and adjusted on a substantially continuous basis. The apparatus comprises a tank for holding an aqueous medium and the primary species, nutrient supply equipment, equipment for selectively removing the aqueous medium from the tank, apparatus for removing particulate matter from the aqueous medium removed from the tank, a sterilizer for sterilizing the aqueous medium removed from the tank, equipment for removing toxins from the aqueous medium removed from the tank without biological filtration, and a station with associated equipment for bringing the aqueous medium to a steady state suitable for the growth and survival of the primary species. Conduits, pumps and associated valving are provided for transferring the aqueous medium among the various treatment stations and for returning the aqueous medium to the tank after it has been treated by any or all of the foregoing treatment equipment.
109 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A closed aquaculture system for maintaining and growing a single primary cultured species and secondary organisms essential to growth and survival of the primary species comprising
(a) a tank for holding an aqueous medium, the primary species and any essential secondary organisms; -
(b) means for adding nutrients to the tank; (c) means for selectively removing the aqueous medium from the tank; (d) means for removing particulate matter from the aqueous medium removed from the tank; (e) means for sterilizing the aqueous medium removed from the tank; (f) non-biological means for removing toxins from the aqueous medium removed from the tank; (g) means for bringing the aqueous medium removed from the tank to a steady state suitable for the growth and survival of the primary species; and (h) means for returning the aqueous medium to the tank after the aqueous medium is treated by any or all of the means of components (d), (e), (f) and (g). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method for maintaining and growing a single primary cultured species comprising the steps of
(a) supplying the primary species to a tank containing an aqueous medium; -
(b) adding nutrients to the tank; (c) continuously removing portions of the aqueous medium from the tank for treatment until eventually all of the aqueous medium is removed from the tank; (d) removing particulate matter from the removed portion of the aqueous medium; (e) sterilizing the removed portion of aqueous medium to neutralize and remove nonessential secondary organisms from the removed portion; (f) removing toxins from the removed portion of aqueous medium without biological filtration; (g) bringing the aqueous medium removed from the tank to a steady state suitable for growth and survival of the primary species; (h) returning the aqueous medium to the tank after any or all of treatment steps (d), (e), (f) and (g) have been performed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification