Progress 10/01/06 to 04/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: OUTPUTS: Activities: Experimental activities concluded in late January 2012 with Mr. Todd Guerdat Graduate Research Assistant, completing his PhD research at a new Research Center near Marshallberg, NC and successfully defending his PhD dissertation. The experimental setups consists of a state of the art saltwater aquaculture waste research systems to compare biological and chemical methods for treating aquaculture waste to the capabilities of constructed wetlands. These systems continue in operation at the date of this report. During the reporting period, Dr. Losordo served as chair or a member of 3 graduate research committees. Events: Results from this project were described in the research section of the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference in February 2012 in New Bern, NC. Services: The results from this research project are extended to the business community via direct consultation with the agribusiness community in North Carolina. The design of a large scale recirculating aquaculture facility is being completed in 2012 and the facility utilized technology developed in this project. Marshallberg Farms, began operation in 2011 utilizing designs developed by this the investigators in this project. As part of our outreach effort, Dr. Losordo answered hundreds of telephone, email and in-person requests for information related to this project. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Thomas Losordo, (PI, NC State University) Scientific Director; Todd Guerdat(Graduate Research Assistant, NC State Univeristy) conducted research activities on marine waste treatment. Collaborators: Harry Daniels, NC State University; Wade Watanabe, UNC Wilmington; Partner Organizations: Amy Riedel (Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc) coordinated workshop in Florida; Keith Hairr, Owner, Carolina Flounder, LLC., Joe Doll, Managing Partner (LaPaz LLC), Valee Taylor, Owner (Taylor Fish Farm), Rob Ellis, Owner (Astor Farms). TARGET AUDIENCES: Results from this research have been targeted at audiences that include local, regional, national and international aquaculture producers, academics and agencies that have interest in recirculating systems or aquaculture waste management. Workshops on recirculating systems have been conducted at the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference in the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Additionally fact-sheets have been written and distributed via the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. Peer reviewed journal article and book chapters have also been developed and published. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: This is a Final Report. PARTICIPANTS: PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Thomas Losordo, (PI, NC State University) Scientific Director; Todd Guerdat(Graduate Research Assistant, NC State Univeristy)conducted research activities on marine waste treatment. Collaborators: Harry Daniels, NC State University; Wade Watanabe, UNC Wilmington; Kevan Main, Mote Aquaculture, Saratota, Florida. Partner Organizations: Amy Riedel (Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc) coordinated workshop in Florida; Keith Hairr, Owner, Carolina Flounder, LLC., Joe Doll, Managing Partner (LaPaz LLC), Valee Taylor, Owner (Taylor Fish Farm), Rob Ellis, Owner (Astor Farms, Dr. IJ Won, Owner (Marshallberg Farms). TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: Results from this research have been targeted at audiences that include local, regional, national and international aquaculture producers, academics and agencies that have interest in recirculating systems or aquaculture waste management. Workshops on recirculating systems have been conducted at the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference in the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Additionally fact-sheets have been written and distributed via the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. Peer reviewed journal article and book chapters have also been developed and published. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None, this is a termination report.
Impacts
For over 23 years the NC State Fish Barn program has been providing non-biased technical information to students, other researchers and citizens of North Carolina and other states and countries with regard to intensive production of fish in recirculating aquaculture systems. Through the programs listed above, we have taught a wide range of clients about the technologies developed within this project. As is typical for a year, one or two agribusiness persons begin to plan or implement this technology in commercial operations. This year saw one farm built, and several more farms beginning the planning stages. The results of the research conducted by the graduate students on this project have begun to influence the design of intensive fish farms within North Carolina. Mr. Guerdat has a journal article that was published in 2011. We believe that the results of both graduate research projects have had an impact locally, nationally and internationally. For example, upon graduation, Dr. Guerdat began working as an research specialist with the Aquaculture Systems Technologies, Inc. a large producer of cutting edge aquaculture components sold in the USA and used globally.
Publications
- Guerdat, T.C., T.M. Losordo, J.J. Classen , J.A. Osborne, and D.P. DeLong. (2011). Evaluating the effect of organic carbon on biological filtration performance in a large scale recirculating aquaculture system. Aquacultural Engineering (44) 10-18.
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: Experimental activities continued as part of two graduate student research programs. Mr. Rick Jones completed his work on the development of technology to remove fine and dissolved organic solids that contribute to off-flavor in the culture water of tank-raised sturgeon. Experiments comparing the effect of UV light, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide were conducted. Mr. Jones completed his Masters degree and described it in an MS Thesis titled: The Removal of Fine Particulates and Dissolved Organic Matter including the Off-flavor Compounds Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol from a Commercial Recirculating Aquaculture Facility. A manuscript has been prepared for publication in the first quarter of 2011. Similarly, Mr. Todd Guerdat is conducting PhD research at a new Research Center near Marshallberg, NC. The experimental setup consists of a state of the art saltwater aquaculture waste research system to compare biological and chemical methods for treating aquaculture waste to the capabilities of constructed wetlands. These systems have been operational for 9 months. During the reporting period, Dr. Losordo served as chair or a member of 4 graduate research committees. Events: Results from this project were included in materials presented in a two day short-course entitled Aquaculture Recirculating Technology presented in Hobart Australia in May 2010. Both projects were described in two presentations at the Austral-Asian Aquaculture Conference in Hobart Australia in May 2010. Additionally, the results to date were described in the research section of the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference in January 2010 in Atlantic Beach, NC. More than 20 groups or individuals were provided tours of the aquaculture facilities at NC State as part of this project. Services: The results from this research project are extended to the business community via direct consultation with the agribusiness community in North Carolina. The design of a large scale recirculating aquaculture facility was completed in 2009 and the facility was under construction in 2010. Astor Farms, in Charlotte, NC is scheduled to begin production in January, 2011. As part of our outreach effort, Dr. Losordo and Mr. Delong answered hundreds of telephone, email and in-person requests for information related to this project. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Thomas Losordo, (PI, NC State University) Scientific Director; Dennis DeLong,(Extension Specialist, NC State University, onsite project manager; Richard Jones, (Graduate Research Assistant, NC State University) conducts research on off-flavor compound removal; Todd Guerdat(Graduate Research Assistant, NC State Univeristy) conducted research activities on marine waste treatment. Collaborators: Harry Daniels, NC State University; Wade Watanabe, UNC Wilmington; Kevan Main, Mote Aquaculture, Saratota, Florida. Partner Organizations: Amy Riedel (Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc) coordinated workshop in Florida; Keith Hairr, Owner, Carolina Flounder, LLC., Joe Doll, Managing Partner (LaPaz LLC), Valee Taylor, Owner (Taylor Fish Farm), Rob Ellis, Owner (Astor Farms). TARGET AUDIENCES: Results from this research have been targeted at audiences that include local, regional, national and international aquaculture producers, academics and agencies that have interest in recirculating systems or aquaculture waste management. Workshops on recirculating systems have been conducted at the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference in the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Additionally fact-sheets have been written and distributed via the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. Peer reviewed journal article and book chapters have also been developed and published. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None at this time.
Impacts
For over 20 years the NC State Fish Barn program has been providing non-biased technical information to students, other researchers and citizens of North Carolina and other states and countries with regard to intensive production of fish in recirculating aquaculture systems. Though the programs listed above, we have taught a wide range of clients about the technologies developed within this project. As is typical for a year, one or two agribusiness persons begin to plan or implement this technology in commercial operations. This year saw two farms built, and several more farms beginning the planning stages. The results of the research conducted by the two graduate students on this project have begun to influence the design of intensive fish farms within North Carolina. Mr. Guerdat has a journal article that was published in 2010. We believe that the results of both graduate research projects will have an impact locally, nationally and internationally when completed. For example, upon graduation, Mr. Jones began working as an design specialist with the Water Life Design Group, a division of Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc. one of the largest aquaculture components and systems outlets in the USA.
Publications
- 1. Guerdat, T.C., Losordo, T.M. Classen, J.J, Osborne, J.A. DeLong, D.P. (2010). A large scale evaluation of commercially available biological filters for recirculating aquaculture systems. Aquacultural Engineering (42) 38-49.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: Experimental activities were carried out as part of two graduate student research programs. Mr. Rick Jones continued his work on the development of technology to remove off-flavor from the culture water of tank-raised sturgeon. Experiments comparing the effect of UV light, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide were conducted. Results will be available in the next reporting year. Similarly, as part of this project, Mr. Todd Guerdat built an experimental system at the new NC State Marine Aquaculture Research Center. The experimental setup consists of a state of the art saltwater aquaculture waste research system to compare (in triplicate) biological and chemical methods for treating aquaculture waste to the capabilities of constructed wetlands. Four class lectures to students based on materials developed in this project were presented over the reporting period (120 students attended). During the reporting period, Dr. Losordo mentored serving as chair or a member of 5 graduate research committees at NC State and UNC Wilmington. Events: Results from this project were included in materials presented in a two day short-course entitled Aquaculture Recirculating Technology held on the NC State campus on December 5 - 6, 2008 (30 persons attended). Similarly, a presentation that outlined some of the results from this project was presented at the 20th Annual North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference held in Atlantic Beach, NC on January 30, 2009 (250 persons attended). A two day workshop was held at Mote Aquaculture Park in Sarasota Florida on Sept. 18 and 19, 2009. Dr. Losordo presented materials developed by this project at this workshop (40 persons attended). More than 30 groups or individuals were provided tours of the aquaculture facilities at NC State as part of this project. Services: The results from this research project are extended to the business community via direct (free) consultation with the agribusiness community in North Carolina. The design of a large scale recirculating aquaculture facility was completed in 2008 and the facility was under construction in 2009. Taylor Aquafarms, began production in July 2009. Similarly, we are in the design phase of assistance to Mr. Rob Ellis, owner of Astor Farms. The Astor Farms facility will be the largest indoor fish farm in North Carolina upon completion. Dr. Losordo has served as a technical consultant to Mote Aquaculture since 2002. During this reporting period, he continued his efforts with Mote to design and develop a completely closed (zero discharge) Red Fish nursery. Dissemination: As noted above, a two-day shortcourse was presented in December 2008. As part of this outreach effort, a 120 page workbook that included powerpoint presentation notes, pertinent factsheet publications and a CD containing excel spreadsheet files containing tools for economic and engineering analysis. As part of our outreach effort, Dr. Losordo and Mr. Delong answered hundreds of telephone, email and in-person requests for information related to this project. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Thomas Losordo, (PI, NC State University) Scientific Director; Dennis DeLong,(Extension Specialist, NC State University, onsite project manager; Richard Jones, (Graduate Research Assistant, NC State University) conducts research on off-flavor compound removal; Todd Guerdat(Graduate Research Assistant, NC State Univeristy) conducted research activities on marine waste treatment. Collaborators: Harry Daniels, NC State University; Wade Watanabe, UNC Wilmington; Kevan Main, Mote Aquaculture, Saratota, Florida. Partner Organizations: Amy Riedel (Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc) coordinated workshop in Florida; Keith Hairr, Owner, Carolina Flounder, LLC., Joe Doll, Managing Partner (LaPaz LLC), Valee Taylor, Owner (Taylor Fish Farm), Rob Ellis, Owner (Astor Farms). TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: Results from this research have been targeted at audiences that include local, regional, national and international aquaculture producers, academics and agencies that have interest in recirculating systems or aquaculture waste management. Workshops on recirculating systems have been conducted at the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference in the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Additonally factsheets have been written and distributed via the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. Peer reviewed journal article and book chapters have also been developed and published. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None at this time.
Impacts
For over 20 years the NC State Fish Barn program has been providing non-biased technical information to students, other researchers and citizens of North Carolina and other states and countries with regard to intensive production of fish in recirculating aquaculture systems. Though the programs listed above, we have taught a wide range of clients about the technologies developed within this project. As is typical for a year, one or two agribusiness persons begin to plan or implement this technology in commercial operations. This year saw one farm built, and several farms beginning the planning stages. The results of the research conducted by the two graduate students on this project have begun to influence the design of intensive fish farms within North Carolina. Mr. Guerdat has a journal article in-press that will be available in 2010. We believe that the results of both graduate research projects will have an impact locally, nationally and internationally when completed.
Publications
- Li , S.H., Willits, D.H., Browdy , C.L., Timmons , M.B., Losordo, T.M. (2009). Thermal Modeling of Greenhouse Aquaculture Raceway Systems. Aquacultural Engineering, 41: 1-13.
- Losordo, T.M., DeLong, D.P, Guerdat, T.C. (2009), Advances in technology and practice for land-based aquaculture systems: tank-based recirculating systems for finfish production. Chapter 31 in: Burnell, G. and Allen, G (editors), New technologies in aquaculture: Improving production efficiency, quality and environmental management. Woodhead Publishing, Ltd, Cambridge, UK.
- Delong, D.P., Losordo, T.M, Rakocy, J.E. (2009) Tank culture of tilapia. United States Department of Agriculture, Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, Revised Publication No. 282.
- Hamlin , H.J., Michaels, J.T., Beaulaton , C.M., Graham , W.F. Dutt , W., Steinbach , P., Losordo, T.M., Schrader , K.K. Main, K.L. (2008). Comparing denitrification rates and carbon sources in commercial scale upflow denitrification biological filters in aquaculture. Aquacultural Engineering, 38: 79-92.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research was conducted in the development of a completely closed recirculating marine aquaculture system. Black Sea Bass were grown for 265 days in a completely closed system. Data were collected on the water quality within the culture system and within the waste treatment system. The preliminary results of this study were presented at the Australasian Aquaculture Conference in Brisbane Australia in 2008. A publication will be developed when the results have been completely analysed. Research has also been conducted on the effects of organic carbon loading on the performance of three state-of-the-art nitrifying biofilter designs in intensive freshwater recirculating aquaculture systems is being tested. Biofilters have been evaluated in baseline conditions and loaded with total organic carbon. Results of this study have been presented at the annual meeting of the World Aquaculture Society, the biannual meeting of the Asian Pacific Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society and 2 two-day workshops in North Carolina and Australia. Additionally, an two manuscripts reviewing the results of this work have been submitted to the Journal Aquacultural Engineering. Knowledge gained in this project has also been used in the design of large scale aquaculture facilities in North Carolina and an aquaculture laboratory in Florida. The effect of salinity on biofilters will be conducted in the spring of 2009. PARTICIPANTS: PARTICIPANTS:Individuals: Thomas Losordo, (PI, NC State University) Scientific Director; Dennis DeLong, (Extension Specialist, NC State University, onsite project manager; Richard Jones, (Research Technician, NC State University) onsite technical assistant; Todd Guerdat (Graduate Research Assistant, NC State Univeristy) conducted research activities on this project. Collaborators: Harry Daniels, NC State University; Kevan Main, Mote Aquaculture, Saratota, Florida. Partner Organizations: Amy Riedel (Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc) coordinated workshop in Florida. Flounder: Individuals: Harry Daniels, (PI, NC State University)Scientific Director, Ryan Murashige (Research Technician, NC State University) onsite project management, Robin Sanderson, (Research Technician, NC State University) onsite project management. Collaborators: Wade Watanabe, University of NC Wilmington Russell Borski, NC State University John Godwin, NC State University. Partner Organizations: Keith Hairr, Owner, Carolina Flounder, LLC Golden LEAF Foundation. TARGET AUDIENCES: State, National and international aquaculture producers using recirculating systems. Workshops on recirculating systems at the North Carolina Aquaculture Conference and with a cooperators in other states and with numerous agencies in other countries. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Water quality within the Black Sea Bass system improved during the growth trial as the waste treatment system was modified to correct for operational flaws. By the end of the growth trial, water returning to culture system was of excellent quality. For the biofiltration work, baseline freshwater nitrification tests were completed earlier in 2007 for the three types of filters. During these evaluations, total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements were taken. A dosing pump system was installed and a solution of sugar was pumped into the system to simulate an increased organic carbon load. This study was completed and the nitrification of all biofilters were significantly affected by an increase in TOC concentration of 25%. The TOC concentration was increased further to determine the effect of very high TOC loads. This addition reduced nitrification rates by 50 - 70%. In fact, studies on the fluidized bed filters were ceased when the fluidized sand bed began to vary in expansion from complete collapse to uncontrollable expansion. The impact of the information generated in this study to date clearly indicates thresholds of organic carbon loading beyond which the nitrification rates in all biofilters tested are not stable.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The studies proposed for this project are ongoing. New systems to treat reused water in aquaculture and end of pipe treatment systems for effluents are being developed. Both freshwater systems and marine systems are being investigated. The project creating new water reuse technology has been part of a MS graduate degree program. As such, this project has provided an opportinuty for learning at the graduate level. Results from this project have been presented in writing and by an oral presentation by the student in a research seminar in his academic department. Ongoing findings from these studies have been presented at workshops in NC and Florida. Knowledge gained in this project has been used in the design of a large scale aquaculture facility in North Carolina and an aquaculture laboratory in Florida.
PARTICIPANTS: Biofiltration: Individuals: Thomas Losordo, (PI, NC State University) Scientific Director; Dennis DeLong,(Extension Specialist, NC State University, onsite project manager; Richard Jones, (Research Technician, NC State University) onsite technical assistant; Todd Guerdat (Graduate Research Assistant, NC State Univeristy) conducted research activities on this project. Collaborators: Harry Daniels, NC State University; Wade Watanabe, UNC Wilmington; Kevan Main, Mote Aquaculture, Saratota, Florida. Partner Organizations: Amy Riedel (Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc) coordinated workshop in Florida; Keith Hairr, Owner, Carolina Flounder, LLC.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Results from this research have been targeted at audiences that include local, regional, national and international aquaculture producers, academics and agencies that have interest in recirculating systems or aquaculture waste management. Workshops on recirculating systems have been conducted at the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference in local county extension programs, and with a private sector cooperator in Florida (Aquatic EcoSystem, Inc.).
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None to date.
Impacts
Results from these studies have directly impacted how a large scale fish farms in North Carolina are designed. The end of pipe treatment system that has been the outcome of this research has been recognized at a Best Management Practice by agencies in North Carolina and is being implemented as such on new farms and existing farms through the North Carolina cost share program. Two new recirculating aquaculture farms in North Carolina have had water reuse systems designed using information from the results of this research. A research facility in Jacksonville North Carolina, operated by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, has both a water reuse system and end of pipe treatment system that was designed based on the information that resulted from this project.
Publications
- Saliling, W.J.B., Westerman, P.W., Losordo, T.M. (2007). Wood chips and wheat straw as alternative biofilter media for denitrification reactors treating aquaculture and other wastewaters with high nitrate concentrations. Aquacultural Engineering 37: 222-233.
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