I have to post this up, some members of the forum have been asking questions, and people coming to the shop have been commenting so I guess I won't be able to keep it under wraps for much longer.

For a few months now I've been working on the design of a commercial size system and finally it's come to fruition. Based loosely around the UVI model, with some ideas from Friendlies in Hawaii, as well as Dr Savidov's latest research trials, and a few major twists of my own, the system seems to be working fairly well. Of course there's a long way to go yet, the system's only been running for a little over a week, and was stocked with trout on Friday, but already the plants are starting to grow, and the fish are happy and very hungry.

This back area of the shop display area was wasted space. It really needed to be put to use.


There's a fair bit of work in clearing the area though.


We had to get tree loppers in to remove a number of large trees, and quite extensive earth works were done to level the area.

Many trials and tribulations went into the construction of both the shelter and the system with it's associated infrastructure, but with a concentrated effort by many people, it all came together nicely in the end.


Each channel has over 1100 plants, the second channel planting will be finished early next week.



The business end of things is all under cover, with 2 x 5000L fish tanks we expect to have a stocking density of close to half a ton, 250 kg in each tank.



Of course stocking densities this high need a lot of oxygen. The system uses more power in air pumping than it does water pumping.



We've stocked 300 trout into one of the tanks so far, we'll be putting another 200 into the same tank soon, and stocking the other tank with silver perch in the coming weeks.

WOW

Absolutely awesome, just off to have a chat to the wife........

Glad to see it all up and running ... keep us up to date with pics of the growth please...

And some detail regarding the swirl filters etc... ???

You mean you want the intricate details of how it all works?

Looks great
How do these systems work. In a standard flood and drain system you use medium to grow bacteria and change Am to Nitrate for the plants. What does this in the raft system use to change the Am to nitrate.
sorry for my ignorance

Of course.... ...

Nah... proprietry details not expected... just an overview and maybe a couple of shots...

The rest I'll get from you via PM...

Bacteria grows on surface areas within the system, on the roots of the plants, in the channel, on the underside of the foam, in pipes, and components etc...

System will have zero waste, or at least very close to it, will have to wait for results of the first grow out within the next 6 months. Solids are removed temporarily via swirl separator, then broken down in a biodigester. Nutrient rich water from the biodigester is added back into the plant trough periodically, while the main flow of water in the channels comes directly from the separator.

so what is the price tag on such a feat ????

Nice. Give me something to do with the backyard.

Wow! Lots i'll bet!

Even more excuse for a visit to the shop next time I'm in Perth

Nice

Lot of research and trials before investing that big.
Now you are getting really serious.

Great effort.
Gee, and I thought the shop was impressive before this!

What sort of bio-digester is being used for the solids? Can ya share more info on that and do ya sell them?