Biofilter Decisions

Daniel Miller
dmille31@wvu.edu
Florida A&M University
Farmer to Farmer
Program
Stellenbosch, South

Objectives
After participating in this discussion you will
be able to:
Determine the amount of biofiltration (size)
required for a given recirculating system.
Predict daily ammonia production.
Speak the language (of engineers)
List and describe 3 types of waste
List and describe 3 types of water
treatment
Describe 3 types of biofilters
Discuss how to minimize waste.

Questions to determine
biofilter size

How much high quality commercial feed / day?

What is the protein level of the feed?
How much surface area is needed for biofilter?
How much volume is available?
What is the operating temperature (max/min)?
What type of media will be used?
What is the daily NH4 conversion rate of the
media?

Biofilter Terminology
Specific surface area: (m/m) is the
area the nitrifying bacteria has
available per unit of volume.
Hydraulic loading rate: (m/m/day) is
the volume of water moving through a
biofilter per unit of cross-sectional area
per day.
Void space: is the % volume of biofilter
not occupied by media

Fluidized bed
sand
filter
Fluidized bed sand filter:

Fluidized bed biofilters are

simple, extremely compact,
self-cleaning, quiet and easy to
use. very high surface area :
volume ratio (good)
TIP: Should be designed by an
engineer.
Requires careful selection of
sand size to avoid blowout of
particles, which become lighter
with biofloc attachment.

Trickle filter
Removes carbon dioxide
Increases oxygen
Specific Surface area:
100 to 300 m/m
Low efficiency in cool water
Open at top & bottom
Works well in low loads
with variable feeding rates.

Rotating biological
contactor (RBC)

Air or water can rotate the media

Self cleaning
Minimal hydraulic head to operate
Specific Surface area: 250 m/m
Can become very heavy with time.
Rotation: 1.5 to 2.0 per minute
Adds oxygen and removes CO2

Ammonia conversion rates are

greatly influenced by temp*.
Fluidized bed sand
filter: Volume of
media (m)
500 - 800 m/m
<20C = 0.65
kg/m/day
>25C = 1.25
kg/m/day

Trickle filter:
Surface area of media
100 - 300 m/m
15-20C 0.2-1.0
g/m/day
>25C 1.0- 2.0
g/m/day

* Timmons and Ebling (2007) Recirculating Aquaculture

EXAMPLE - 1
Water temp: 15C
Max. feeding rate 172 kg/day (42p/20f :
high quality pellet)
Biofilter : Trickle filter
Biomedia: 245 m/m
Conversion rate: 0.20 g/m/day*
172 kg feed/day (x 3%) = 5.16 kg NH3
1 exchange per 4 days (new water) = 4 kg
NH3

CALCULATIONS -1
4.0 kg NH3 will require how much
nitrification area?
Divide by 0.0002 kg NH3/m/day
Result: 20,000 m of surface area.
Divide by 245 m/m = 81.6 m of
biofilter

EXAMPLE - 2
Water temp: 15C
Max. feeding rate 172 kg/day (42p/20f :
high quality pellet)
Biofilter : Fluidized bed sand filter
Biomedia: sand (graded)
Conversion rate: 0.6 kg/m/day
172 kg feed/day (x 3%) = 5.16 kg NH3
1 exchange per 4 days (new water) = 4
kg NH3

CALCULATIONS - 2
4.0 kg NH3 will require how much
volume?
Divide by 0.6 kg/m/day = 6.6 m of sand
Compare efficiencies per volume:
81.6 m versus 6.6 m shows that the
fluidized bed sand filter is 12.3 times
more efficient per unit area than the
trickle filter at 15 degrees C.

Production losses / Growth

loss occurs when:

Oxygen levels drop below 5 mg/l (ppm)

CO2 levels exceed 25 mg/l (ppm)
Ammonia levels exceed 0.03 mg/l (ppm)
Solids are not removed from system
quickly
Biofilter media becomes clogged.

Wastewater Treatment
Options
Primary (settleable solid removal)
Settling ponds (large particles)
Sediment traps
Microscreens (>60 microns)
Filters: drum, bead, sand ,
Secondary (suspended / dissolved waste
removal)
Foam Fractionators (<30 microns)
Constructed wetlands
Hydroponics (SRAC # 454)

Wastewater Treatment
Options
Tertiary (pathogen removal)
Chlorine and sodium thiosulfate
(removes Cl-)
Ozone
Ultraviolet radiation (UV)

Waste Minimization in
Aquaculture is critical and
economical
Choose high energy extruded formulas
for feed.
Good Feed handling and feeding
practices.
Design factors for rapid concentration
and removal of solid waste.
Hand feed and other methods work well.

How do you minimize

waste?

Research shows that high energy feeds (42%

protein, 20% fat) can reduce solid waste versus
the standard ration (38:12).
The extrusion process pre-cooks the feed to
allow for higher absorption and lower amounts
of solid waste, buy high energy extruded feeds.
Routinely check feeders for proper adjustment.
Hand feed carefully, record daily feed used.
Design for best water flow (settle-concentrate-remove
solids)

Handle feed bags with care.

Forms of Waste
Metabolic Waste (solid and dissolved)
Chemical Waste (dissolved)
Pathogenic Waste (biological)
Dissolved Waste: phosphorus, BOD, COD,
nitrogenous waste is toxic to fish (NH 3, N02)
Each of these are a result of feed inputs.
Solid Waste: fish, feces, algae, & bacteria
will contribute to dissolved waste. By
reducing solid waste, dissolved waste will
also be reduced.

Metabolic Waste:
dissolved /suspended
Approximately 30% of the feed will
become solid waste. Avoid pumping solid
waste!
Quick concentration and removal from
system is required (design, flow control).
Good feed handling, storage, and routine
on farm will reduce dust particles.
Size of waste matters: fragmentation
causes leaching of nutrients and
increases settling rate. Avoid pumping
solid waste!

Cornell-type dual drain

For rapid concentration and removal of solids

Low volume (5%) High solids center drain

High volume (95%) Low solids side drain

How to Dispose of Waste?

Permitted Land Application
Composting: Combine with wood chips
or saw dust to attain a C:N ratio of 30:1
Requires aeration, layering, monitoring
with thermometer (60 C for 3-4 days)
Constructed Wetlands (dissolved
waste)
Neutralize pathogens with ozone,
chlorine, or ultraviolet radiation (UV).

Denitrification in Recirculating systems

Removing nitrate (NO3) to N (gas)
Technology is improving
Consult a bio-engineer for
design limits.
Used for sensitive species