Aquaculture system

Year	Description
1992	Invention patented by Kenneth Reese, Dennis Rustad, and Curtis Reese on July 7th, 1992. Abstract: An aquaculture system comprising a water retaining aquaculture vessel with a bottom wall and side walls along with an air lift system being provided for aerating the water. Particulate material is removed from the bottom of the vessel through conventional extraction apparatus. In addition, a plurality of discrete open-cell foam substrate members are provided with substantial surface contact area for substantially continuous circulation through the aquaculture vessel, with the substrate members comprising an open cell foam member having a density of between about 1.1 to 1.7 pounds per cubic foot, and fabricated from a matrix material having a specific gravity of between about 1.8 and 2.2. The surface area as well as the bulk of the foam substrate members have typically between about 25 and 100 individual cells per inch. The aquaculture vessel is provided with water recirculation as well as introduction of oxygen into the water through recirculation or recycling of the foam substrate members. A filtration system is interposed in the water recirculation system in order to trap, isolate, and otherwise separate solid debris in the form of fecal material or the like from the recirculating (recycled) water.
1996	Invention patented by David E. Meilahn on April 16th, 1996. Abstract: An aquaculture system for growing aquatic animals such as fish and crustaceans is shown and described. A rigid-walled floating tank is positioned in a body of water, a volume of water being provided to the tank via a floating pump assembly that is positioned in the body of water external to the tank. An inlet of the pump assembly is movable and may be positioned in a desired location and depth of the body of water, such that clean water that is free of surface contaminants and that is at a selected temperature is provided to the tank. The introduction of new water to the tank displaces and discharges a volume of water from the tank, thereby renewing the oxygen source in the tank and removing dissolved waste products such as ammonia. Additional oxygen may be injected into the water at different locations via oxygen diffusers. The tank is designed to facilitate the collection of solid wastes in a bottom region of the tank, the solid waste being evacuated from the tank to be discharged from the system or treated, as desired. Multiple tanks are coupled together adjacent a central service platform which supports the various components of the aquaculture system, such that the system is independent of land and may be positioned at any desired location.
1999	Invention patented by Ian McRobert on March 17th, 1999. Abstract: Aquaculture system includes a plurality of tanks each capable of holding a volume of water and one or more marine animals. A separate liner is provided for each tank. Liners are attached along the upper peripheral edges to their respective tanks. Displacement system is used for selectively raising and lowering each liner by pumping air between outside surface of liners and inside surface of the tanks. As air is pumped in the liner it inflates and effectively balloons away from the inside surface of its tank. As this occurs, water within the tank is displaced and flows through a water transport conduit formed with each tank to beneath the liner. Accordingly, the liner is progressively raised from a lining position in which it sits inside its tank, to a lifted position in which it overlies the water with the tank. To return the liner to its lining position, the system is again operated this time to direct air into the conduit. When this occurs, air displaces water within the conduit lifting it onto an inside surface of the liner progressively lowering the liner back to its lining position. Channels provide fluid communication between the tanks. When the liner of one tank is raised, the marine animals held within that tank are effectively forced through one or more channels to another tank. With the liner in its lifted or inverted position, it can be easily cleaned. Filter is coupled to the tanks to allow filtering of the water during the lifting of a liner.
Source: selected by the editor from original sources.

Aquaculture system

Invention: Aquaculture system