ABSTRACT
Recirculatory aquaculture minimizes the amount of water and land needed. Greatly expands the opportunities to grow fish in geographic areas that are normally unsuitable to grow fish outdoors year-round. Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are the most complex aquaculture systems and beginners should plan on making a significant time commitment to learning how to operate a system. These systems are being deployed in developed countries such as the United States where coastal land costs and labor costs are very high. Feeding rate, feed composition, fish metabolic rate and quantity of wasted feed can all have a major detrimental impact on tank water quality and must be accounted for in the design and management of a RAS. Particulate removal is one of the most complicated problems in recirculating systems. Particulates come from uneaten feed and from undigested wastes. Fish management starts before the fish are introduced into the recirculating system. Starting with poor quality or diseased fingerlings almost ensures failure.
