FISH

Commercial Facility Based on the University

of the Virgin Island’s Aquaponic System
Fact Sheet • September 2009

S ince the 1980s, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Agricultural
Experiment Station in St. Croix has been conducting research on recirculating
aquaculture systems (RAS). Much of the UVI research is conducted using a
commercial-size RAS that incorporates aquaponics. Aquaponics is the practice of
growing herbs and vegetables in water from a RAS system that has fish growing in
a connected tank. Through years of research, the staff at UVI has established an
aquaponics RAS that is made of easily procured material and is simple and efficient
to run. Using an eighth of an acre for production, the staff raises fish and produce
that is sold at a farm store located on campus. The system includes four fish tanks,
six hydroponic tanks and filtration tanks to support good water quality and growth
for both the fish and plants.
The four fish tanks are each 10 feet in diameter and four
feet high and hold 2,060 gallons of water. Each fish
rearing tank contains 22 airstones. The total volume for
the four fish tanks is 8,240 gallons. Each tank can hold
either 600 Nile tilapia or 1,200 red tilapia. The stocking
rate determines the final size at harvest for Nile tilapia
(1.8 lbs) and Red tilapia (1.1 lbs) after a 24-week growth
period. The fiberglass tanks cost $1,870 each, totaling
$7,480 (before shipping).

The six hydroponic tanks in this system are four feet wide,
100 feet long and 16 inches high, holding 3,000 gallons
each. The hydroponic tanks consist of a poured concrete
wall that is four inches thick ($7,000) and a plastic liner
to retain water ($2,751 including installation materials).
Each hydroponic tank contains 24 airstones. Polystyrene
rafts float on the surface of the water to support the plants,
which grow in containers (net pots) that are partially
submerged in the culture water. The six hydroponic tanks
hold a total of 72 rafts at one time. The rafts have varying
numbers of holes for the net pots depending on the plants
being grown; optimum planting density varies among the
different plant types ($2,922 includes rafts, net pots, paint
and templates). The estimated cost for constructing the
hydroponic tanks is $12,673.

The filtration components in the UVI aquaponic RAS

include two clarifiers, two pairs of filter tanks, a degassing
tank, a sump and a base addition tank. The clarifier is a
cylindrical tank with a cone at the bottom to collect solid
waste from the fish tanks ($3,984 for two clarifier tanks).
Solid waste is removed from the system in the form of
sludge by opening a valve in a drain line connected to
the bottom of the clarifier’s cone. Each pair of filter tanks
receives water from one of the clarifiers. The filter tanks
are rectangular and are loosely filled with three-quarter-
inch mesh orchard netting ($2,249 for four filter tanks
and the netting). The orchard netting catches fine solid
particles, which are removed from the system by staff
members manually washing the netting with a high-
pressure water spray once or twice a week. The degassing
tank receives water from the filter tanks. There are four
airstones in the center section of the degassing tank
to vent off-gases (carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen
sulfide and nitrogen) that are produced in the filter
tanks ($700 degassing tank). The sump is the lowest
point in the system and is the only tank that shows water
loss. If the water level decreases, a float valve opens
and adds new water to the system from a reservoir of
rainwater collected from a catchment ($396 sump tank
and float valve). The base addition tank is used for the
slow addition of potassium hydroxide (KOH), calcium
hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] and chelated iron (water soluble
form of iron) into the system. There is one airstone in the
base addition tank.
Potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide are added
in equal amounts on alternate days to the base addition
tank to maintain a pH of 7.0. Adding these bases provides
sufficient supplementation for potassium and calcium.
Chelated iron is added every 3 weeks at a rate of 2mg/
liter to prevent iron deficiency in the plants ($155 base
addition tank). The filtration components total $7,484.
Water movement and the addition of dissolved oxygen
are important for maintaining good water quality and
promoting fish and plant growth in aquaponic and RAS.
Two blowers (1 and 1.5 horsepower) are used to pump
air into the aquaculture system through 237 airstones
located in the fish, hydroponic, degassing tank and base
addition tanks ($3,730). The blowers and airstones add
dissolved oxygen to the water through the process of
diffusion. A 1/2 horsepower pump continuously recycles
the water by moving it through the system ($480).
PVC pipes and fittings are used to connect all of the
components of the system along with other miscellaneous
parts and supplies ($8,643). Pumping, aeration and
general supply needs total $12,853.
The total estimated construction costs of an aquaponic
RAS that can produce 11,000 pounds of tilapia and
approximately 37,800 heads of leaf lettuce a year is
$40,490 (excluding labor).
Many different varieties of crops can be grown in the
aquaponics system including: lettuce, endive, broccoli,
cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy,
cucumber, squash, melon, mint, basil, lavender, thyme,
dill, watermelon, spinach, chard, arugula, tomato,
pepper, onion, leek, garlic, chives, corn, beans, peas and
flowering plants.
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Copyright © September 2009 Food & Water Watch