How Innovasea Helped Three Fish Farms Select Their Optimal UV Solution

As operators of land-based fish farms and hatcheries work to improve their water disinfection practices, many are turning to advanced ultraviolet (UV)water treatment systems for an effective, chemical-free solution to remove unwanted microorganisms and improve fish health. 

At Innovasea, we’ve partnered with BIO-UV a leader in UV and ozone water treatment disinfection systems to offer aquaculture sites advanced, tailored solutions. Through this collaboration, we’ve been able to design and deliver effective UV solutions that enable high water quality regardless of the farm’s setup or challenges.  

 Below are three examples of land-based fish farms and hatcheries that worked with Innovasea to install a new UV disinfection solution. Through close collaboration, we identified each site’s unique needs and leveraged our expertise to install the right UV solution.  

Disinfection for Live Feed and Larval Systems: Santomar

A leading regenerative aquaculture company, Santomar needed a better method for disinfecting the intake water that was entering both their live feed and larval systems for both red snapper and totoaba. They needed a solution that could offer finer disinfection without harming the rotifers, artemia and copepods that are essential to fish growth. 

Santomar worked with Innovasea to first determine the correct UV dosage that would destroy the unwanted pathogens without hurting the live feed organisms. Examining their setup, we recommended placing two systems – a larger one for the live feed setup and a small unit for the larval rearing – directly after their filtration to ensure effective sterilization. Following this assessment, we replaced their polyethylene UV system with BIO-UV’s HDPE alternative, which has proven to be more durable and reliable than its predecessor.  

Adding a RAS Component to a Flow-Through Facility: United States State Hatchery 

A multi-species US state hatchery recently added a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) to its flow-through facility where they grow cool water freshwater species. By recirculating parts of the water rather than relying on a continuous stream of new water, the hatchery could better regulate water temperature, especially during the coldest months, for more effective year-round growth. 

In adding a RAS component, the site required more powerful water sterilization to effectively remove the new pathogens associated with water reuse.  

Innovasea experts suggested adding a BIO-UV stainless steel system, which offered them a more cost-effective option than their current setup. The stainless-steel design proficiently reflected UV light, allowing them to achieve the right UV dosage with a lower initial amount – extending the life of their UV lamps. 

Transitioning From a Flow–Through System to a RAS System: Blue Ocean Mariculture

As the only commercial open-ocean fish farm in the United States, Blue Open Mariculture specializes in raising high-quality and sustainable Hawaiian kanpachi.  

Blue Ocean Mariculture was in need of an upgrade to their current broodstock system, which was experiencing issues with water quality, leaving their broodstock susceptible to contracting parasites and other harmful diseases.   

Innovasea advised moving from a flow through system to a complete RAS system to improve overall water quality and reduce their dependence on intake water. This would allow for better regulation and more effective sterilization.  As part of the transformation, Blue Open Mariculture required a new UV system – one specifically sized to remove unwanted pathogens.  

 Partnering with BIO-UV, Innovasea helped design the ideal UV sterilization system, with installation scheduled to be completed in 2025.  

Your Trusted Expert in UV Water Sterilization  

While each farm was experiencing different challenges to their aquaculture models, Santomar, the state hatchery and Blue Ocean Mariculture were all met with variations on the same solution: finding the right technology to effectively sterilize their water and keep their fish healthy and thriving.  

In each case, they leaned on  Innovasea’s  guidance and expertise to install the optimal solution for their farm.   

To learn more about how UV systems work, download our Ultimate Starter’s Guide to UV Systems.  

Ready to have a more personal discussion? You can speak directly with a trusted aquaculture expert at Innovasea.