Flow-through and recirculating (RAS) life-support for research aquaria, holding tanks and mesocosms — mechanical and biological filtration, protein skimming, UV/ozone disinfection, oxygenation and temperature control, monitored and controlled end to end.
A life-support system (LSS) is the engineered environment around a research aquarium: it removes solids and dissolved wastes, controls pathogens, holds temperature and salinity, and keeps oxygen up and carbon dioxide and ammonia down — continuously and without harming the stock. Reynolds & Bauhm designs LSS for marine research holding, quarantine, broodstock and experimental mesocosms, choosing flow-through or recirculating architecture to match the species, the seawater quality available, and the facility’s discharge consent. Everything is instrumented so conditions are logged, alarmed and reproducible.
Drum filters, sand/media filters and fine screens remove uneaten feed, faeces and particulates — the first step that keeps the biology and UV working efficiently.
Moving-bed (MBBR) or trickling biofilters nitrify ammonia and nitrite to nitrate, the core of any recirculating system holding marine animals.
Biological TreatmentFoam fractionation strips dissolved organics and fine colloids that filtration misses — keeping seawater clear, lowering the UV/ozone load and stabilising pH.
UV (and optional ozone) controls bacteria, viruses and parasites between tanks for biosecurity and quarantine, dosed and de-gassed so residuals never reach the stock.
UV & OzoneTitanium heat-exchangers with chillers/heaters hold each system to its set-point — cold-water Scottish species or tropical stock alike.
Aeration, oxygen cones or low-head oxygenators maintain DO at high stocking density, with carbon-dioxide degassing to hold pH stable.
Aeration| Parameter | Typical basis | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| System turnover | 1–6 tank volumes/hour | Waste removal & DO maintenance |
| Mechanical filtration | 40–100 µm (drum), down to 10 µm polish | Solids & clarity |
| Make-up (RAS) | 1–10% of system volume/day | Dilutes nitrate & salts |
| UV dose | 40–100+ mJ/cm² | Pathogen control / quarantine |
| Dissolved oxygen | > 80–100% saturation | Stock health at density |
| Temperature | Set-point ± 0.5–1.0 °C | Species health & repeatability |
| Monitoring | DO, temp, pH, salinity, level, flow + alarms | Reproducibility & stock protection |
Give us your tank schedule, species and biosecurity needs — we’ll design and specify the complete life-support system, flow-through or recirculating, monitored and alarmed.
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