Automated system of tubular filtration for rotifer production

Abstract

This study developed an automated filtration system for a selected rotifer, Brachionus ibericus. This system is controlled by a programmable logic controller, and it enables the high-density cultivation of marine rotifers and the selection of rotifers for palatability. We tested seven mesh sizes (300, 200, 100, 50, 20, 5, and 1 μm) for commercial 10-inch (25.4-cm) stainless steel tubular filters in the proposed system, after which we selected the optimal mesh size for filtering impurities, separating rotifers, eliminating wastewater, and minimizing the rotifer loss rate. The results indicated that a combination of the 5- and 200-μm meshes produced optimal filtration efficiency. After every 120 s of filtration followed by a 30-s flushing process, a rotifer density of 3170 ± 101 individuals/ml, a mesh blocking loss rate of 4.95 ± 3.62%, and impurity-free rotifer volume of 45.18 ± 1.2 L were obtained. Our study verified that tubular filters can be used in commercial aquaculture.