Application of rotary drum filters on aquaponics

In the development process of sustainable agriculture, the aquaponics system, as an innovative ecological cycle model, is gradually receiving widespread attention. This system skillfully combines aquaculture and hydroponic cultivation and realizes the mutually beneficial symbiosis among fish, plants, and microorganisms through the action of microorganisms. In the aquaponics system, the management of water quality is crucial, and the rotary drum filter plays an indispensable role as an efficient water purification equipment.

The core principle of the aquaponics system is to utilize the ammonia nitrogen produced by fish excretion, through the transformation of nitrifying bacteria, into nitrate that can be absorbed by plants, providing nutrients for plants. At the same time, plants absorb nutrients and purify water through the root system, which in turn creates a good living environment for fish. However, with the increase in the number of farmed fish and the passage of time, the solid waste and impurities in the water will continue to accumulate, if not treated in time, these substances will decompose and produce harmful substances, affecting the water quality, which in turn threatens the healthy growth of fish and plants.
The rotary drum filter is designed for this problem. Its working principle is based on physical filtration, through the rotation of the drum, the solid particles in the aquaculture water body will be retained on the surface of the filter. The drum is usually made of stainless steel or high-strength plastic, and the aperture of the screen can be selected according to the actual needs, generally between 50 - 200 microns, which can effectively filter out the larger particles of impurities such as bait and feces. When the rotating drum rotates to a certain position, the high-pressure water nozzle will flush the filter mesh and flush the retained solids into the collection tank, thus realizing the automatic cleaning of the filter mesh and the collection of solid wastes and ensuring the continuous and efficient operation of the filter.

The application of rotary drum filters in aquaponics systems has many significant advantages. First of all, it can efficiently remove the suspended solids in the water body, greatly reducing the burden of the subsequent biological treatment process and improving the purification efficiency of the whole system. Secondly, the rotary drum filter has a high degree of automation and simple operation, which reduces the workload and cost of manual maintenance. Moreover, its small footprint is ideal for aquaponics farms with limited space. In addition, removing solid waste promptly reduces the generation and accumulation of harmful substances, reduces the risk of fish disease, improves the survival rate and growth rate of farmed fish, and also provides a cleaner and more stable growing environment for plants, promoting their healthy growth.
In practical application, rotary drum filters can be reasonably configured according to the scale and water quality requirements of the aquaponics system. For small home aquaponics installations, small rotary drum filters can be selected for simple installation and low operating costs. For large-scale commercial aquaponics farms, it is necessary to equip rotary drum filters with stronger processing capacity and combine them with other water purification equipment to form a complete water quality treatment system.

With the increasing concern for sustainable agriculture and ecological protection, the development of aquaponics systems is very promising. As the key equipment in the aquaponics system, the technology of rotary drum filter is also being constantly innovated and improved. In the future, we are expected to see the emergence of more efficient, energy-saving and intelligent rotary drum filters, which will provide stronger support for the development of aquaponics industry and promote sustainable agriculture to a new height. Through the perfect combination of rotary drum filter and aquaponics system, we can realize the recycling of resources and create a greener, more environmentally friendly and efficient agricultural production mode.