nir-vana innovation network

The Singapore water technology startup offers an aquaculture solution made up of proprietary water treatment technology and engineering expertise, and based on the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS).

Water quality is the most critical factor in aquaculture systems. Different fish species and stages of fish growth have different optimum range within which they grow and reproduce. These water quality factors include pH, temperature, oxygen levels, salinity, and hardness.

The proposal is to develop ion-specific water quality similar to seawater for all major ions in water (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, sulphate and chloride). The solution is based on RAS with the following specifications:
- Automated and monitored by software system
- Pump system
- Machinery control

The proprietary process considers both the combined concentrations of Ca and Mg in water (water hardness) and the ratio of Ca to Mg. Sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate content are added, which inhibits biofilm and bacteria formation in water.

Typically, the ‘standard dilution water' for total hardness of 250 mg/L CaCO3; Ca:Mg ratio 4:1 is widely used in acute toxicity tests, based on recommendations by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Instead of basing the fishes' optimal growth on the standard issued, the Singapore SME aims to achieve the fishes' optimal growth with specified water parameters.

The Singapore startup has conducted detailed research to determine the optimum water conditions required for farming seabass from gonadal maturation & subsequent spawning, larval development, seabass juvenile and nursing. The company also evaluated the effects of total hardness of water and Ca2+:Mg2+ ratio on the early life stages of Rare Minnows, and found that while fertilisation rates were not affected by total hardness to 480 mg L-1 CaCO3, but egg size decreased with increasing total hardness. Emryos and larvae incubated in Mg2+- and Ca2+- deficient waters exhibited high malformation rates and high mortality.

So far, the company has achieved water parameters similar to quality seawater with minerals that provide abundant nutrients for aquaculture/fishery needs. The resulting algae/fish/shrimp are of higher quality, nutritious, have firmer and more tender texture than regular farmed seafood.

The technology has been proven and validated by the Centre of Innovation and Enterprise Singapore in January 2020. The Singapore SME plans to build a prototype for the rearing of food fish in seawater with Singapore's Aquaculture Centre of Innovation in February 2021.

The Singapore startup seeks to partner MNEs or SMEs of all sizes via licensing or commercial agreements with technical assistance.

Advantages & innovations

This technology overcomes the disadvantages of current recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) on small land area. It provides the potential to achieve intensive farming and increase yields through the precise control of different salinities and alkalinity by converting tap water to seawater, to suit the different seawater/freshwater fish growth stages. The following benefits are offered: - Correct dosing/continuous operation - Controlled concentration of products - Personnel safety - Cost effective - Low toxicity - Lower CO2 emissions - Convenient

Stage of development

Under development/lab tested

Partner sought

The Singapore startup is interested in the following types of partnerships with MNEs or SMEs of all sizes: i) Licensing agreement - The partner could license the technology to licensees who want to convert tap water into seawater for breeding seawater food fishes, such as seabass and grouper, or/and to commercial entities that can license and bring the end product to market. ii) Commercial agreement with technical assistance - The partner could be a nutritional company, which can utilise the technology with technical support from the Singapore startup. iii) Further technical cooperation can be explored if there are market opportunities to support the collaboration.