Patent ID: 8506811

Claim:
A process for growing crustaceans or other fish in a recirculated marine aquaculture system, comprising the steps of: housing crustaceans or other fish in a container containing a body of water, said container generally having a bottom and a side extending upward to a top edge located above an upper surface of the body of water, said body of water comprising a floc of beneficial bacteria for controlling at least one of organic matter, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in the body of water; removing a portion of the body of water from said container for treatment; cavitating said portion of water to strip at least one of a biological byproduct and carbon dioxide from said portion of water; mixing said portion of water with air for oxygenation thereof; returning said portion of water to the body of water within said container; removing a second portion of the body of water from said container; moving said second portion of water to a deflocculation tank, the deflocculation tank comprising a floor and sidewalls extending upward from the floor to define a cavity for receiving said second portion of water, an inlet in the sidewall near the floor of the deflocculation tank to receive the second portion of water, an outlet elevated from the inlet to return the second portion of water, a first column extending upright within said cavity, the first column having a bottom and a top opening with a passageway extending therebetween, the bottom of the first column being sealably attached to the floor of the deflocculation tank; moving the second portion of water into said cavity through said inlet of the deflocculation tank, the second portion of water having a head pressure; directing the second portion of water from the inlet to the top opening of the first column to flow in a toroidal pattern around the first column within the cavity for a sufficient period of time to reduce the relative proportion of floc of beneficial bacteria; and returning said second portion of water to the body of water within said container.