Drum Filter for AquacultureHow to Size a RAS Drum Filter
Drum filter for aquaculture and RAS: what it does in a fish farm, where it sits in the loop, how to size it by flow and solids load, salt water considerations, and rinse water and sludge handling.
EQUIPMENT REFERENCESee the mechanism.
Understand the duty.
Select a route or a stage to inspect the process. The cutaway explains the equipment and water environment; it is a teaching illustration, not a project drawing.
Capture solids
Use actual flow, screen opening and solids duty.
Particles are retained as water crosses the screen. Dissolved contaminants require other treatment stages.
- Use actual flow, screen opening and solids duty.
- Confirm approved levels, wash supply and waste drainage.
- Observe a complete guarded cycle before changing settings.
Key takeaways
- In a RAS the drum filter removes solids first, before they rot and load the biofilter and the fish.
- Size it from the recirculation flow, then check the solids load and add a margin.
- Use enough units that one can be serviced without shutting the system down.
- Plan the rinse water, the sludge and the energy at the design stage, not afterwards.

Work with your own numbers.
Use the tools below to explore the relevant arithmetic. Enter measured values or declared assumptions. An estimate does not establish equipment capacity, biological performance or a safe operating limit.
Flow & turnover planner
Relate a measured water volume to a selected turnover time. Confirm the time from the application and hydraulic design.
Assumptions and limits
A planning allowance is your assumption. This calculation does not choose a filter, prove treatment capacity or account for pump head.
Feed & loading scenario
Translate a selected feeding rate and assumed waste yield into a planning load.
Assumptions and limits
The feeding rate and TAN yield are supplied assumptions. Use the species, feed, growth stage and verified process design; the estimate is not a Pureflow capacity rating.
Convert units before you calculate
Planning arithmetic · inputs remain visible for review · example values are not operating recommendations
Review the design at peak load
Use these questions to prepare a project brief or an operating review. Check an item only when the information has been recorded for your installation.
This checklist is a working aid in the current page session, not a saved maintenance record.