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3D model of a RAS fry farm
Design · equipment · launch

RAS hatchery and fry farms

We design and launch farms for fry, smolt and large juveniles: we calculate the technology, select equipment, perform installation, launch and support.

15 years
in the industry
60+
launched farms
100+
designed farms
Quiz
Short answer

RAS hatchery and fry farm is a fish farm format designed for a specific site, water source, production capacity and target market. The pool layout, water treatment, oxygen system, automation and auxiliary zones are calculated together, not selected as unrelated equipment. For hatchery and fry systems, stage separation, biosecurity, stable water, precise feeding and low-stress handling are critical.

4 questions + contact

Choose the format of the fry farm to suit your task

We'll tell you which scenario and scale may suit your task. You don’t need to know the exact power and budget.

What do you already have?
For what purposes is it planned to build a farm?
What type of investment are you considering?
What do you want to get in the first step?
Leave your contact - we will help you navigate the format, budget and next step
Even if you don’t yet know the exact power or format of the farm, that’s okay. We will help you figure it out from the first steps.
Application accepted

We will contact you and help you determine the appropriate format for your fry farm.

Young trout at the RAS farm
Promising direction

Why is the fry direction chosen for RAS?

Fry and juveniles are seeding material, the demand for which is often higher than for marketable fish: the cycle is shorter, money turns around faster, and the quality of the batch can be controlled independently.

High demand

Whitebait is often in greater demand than commercial fish - planting material is needed both by farms and for stocking water bodies with fish.

Fast turnover of money

Unlike commercial fish, where the growth cycle can be more than 12 months, fry are ready for sale from 2-3 months after stocking.

Status proceedings

A modern fry farm is perceived as a strong technological production - it is pleasant to show it to partners and investors.

In-house quality control

Unlike buying fry from the outside, you are confident in the quality of the seedlings grown on your own.

An engineering system, not a “fish pool”

How does the RAS system technically work?

Closed water circulation cycle. Click on a circuit node to see how it works.

Growing technology

RAS fry farm

A RAS fry farm is a farm for producing high-quality planting material under controlled conditions and reusing water. Compared to commercial farming, this direction requires more precise control of the environment: in the early stages, fish are especially sensitive to deviations in water parameters.

High-quality planting material

Not only volumes are important, but also survival rate, batch uniformity, fry health and readiness for cultivation or transportation.

Precise environmental control

The early stages are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, oxygen, ammonia and suspended matter - the parameters remain stable.

Biosafety and redundancy

A reserve of critical nodes, separation of cultivation stages and convenient sorting reduce risks in the early stages.

According to the type and task

Own provision of planting material, sale of fry, stocking or reproduction programs.

The “Technology” section describes in detail the stages of cultivation and the logic of block layout: incubation → larva → starting feeding → rearing.

Go to the "Technology" section →
What is included in the project

Composition of a fry farm

The farm includes incubation, larval block and fry rearing, mechanical cleaning and biofiltration systems, oxygenation, automation and batch preparation areas for shipment. The composition is selected according to the type of fish, the required weight and the tasks of the farm.

1. Main (fish farming) blocks

  • Incubation block — incubators/devices, water preparation for incubation, sanitary regime
  • Larval block — trays, baths and small containers for hatching and the first day, starting content
  • Live food block - brine shrimp and live food, if required by species - more often for sturgeon (optional)
  • Fry block (growing up) — containers and pools by weights, sorting and transplanting, automatic feeding
  • Pre-sale preparation and shipment — batch holding, packaging with oxygen, shipping area

2. RAS core - water treatment

  • Mechanical cleaning - drum filter
  • Biofiltration — biofilter/bioreactor
  • Gas mode — degassing, CO₂ removal if necessary
  • Oxygen / aeration - oxygenation, generator or liquid O₂, distribution
  • Pumping/hydraulics — collectors, fittings, redundancy
  • Instrumentation and automation — sensors, alarms, parameter log
  • Wash water and sludge unit - collection, sediment, drain

3. Auxiliary zones

  • Quarantine block
  • Warehouse of feed and consumables
  • Control room/lab - working area of the fish farmer
  • Technical room — electrical, air, oxygen, heating and climate

The live food block is connected according to the type of fish - most often it is needed for sturgeon. The composition and redundancy of units are set according to the target survival rate and batch homogeneity.

Expertise in detail

Why does a fry farm require
separate design

More stringent water requirements

In the early stages, fish are more sensitive than commercial fish to ammonia, suspended matter, temperature and oxygen - tolerances on water parameters are stricter, and the calculation of the biofilter and water exchange is critical.

Adjusting cycles for release

The production plan and growing cycles are adjusted to the timing of the release of fry into reservoirs, the stocking season and the spring-autumn supply model.

Clear division of blocks

The incubator, larval and fry blocks are divided by zones, regimes and biosafety: “dirty” operations should not contaminate the incubation and larvae.

Other approaches to line design

Trays, larval tanks and fry racks are designed differently than commercial tanks - for frequent sorting, transplanting, washing and the ergonomics of the fish farmer.

Number order

Basic Economics of a Fry Farm

Guidelines for cost, price and payback. Exact indicators are calculated individually for the site, region, scale and sales model.

Cost
$0.19–$0.5 /piece
Wholesale price
$0.3–$0.9 /kg
Retail price
$0.6–$1.9 /piece
Payback
from 2 years
Fry and juveniles — short cycle and fast turnover: from stocking to shipment 2–3 months. The exact indicators depend on the type of fish, output sample, temperature conditions and planting scheme.
How much to invest and what scale

Model range of fry farms

Guidelines for the initial selection of scale. The exact budget, equipment composition, profit and payback are calculated individually.

RAS fish farm visualizationStart
Power10-20 t/year
Area400-900 m²
Equipmentfrom $90k-$160k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $340k-$540k
Profit/year$80k-$240k
Paybackfrom 2.5-3 years
RAS fish farm visualizationBusiness
Power50-100 t/year
Area1,500-3,500 m²
Equipmentfrom $320k-$560k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $1M-$1.9M
Profit/year$300k-$850k
Paybackfrom 2.5 years
RAS fish farm visualizationIndustrial
Power200 t/year
Area4,000-5,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $1M
Turnkey + constructionfrom $2.8M
Profit/year$1.1M-$1.8M
Paybackfrom 2 years
RAS fish farm visualizationMega
Power500 t/year
Area8,000-10,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $2.1M
Turnkey + constructionfrom $7.6M
Profit/year$2.1M-$3.3M
Paybackfrom 2.5 years
RAS fish farm visualizationBusiness
Power500-1,000 kg/year
Area1,000-1,800 m²
Equipmentfrom $220k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $580k-$940k
Profit/year$180k-$410k
Paybackfrom 5 years
RAS fish farm visualizationIndustrial
Power3 tons/year
Area3,000-4,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $570k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $1.9M
Profit/year$600k-$940k
Paybackfrom 5 years
RAS fish farm visualizationMega
Power5 tons/year
Area5,000-7,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $940k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $3M
Profit/year$1M-$1.6M
Paybackfrom 4.5 years

In the model designation, the first number is the sample of fry at the outlet (g), the second is the productivity in thousand pieces per cycle. * "Avg./year" — average for the year with a spring-autumn stocking model. Indicators depend on the type of fish, weight, temperature conditions and planting scheme. The exact budget, equipment composition, profit and payback are calculated individually.

Building for RAS farm
Do you have a site?

Do you have a plot or building? Check if it is possible to place a fry farm there

At the first stage, it is important to understand the area, water, electricity, logistics and engineering constraints - in order to assess how much power can be accommodated.

You may not know the exact parameters - a general understanding is enough, we will clarify the details during a call.
About Aquafarmer

Aquafarmer - we have been designing and launching RAS fish farms for 15 years

We design, complete, install and launch RAS fish farms for sturgeon, trout, African catfish and other types of fish.

15 years
in the industry
60+
launched farms
100+
designed farms
2
species: sturgeon and trout

Our task is not just to sell equipment, but to help create a working farm: from calculating technology to installation, launch and maintenance.

Fish farming complex Aquafarmer
Anton Pelcher in production
Personal brand and expertise

Anton Pelcher - founder and expert of Aquafarmer

“I have been involved in RAS fish farms and RAS technologies for more than 15 years - from the product line to expert assessment of projects and approach to hatchery and fry farms.”

Thanks to public expertise, a YouTube channel and open content, you can see our approach in advance, understand how we carry out projects, and figure out who you will work with.

Real fry examination

Implemented fry farms

7 implemented hatchery and fry farms and juvenile reproduction projects - sturgeon and trout, from Kabardino-Balkaria to Karelia. Click on a project photo to open a gallery of all photos of the project.

All completed projects →

Discuss the project with a team that has already launched fry farms

Managed process

The path from idea to working farm

A clear chain of 9 steps - from the first application until the farm reaches its design capacity and support.

Stage 1Contact
01
Application
Leave your contacts - even without exact capacity and budget.
02
First call
We specify the site, region, budget and goal at the start.
03
Diagnostics with an expert
We analyze the model, limitations, risks and scenarios.
Stage 2Elaboration
04
Pre-project
Technology, equipment, layout, economics and payback.
05
Design
Working solutions for the farm model and engineering conditions.
Stage 3Implementation
06
Construction and delivery
Building, utilities and equipment set.
07
Installation and launch
RAS assembly, commissioning and preparation for stocking.
Stage 4Result
08
Output to power
Production cycle, personnel and performance monitoring.
09
Escort
Technology, service, operation and development of the project.
Engineering Depth

Our units and equipment at sites

Reliability depends on engineering components: filtration, pumps, biofilters, oxygen circuit, automation and piping. We show the equipment in a real installation.

Drum microfilter
Pump groups
Oxygen cones
Oxygen station
UV disinfection
Biofilter / loading
Piping and fittings
Water treatment module (3D)
Solutions catalog

Get a catalog of RAS fingerling farms

Model range of fry farms for sturgeon and trout, fry weights 10/50/100 g, guidelines for investment, profit, payback and site requirements.

  • product range for sturgeon and trout
  • weighed fry 10, 50 and 100 g
  • productivity 200 / 500 / 1,000 thousand pcs. per cycle
  • Features of fingerling RAS and the path from idea to launch
The catalog will help you quickly understand the order of numbers and choose a scenario for discussion with an expert.
Catalog of RAS fingerling farms
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to the questions that usually appear before a RAS fish farm project starts.

What is included in a turnkey ras hatchery and fry farm?

A typical scope includes technology design, tanks or pools, mechanical and biological filtration, pumps, oxygen supply, automation, piping, installation, commissioning and launch support.

Can the farm be adapted to an existing building?

Yes. Before design, the building is checked for area, height, floor loads, water supply, drainage, ventilation, power capacity and convenient equipment maintenance.

What data is needed to calculate the farm?

The first calculation needs the fish species, target capacity, growth stage, available site or building data, water analysis, climate conditions and investment range.

Next step

Want to see if a fish fry farm could be your next production asset?

Leave a request - we will contact you, ask a few simple questions and help you navigate the farm format, budget and next steps.

Aquafarmer project photo
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