What is included in a turnkey sturgeon ras farm?
A typical scope includes technology design, tanks or pools, mechanical and biological filtration, pumps, oxygen supply, automation, piping, installation, commissioning and launch support.
Design · equipment · launch
Sturgeon farms RAS for commercial cultivation
We design and launch farms for commercial sturgeon, caviar and combined models: we calculate the technology, select equipment, perform installation, launch and support.
15 years
in the industry
60+
launched farms
10+
sturgeon objects
Quiz
Short answer
Sturgeon RAS 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 sturgeon, bottom area, stable oxygen, clean water, low-stress handling and reliable redundancy are especially important because the production cycle is long.
4 questions + contact
Choose the sturgeon farm format to suit your task
We'll tell you which scenario might be suitable - commercial sturgeon, caviar or a combined model. You don’t need to know the exact power and budget.
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Which format is closer to you?
What type of investment are you considering?
What do you want to get in the first step?
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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.
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We will contact you and help you determine the appropriate sturgeon farm format.
Premium destination
Why choose sturgeon for RAS?
Sturgeon is not a mass-produced cheap product, but a delicacy where quality, freshness, origin and trust in the manufacturer are especially important.
Premium product
Sturgeon belongs to the more expensive segment - a gourmet food with a high value for quality and origin.
Meat and the prospect of caviar
The farm is developing in stages: first commercial fish, then caviar - a long-term asset.
Status proceedings
Sturgeon is perceived as a strong and premium product - the farm makes an impression on partners and investors.
Suitable for control
In a RAS it is possible to create stable conditions for the growth of sturgeon - but the farm must be designed for its characteristics.
Farm task view
Types of sturgeon for cultivation
Sturgeon are not just one type of fish. For RAS, a specific species or hybrid is selected for the farm’s task: marketable fish, caviar, growth rate, size and market.
Sterlet
Compact look. Often considered for small farms, local markets and smaller commercial fish.
commercial fishRussian sturgeon
A key species for commercial cultivation and caviar production. Valued for recognition, taste and status.
meat + caviarSiberian sturgeon
A common type for RAS. Well suited for commercial growing and caviar projects.
universalBeluga
Large premium species with high value but long growing horizon.
premium caviarSevruga
Valuable for specialized projects and premium positioning.
premiumHybrids
Bester, Russian-Lensky, sterbel and others - for growth rate, stability, marketable fish or caviar.
bester · sterbelThe choice of type depends on the purpose of the project, timing, market, site, budget and sales strategy. During diagnostics, we help determine which species or hybrid makes sense to consider specifically for your task.
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
How sturgeon is raised in a recirculation system
Sturgeon RAS is the cultivation of commercial fish in a closed cycle with constant water purification and control of parameters. The goal of the technology is stable growth, predictable costs and manageable results.
01
Landing and start
Planting and starting cultivation - often divided by age and weight.
02
Feeding and growth
Feeding and growth under the control of water: food is the main load on the system.
03
Sorting
Regular sorting and separating of batches to maintain momentum and uniformity.
04
Water quality
Maintaining water quality: mechanical cleaning + biofiltration + gas mode.
05
Implementation
Preparation for sale: stabilization and pre-sale holding.
The “Technology” section describes the principles of keeping sturgeon in a RAS, water and feeding regimes, as well as the logic of arranging blocks for stable rearing.
Go to the "Technology" section →
What is included in the project
Composition of sturgeon farm
The farm is designed as a set of technological blocks. The specific composition depends on the model - commercial fish, caviar or a combined format.
1. Fish hatching blocks
- Quarantine / acceptance of RPM — separate containers, disinfection unit if necessary
- Incubation-larval block - incubators, trays and baths for larvae, sanitary regime
- Live food / brine shrimp block – Artemia incubation, preparation, storage and distribution
- Fry block (growing up) — weighed containers, sorting and transplanting, automatic feeding
- Product block (meat) — main pools and trays up to the required weight
- Pre-sale preparation and shipment — exposure, packaging with oxygen, loading area
2. Caviar blocks
- Replacement broodstock (RMF) — separate line, stable modes, minimal stress
- Mother block / manufacturers — maintenance of producers, accounting and identification
- Artificial wintering area — temperature regimes to control the sexual cycle
- Spawning block — preparation for spawning and obtaining caviar
- Caviar/reproductive area — sorting by sex and maturity, selection, preparation of caviar
3. RAS core - water treatment
- Mechanical cleaning - drum filter, etc.
- Biofiltration — bioreactor
- Degassing / gas mode — removal of CO₂ if necessary
- Oxygen/oxygenation – generator or liquid O₂, distribution
- Pumping/hydraulics — collectors, fittings, redundancy
- Wash water and sludge unit - collection, sediment, drain
- Instrumentation and automation — sensors, alarms, parameter log
- Optional — UV / ozone, pH correction, additional. water treatment
4. Auxiliary zones
- Warehouse of feed and consumables
- Control room/lab - working area of the fish farmer
- Technical premises — electrical, air, oxygen, climate
- Sanitary areas and logistics — washing, disinfection, “clean/dirty” zones
Blocks for caviar are connected if the farm operates “for caviar” or in a combined format. Optional water treatment units are added based on water quality and risk.
Expertise in detail
Why does the sturgeon farm require
Why does the sturgeon farm require
separate design
Separate incubation technology
Specialized incubators for sturgeon, a block of live food, temperature control, separate water and sanitation modes. This is not a “small version of a commodity farm.”
Different systems for fish and caviar
For caviar, replacement broodstock, wintering, spawning block, work with producers, ultrasound control and sorting are added.
Pools for bottom fish
The bottom area, shape of the pools, hydraulics, bottom drainage, and the absence of stagnant zones are important. Density up to 70–80 kg/m² - but only with proper calculation.
Sturgeon is demanding of water
Stable oxygen, mechanical purification, biofiltration, temperature control, pure oxygen, ozonation, water exchange ~1.5–2 revolutions per hour - according to calculation.
Long cycle times require reliability
A mistake in oxygen, pumps, temperature or backup can cost months or years of work. We design with reserves for critical components.
Economy depends on technology
Growth rate, survival rate, feed ratio, energy expenditure and water stability. The farm begins with the calculation of technology, and not with the purchase of equipment.
Number order
Basic Economics of a Sturgeon Farm
Guidelines for cost, price and payback. Exact indicators are calculated individually for the site, region, scale and sales model.
Cost
$4.7–$6.6 /kg
Wholesale price
$9.4–$11 /kg
Retail price
$12–$15 /kg
Line payback
2–3 years
Commercial sturgeon - faster and more understandable startup script. Turnkey with building payback 3–5 years.
Cost
$190–$240 /kg
Wholesale price
$330–$420 /kg
Retail price
$470–$660 /kg
Line payback
3–4 years
Sturgeon caviar - a longer-term, but premium scenario. Turnkey with building payback 5–6 years.
How much to invest and what scale
Start
Business
IndustrialMega
BusinessIndustrialMega
BusinessBusiness+Industrial
Model range of sturgeon farms
Guidelines for the initial selection of scale. The exact budget, equipment composition, profit and payback are calculated individually.
StartPower10-20 t/year
Area400-900 m²
Equipmentfrom $90k-$160k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $340k-$540k
Profit/year$80k-$240k
Paybackfrom 2.5-3 years
BusinessPower50-100 t/year
Area1,500-3,500 m²
Equipmentfrom $320k-$560k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $1M-$1.9M
Profit/year$300k-$850k
Paybackfrom 2.5 years
IndustrialPower200 t/year
Area4,000-5,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $1M
Turnkey + constructionfrom $2.8M
Profit/year$1.1M-$1.8M
Paybackfrom 2 years
MegaPower500 t/year
Area8,000-10,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $2.1M
Turnkey + constructionfrom $7.6M
Profit/year$2.1M-$3.3M
Paybackfrom 2.5 years
BusinessPower500-1,000 kg/year
Area1,000-1,800 m²
Equipmentfrom $220k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $580k-$940k
Profit/year$180k-$410k
Paybackfrom 5 years
IndustrialPower3 tons/year
Area3,000-4,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $570k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $1.9M
Profit/year$600k-$940k
Paybackfrom 5 years
MegaPower5 tons/year
Area5,000-7,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $940k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $3M
Profit/year$1M-$1.6M
Paybackfrom 4.5 years
BusinessPower750 kg caviar + 22.5 t
Area1,500-2,000 m²
Equipmentfrom $290k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $990k
Profit/year$320k-$500k
Paybackfrom 5 years
Business+Power1.5 t caviar + 45 t
Area2,200-2,600 m²
Equipmentfrom $500k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $1.6M
Profit/year$750k-$1.2M
Paybackfrom 4.5 years
IndustrialPower3 t caviar + 90 t
Area4,000-4,500 m²
Equipmentfrom $880k
Turnkey + constructionfrom $2.8M
Profit/year$1.4M-$2.2M
Paybackfrom 4 years
The numbers are used as guidelines for the initial choice of scale. The exact budget, equipment composition, profit and payback are calculated individually for the site, water, electricity, region and equipment.
Do you have a site?
Do you have a plot or building? Check if it is possible to place a sturgeon 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.
Enter a correct phone number
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
10+
sturgeon objects
3
format: product, caviar, combo
Our task is not just to sell equipment, but to help create a working farm: from calculating technology to installation, launch and maintenance.
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 sturgeon 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.
Live objects, not just renders
Photos from launched farms
More than 60 fish farms of various sizes - from compact farms to industrial fish farms. Real objects that have already been built, installed and operating.
Corridor between the pool rooms
Industrial hatchery and fry farm
Fish tank in operation
Farm pool hall
Engineering components and piping
Pump group and filtration
RAS machine room
Oxygen station
Farm pools
Circular pool
Drum microfilter
Object at the launch stage
Real sturgeon expertise
Real sturgeon projects
8 real objects: commercial sturgeon, caviar, combined farms, fry systems and reconstructions. Click on a project photo to open a gallery of all photos of the project.
Discuss the project with a team that has already launched sturgeon 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 sturgeon farms RAS
Basic models of the sturgeon business, capacity lines, guidelines for investments, profits, payback and site requirements.
- commercial sturgeon, caviar and combined model
- lines Start, Business, Industrial, Mega
- guidelines for area, capacity and investment
- features of sturgeon 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.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to the questions that usually appear before a RAS fish farm project starts.
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 sturgeon 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.