I design recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) that work on paper and in practice, because I spent ten years building and operating a commercial land-based marine RAS facility in Florida.
RAS design consulting is expert help planning a recirculating aquaculture system, a land-based fish farming system that cleans and reuses most of its water. A RAS consultant sizes and specifies the tanks, solids removal, biofiltration, degassing, oxygenation, disinfection, pumps, controls, and backup systems around your species and production goals, then helps you buy, build, commission, and run it.
A RAS that looks good in drawings can still be hard to feed, clean, maintain, and harvest, or expensive to run. In 2015 I started Aquaco LLC and took a commercial-scale marine RAS from business plan and capital raise through construction and day-to-day operations to a successful exit in 2025. That experience shapes every design decision I make.
I combine the latest technology with proven systems and husbandry practices, and I give honest, unbiased equipment advice. I'm not selling you a particular brand.
Hire me for the whole system or for a single task.
Complete RAS design for grow-out or hatchery production: culture tanks, mechanical filtration, biofiltration, degassing, oxygenation, UV or ozone disinfection, pumping, temperature control, monitoring, alarms, and backup power.
A second opinion on a design you already have. I check sizing against peak feed load, redundancy, solids handling, energy use, and day-to-day practicality before you commit to construction.
Unbiased help choosing pumps, filtration, oxygenation, and monitoring equipment, sourced through my network of vendors and suppliers. More on equipment procurement.
Realistic budgets and schedules for building the system, with tracking to catch cost and timing risks early. More on construction budgeting.
Oversight of installation and a structured commissioning process, including biofilter start-up, so the system performs as designed before fish go in. More on commissioning.
Written operating procedures for water quality, maintenance, and emergencies, plus hands-on training so your team can run the system with confidence. More on SOPs and training.
Founders and investors planning a first RAS facility, often starting with a feasibility review and an investor-ready business plan.
Farms and hatcheries that want an independent design review, equipment upgrades, or better operating procedures.
Government programs, plus public zoos and aquariums that need life support systems (LSS) built on the same water treatment principles.
Based in Florida, serving clients worldwide, with recent projects in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Africa, and Australia.
A RAS design consultant plans the recirculating aquaculture system around your species and production goals: tanks, solids removal, biofiltration, degassing, oxygenation, disinfection, pumps, temperature control, monitoring, and backup systems. I then help with equipment selection, budgeting, commissioning, and training.
Yes. An independent design review is a common single-task engagement: a second opinion on whether a system is sized correctly, has enough redundancy, and will be practical to operate before construction starts.
Yes. I built and operated a commercial-scale, land-based marine RAS facility in Florida from 2015 to a successful exit in 2025, and I work with all system types.
Yes. I'm based in Florida and serve clients worldwide, with recent projects in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Africa, and Australia.
Before the design is finalized and equipment is ordered. RAS design mistakes are cheap to fix on paper and expensive to fix once concrete is poured. Here's why early expert input saves time and money.
Related reading: RAS design explained · What an aquaculture consultant does · Fish farm feasibility questions · About Joe Cardenas
Tell me about your project, and I'll tell you honestly where outside expertise would help most.