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CIMA (University of Algarve - Faro, Portugal): small-scale experimental Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for research applications (ecoxicology)

Ecotox.

Marine/Seawater

Portugal

Ecotoxicology

Marine/seawater

Portugal

Not just a rearing rack, a true experimental tool.

CIMA (Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente) is the marine and environmental research centre of the University of Algarve, based in Faro. Its teams study the impact of pollutants and contaminants on aquatic fauna, with a particular focus on bivalves and other marine invertebrates, along with the possibility of running trials on small fish. The project was carried out as part of Portugal’s Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR), with support from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and the European Union (NextGenerationEU).

Objectives

CIMA needed a custom exposure system for its ecotoxicology research protocols, mainly in sea water but not exclusively, with:

  • Automated multi-parameter monitoring per tank (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen), centralized on a single interface
  • Individual temperature and pH control for each tank
  • Individual aeration and drainage per tank
  • A central reservoir equipped with filtration, UV sterilization, and aeration, able to automatically supply the whole system
  • Adjustable-intensity lighting with programmable photoperiod
  • Compatibility with a cooling system (chiller)

Above all, CIMA wanted a system flexible enough to run as a fully independent unit (essential for isolating each ecotoxicology trial) while also being able to operate in a shared, mutualized mode to support other types of aquatic research protocols over time.

Objectives

CIMA needed a custom exposure system for its ecotoxicology research protocols, mainly in sea water but not exclusively, with:

  • Automated multi-parameter monitoring per tank (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen), centralized on a single interface
  • Individual temperature and pH control for each tank
  • Individual aeration and drainage per tank
  • A central reservoir equipped with filtration, UV sterilization, and aeration, able to automatically supply the whole system
  • Adjustable-intensity lighting with programmable photoperiod
  • Compatibility with a cooling system (chiller)
rack d'expérimentation modèle aquatique

Above all, CIMA wanted a system flexible enough to run as a fully independent unit — essential for isolating each ecotoxicology trial — while also being able to operate in a shared, mutualized mode to support other types of aquatic research protocols over time.

Our Challenges

  • Protocol versatility: our main challenge was designing a single hydraulic architecture capable of supporting three radically different experimental configurations (see below), without ever compromising the sealing or independence of ongoing trials.
  • Circuit separation: ensuring no cross-contamination could occur between clean water and pollutant-laden water, while still allowing each tank to be switched from one configuration to another depending on protocol needs.

 

  • Space constraint: fitting the reservoir, plumbing, and full monitoring system into a constrained wall footprint, without sacrificing the accessibility needed for daily maintenance.

 

  • Sea water and fresh water, warm and cold compatibility: designing a single hydraulic and thermal architecture able to serve both, whereas most systems on the market are built for one type of water only.

 

  • First-of-its-kind build: this project required an iterative design process with CIMA’s scientific teams, to validate every technical choice before fabrication.

Our Action Plan

  • Client interview and needs assessment: We exchanged with the CIMA team by email and video call to clarify the target research protocols and the constraints of the site. This phase surfaced a key requirement: beyond parameter monitoring, the system needed to switch between several operating modes depending on the type of trial being run.
  • Preliminary design: Our team developed a hydraulic Piping & Instrumentation Diagram integrating the three possible configurations as well as the two separate drainage lines. This step involved several rounds of feedback with the client to ensure the design precisely matched the targeted ecotoxicology protocols.
  • Detailed design: We defined the precise layout of probes, valves, and the control panel, along with the technical specifications of the buffer reservoir and its filtration, UV, and aeration systems.
  • On-site installation and training: Our team traveled to Faro for system commissioning and to train CIMA's teams on day-to-day operation, data reading, and the different available configurations.

One System, Three Configurations

This system is not just a simple rearing rack for aquatic organisms: it’s a true experimental tool, designed to adapt to a wide range of research protocols through three distinct operating modes.

01

Closed-loop, recirculating circuit

All tanks share filtered, conditioned water, distributed in a loop from the central reservoir, either partially or fully. This mode suits acclimation, husbandry, or any protocol where shared water quality across tanks matters more than isolation.

rack d'expérimentation modèle aquatique

02

Closed-loop, individualized per tank (with pollutant)

Each tank operates fully isolated, with no water exchange with the others, either partially or fully across the system. This is the configuration used for ecotoxicology trials requiring strict separation between treatments and replicates.

03

Closed-loop, individualized per tank (without pollutant)

The same individualized architecture, without introducing any pollutant, allows control tanks or other non-exposure protocols to run in parallel. A mixed configuration is also possible: some tanks under pollutant exposure, others as controls, within a single system.

aquarium en position recirculation, sans micro polluant
conditionnement du systeme avec eau osmosée et eau de mer

04

Water conditioning phase

Before starting a trial, the system can run in a filtration + two-buffer-tank loop, to stabilize water quality before transferring it to the experimental tanks and introducing the pollutant. Initial setup before starting an experiment stays quick and easy.

05

Dual drainage lines

Every tank’s overflow can be routed, tank by tank, to one of two independent drainage lines (a wastewater/recirculation line or a pollutant line) selected via a dedicated valve. Each tank can be kept full or emptied and renewed on demand, depending on protocol needs.

aquarium en position étude polluant ecotox, avec micropolluants
Paramètre de qualité d'eau

06

Water quality monitoring

Each tank is equipped with industrial-grade probes (pH, temperature, conductivity, salinity, expandable to other parameters), connected to a centralized control panel (HMI). Data is also accessible remotely via the LXA Datatech interface, which lets you view real-time curves and export historical data as CSV.

07

Sea water and fresh water, warm and cold

The same hydraulic architecture supports both water types, with chiller compatibility for protocols requiring strict thermal control.

This system builds on Luxaqua’s expertise in custom aquarium rack systems, adapted here to the specific requirements of ecotoxicology.

FIshlab software

Results

The system is now installed and fully operational, and CIMA’s teams have been trained on its use. Designed as a replicable, adaptable tool, it provides a foundation for other ecotoxicology research protocols beyond the initial bivalve study.

Running ecotoxicology research protocols and want to adapt this system to your needs?

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