PERFORMANCE OF A COMMERCIAL RECIRCULATING ALLIGATOR PRODUCTION SYSTEMEMPLOYING A PADDLE-WASHED FLOATING BEAD FILTER

A 2.83 m(3) prototype paddle-washed bead filter for combined solids ca pture and biological filtration was successfully operated in a commerc ial recirculating alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) facility. The bead filter was originally designed and operated as a downflow filter but due to operational and water quality problems, it was reconfigure d to operate in an upflow mode. Water quality conditions and filter pe rformance improved dramatically, with the upflow bead filter capable o f handling the equivalent loading of 10.3 kg m(-3) beads per day of 40 % protein feed, despite oxygen limitations and hydraulic problems asso ciated with the retrofitted alligator system. (C) 1997 Published by El sevier Science B.V.