What AQUABIOTECH inc. does

AQUABIOTECH inc. is a privately held Canadian scientific-based manufacturing company founded in 1989 by two senior biologists from the University of Guelph and Université Laval. The company designs, fabricates, and supplies custom aquatic research systems and live shellfish storage equipment from its headquarters in Coaticook, Quebec, operating with a lean team of 1–10 employees. Its product portfolio is organized into three interconnected pillars: (1) wet lab equipment for aquatic and marine research, including Multi-Stressor Units, Flume Systems, Larval Rearing Units (Krescel+), Tide Chambers, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS/REBF), Multi-Tank Aquatic Housing Systems, Fish Holding/Quarantine Tanks, and the proprietary Enviro-Monitron control platform; (2) Eco Lobster-Condo systems for live lobster purging, holding, and long-term storage; and (3) component distribution as exclusive Canadian distributor for TECO Water and authorized distributor for Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Iwaki, MetroMax, Oxyguard, Hach, and Aquametrix products.

The company operates a direct, consultative go-to-market targeting academic and government research institutions, commercial aquaculture operators, and lobster distributors. Revenue mechanics include one-time custom equipment sales (quote-based, no public pricing), hardware distribution via an e-commerce store for replacement parts and consumables (SKUs from ~$13 to ~$8,300 CAD), and wet lab design services including facility layout, equipment specification, and CCAC/AALAS compliance guidance. The company emphasizes bilingual (English/French) operations, free quote preparation to facilitate government research funding applications, and proprietary technologies such as the Enviro-Monitron PID-based monitoring system (networked for up to 40 units), the AquaNit pre-coated trickling biofilter, and custom-manufactured titanium U-tube heat exchangers (Ti-HXU series). Notable technical performance metrics include dissolved oxygen control precision of ±0.1 mg/L, temperature control of ±0.3°C, water recycling up to 99.9%, and fecal collection efficiency of 75–77% via a custom sediment trap design.

AQUABIOTECH serves both freshwater and marine applications, with documented installations across roughly a dozen Canadian research facilities and several hundred aquaculture systems delivered since founding. The customer roster spans Canadian universities (including Université Laval, McMaster, University of Manitoba, Concordia, Mount Allison, University of Alberta, UNB, UNBSJ, Wilfrid Laurier, and Northeastern University), government agencies (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Aquarium Québec), commercial buyers (Cap Dauphin Fishermen's Cooperative), and energy-sector clients (Manitoba Hydro). In December 2025 the company announced its first documented international expansion via a collaboration with NTT Green & Food to support a land-based RAS facility in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, producing approximately 310 metric tons of trout and 260 metric tons of coho salmon annually. The company is founder-controlled with no external private equity or venture capital backing disclosed.

Name

AQUABIOTECH inc.

Legal name

AQUABIOTECH INC.

Website

https://aquabiotech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AQUABIOTECH inc. designs and supplies custom aquatic research systems and live shellfish storage equipment from Quebec, Canada. The firm serves academic, government, and commercial aquaculture customers with proprietary monitoring, biofiltration, and recirculating aquaculture system technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Systems & Aquatic Research Equipment

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Shellfish Farming (112512), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing) (AFAEAAAN)

Keywords

• Aquatic research equipment
• Recirculating aquaculture systems
• Live lobster storage
• Wet lab design services
• Water filtration systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Coaticook

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Aquatic Equipment Manufacturing: Design, fabrication and supply of custom aquatic habitats, research systems, and life support equipment. Products include Multi-Stressor Units, lobster holding systems, aquaculture systems, and laboratory equipment. Sales are quote-based with custom configurations per client requirements.
2. Equipment Distribution: Distribution of complementary aquatic equipment through e-commerce store. Exclusive Canadian distributor for TECO Water products (chillers, heat pumps, titanium heat exchangers). Authorized distributor for Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Iwaki pumps, MetroMax i shelving, and other brands including Oxyguard and Hach probes.
3. Wet Lab Design Services: Consulting services for planning aquatic research facilities including equipment specifications, space requirements, layout planning, and preliminary cost estimates. Includes guidance on CCAC compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AQUABIOTECH INC. is a scientific-based manufacturing company that custom designs, fabricates, and supplies aquatic habitats and life support systems for research on fish and invertebrates, as well as live shellfish storage equipment. Its offerings include custom wet lab equipment (Multi-Stressor Units, Flume Systems, Tide Chambers, Larval Rearing Units, Aquaculture Systems), proprietary monitoring technology (Enviro-Monitron), live lobster storage systems (Eco Lobster-Condo), and wet lab design consulting services. The company also operates an e-store distributing complementary aquatic equipment including chillers, pumps, probes, and shelving.

Product overview

AQUABIOTECH INC. is a scientific-based manufacturing company that designs, fabricates, and supplies advanced aquatic habitats and water systems. The product portfolio consists of three interconnected pillars: (1) Wet Lab Equipment for aquatic and marine research including Multi-Stressor Units, Flume Systems, Larval Rearing Units (Krescel+), Tide Chambers, Aquaculture Systems (RAS/REBF), Multi-Tank Aquatic Housing Systems, Fish Holding/Quarantine Tanks, and the Enviro-Monitron control system; (2) Eco Lobster-Condo systems for live lobster storage including purging, long-term holding, and retail systems; and (3) a parts distribution business as exclusive Canadian distributor for TECO products and distributor for Iwaki and Pentair pumps. The company also offers Wet Lab Design Services and Mobile Laboratories. Core differentiators include the Enviro-Monitron proprietary monitoring platform, pre-coated biofilter technology, and custom engineering capabilities spanning microelectronics, gas management, and aquaculture systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eco Lobster-Condo: Lobster purging, holding, and long-term storage systems designed for distributors to balance seasonal harvest with market demand.
• Multi-Stressor Units
• Enviro-Monitron
• Krescel Plus
• Ti-HXU Series

Products and services

• Multi-Stressor Units Leading-edge multi-tank systems incorporating environmental controls (photoperiod, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity) customizable 'a la carte' for aquatic research. Supports passive, static, dynamic, and cyclic control modes with precision (±0.1 mg/L dissolved oxygen, ±0.3°C temperature).
• Eco Lobster-Condo Systems Integrated lobster storage facilities for balancing seasonal harvest with market demand, including purging systems, long-term storage, and retail sales systems with optimized water parameters.
• Aquaculture Systems (RAS/REBF) Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) based on Recirculation with BioFiltration (REBF) technology, with at least 99% water recycling, pre-coated AquaNit Trickling biofilter, and custom configurations for various fish species and densities.
• Larval Rearing Units (Krescel+) Versatile tanks (Krescel+) for hatching and rearing larval fish and invertebrates (e.g., nauplius larvae of Balanus, smelt, cod, walleye, lobster) and fingerlings in a controlled environment with dual inflow and self-cleaning capabilities.
• Flume Systems Artificial river and flume systems for studying water velocities and temperatures, including Linear Flumes (16 feet, 5-40 cm/s), Multi-Channel Systems (dual channels, 0.1-10 cm/s), and Annular Flumes with uniform water velocity.
• Tide Chambers Tidal simulation systems for conducting experiments under precisely controlled tidal conditions, used by research institutions for tidal studies.
• Multi-Tank Aquatic Housing Systems Systems featuring numerous small rearing tanks serviced by a central RAS system. Includes Iwaki Aquatics LaBREED systems for zebrafish and Xenopus, with 5 or 6 shelf configurations and constant flow technology.
• Fish Holding/Quarantine Tanks Water bath systems for fish storage and acclimation, with temperature range 2-30°C, adjustable current flow, five-stage filtration, and up to 99.9% water flow recycling.
• Enviro-Monitron Proprietary central control and monitoring system for water parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH, flow rate) with networking capability, wireless/cable data transmission, and PID control functions.
• Biofilter Inoculation Station (BIS) Automatic system for seeding bacterial substrate used in biofiltration units, ensuring pre-activation of biofilters before deployment.
• Titanium Heat Exchangers (Ti-HXU Series) Custom-manufactured titanium heat exchanger chiller barrels for large aquatic exhibits, lobster holding systems, and commercial processing applications, available in 10-40 ton capacities.
• Wet Lab Design Service Professional consultation service for planning aquatic research facilities, including equipment specifications, space requirements, layout planning, and cost estimation aligned with CCAC and AALAS standards.
• Mobile Laboratories Transportable laboratory setups configured for aquatic research needs, providing field-deployable research capability.
• TECO Chillers & Heat Pumps (Distribution) Exclusive Canadian distribution of TECO water chillers and heat pumps (TK-150, TK-1000, TK-2000, TK-3000, TK-5000, TK-6000, TK-9000 models) with titanium heat exchangers for precise temperature control from 4 to 35°C.
• Iwaki & Pentair Pumps (Distribution) Centrifugal and magnetic drive pumps (Iwaki MD/NRD/RD Series, Pentair Verus 850) for aquaculture applications with salt water resistance and energy efficiency.
• MetroMax i Shelving (Distribution) Corrosion-proof shelving with polymer construction, type 304 stainless steel corners, Microban antimicrobial protection, and lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion.
• Aquaculture Research Online Store (Parts & Supplies) Online store (aquabiotech.com/aquaculture-research-online-store) for replacement parts and supplies including aeration equipment, datalogging probes, filtration systems, tanks, and temperature control accessories, available 24/7.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 99% water recycling in aquaculture systems significantly reduces water, heating, and chilling costs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• NTT Green & FoodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Collaboration for land-based RAS facility project in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Aquabiotech Group providing expertise for recirculating aquaculture system design producing approximately 310 metric tons of trout and 260 metric tons of coho salmon annually.
• TECO WatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAquabiotech is the exclusive Canadian distributor for TECO Water products including water-to-air heat pumps, aquarium chillers (SeaChill/TANK series), and titanium coaxial heat exchangers. TECO units feature corrosion protection with titanium heat exchangers and optional heating elements for precise temperature control from 4 to 35°C.
• Pentair Aquatic Eco-SystemsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial Canadian distributor for Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems product line including Verus 850 centrifugal pumps and Sweetwater linear air pumps. Customers pay same prices as Pentair online store while Aquabiotech handles logistics.
• Iwaki AmericacoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld leader in centrifugal mag-drive pumps supplying the premier line of non-metallic centrifugal pumps. Aquabiotech uses Iwaki pumps extensively in their own manufactured systems as primary pump supplier.
• Iwaki Aquatics Systems and ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer Iwaki Aquatics LaBREED systems including zebrafish and xenopus housing systems. Quality components, expert manufacturing, and reliability aligned with Aquabiotech's values. Systems sold, installed, and supported by Aquabiotech.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Aqua Logic Inc. US-based water treatment and filtration systems manufacturer serving aquaculture, aquaponics, and aquatic research. Comparable in recirculating system design and filtration expertise, though smaller and more regionally focused.
• Aqua Medic: Germany-based manufacturer of aquarium and aquaculture equipment including filtration, heating, and monitoring. Comparable in aquatic life support equipment but more focused on aquarium/hobbyist market than research-grade systems.

Direct peers

• AquaBioTech Group: Malta-based aquaculture consulting and engineering firm specializing in RAS design, aquaculture feed, and project management. Despite the similar name, it is a separate organization but directly comparable in aquaculture system design, RAS consulting, and serving research/commercial aquaculture clients.
• Aquaneering: US-based manufacturer of aquatic research and zebrafish housing systems, including multi-tank recirculating systems. Directly comparable to Aquabiotech in serving academic and government research institutions with custom aquatic lab infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• AKVA Group: Norwegian publicly-listed aquaculture technology company providing complete RAS and sea-based farming solutions. Operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach, comparable in RAS technology but serves a much larger commercial aquaculture customer base.
• Tecniplast: Italian-headquartered global leader in laboratory animal housing including aquatic species (zebrafish, Xenopus). Comparable in multi-tank aquatic housing systems with broader portfolio across all lab animal species and far greater scale.
• Innovasea: US-based aquaculture technology provider offering full-stack solutions including fish farming systems, sensors, and traceability. Comparable in RAS design and water quality monitoring but operates globally at much larger scale than Aquabiotech's niche.
• Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems: Major US-based aquaculture and aquatic life support equipment manufacturer. Aquabiotech is actually a Canadian distributor for Pentair products, but Pentair also competes in commercial aquaculture systems, pumps, and life support at much larger scale.

Others

• TECO Water: Italian chiller and heat pump manufacturer for which Aquabiotech is the exclusive Canadian distributor. Relevant as a supplier/partner relationship within the aquatic temperature control product ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Iwaki America: Japanese-owned global pump manufacturer and core technology partner to Aquabiotech. Aquabiotech uses Iwaki pumps extensively in its manufactured systems; relevant as an enabling supplier within the same aquaculture ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aquabiotech.inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquabiotech-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AQUABIOTECH inc.