Publication: Effects of aerated and non-aerated biofilters on effluent water treatment from a small-scale recirculating aquaculture system for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)
Loading...
Total Views 0
total viewsTotal Downloads 1
total downloadsDate
2019-09-17
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Funder
JKUAT
Publisher
Journal of Land Management, Food and Environment
Cite this Item
Abstract
Most recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) use aerated biofilters to maintain suitable water quality for fish production. However,
application of non-aerated biofilters may provide opportunities to lower aeration costs, water usage and concentration of all nitrog-
enous wastes in the effluent water. Our study aimed at comparing the biofiltration performance characteristics of two biofilters: a
conventional aerated biofilter and a non-aerated biofilter receiving the same effluent water from a small-scale RAS. The two biofilters
were evaluated in triplicate and tested concurrently for seven months. Water quality parameters were monitored at the biofilter inlets
and outlets and in the fish tanks. At the beginning of the experiment, the concentration of ammonia at the two biofilter outlets were
not significantly different. However, the concentrations decreased with time reaching mean values of 1.33 ± 0.02 mg L-1 and 1.23 ±
0.21 mg L-1 N-NH4
in the aerated and non-aerated biofilters, respectively. Whereas phosphorus and nitrate levels were significantly
high in the aerated biofilter. There was no significant difference in the growth of fish between the aerated and non-aerated biofil-
ters. The results suggest that non-aerated biofilters can be as effective as aerated biofilters in maintaining suitable water quality for
O. niloticus production.
Description
Article
Keywords
Aerated, Denitrification, Nitrification, Non-aerated, Removal efficiency