10 Pond water quality

Abstract

Publisher Summary Catfish farmers should use high-quality water to fill ponds and then manage water quality within the tolerance limits to optimize growth, survival, and feed conversion. Finding good quality water to fill ponds is relatively easy, but maintaining environmental conditions within the tolerance limits of catfish is challenging. Historically, the technical development of catfish farming in static ponds has been characterized by increasing intensification. The emergence of yield limits as catfish production has intensified can be attributed in part to water quality degradation associated with eutrophication. Thus, the need for research on water quality dynamics and practical management of water quality problems is clear. Research on water quality in aquaculture ponds has provided tangible benefits to catfish producers. Specifically, research on pond aeration systems and the discovery that common salt can be used to manage nitrite toxicity have facilitated the intensification of catfish production.