Microbubble Aeration in A Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) Increased Dissolved Oxygen, Fish Culture Performance, and Stress Resistance of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

Abstract

Microbubble aeration has been recognized as a tool to improve dissolved oxygen and fish culture performance in limited water aquaculture. This research aims to investigate the effect of microbubble aeration on increasing dissolved oxygen, fish culture performance, and stress resistance of red tilapia. The study used 3 treatments of aerations namely microbubble, blower, and without aeration with 3 replicates each. Red tilapia weighing 115.27±3.93 g were stocked in a plastic tank of 800 L water volume at density 50 individual/tank and cultured for 50 days in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Dissolved oxygen, fish culture performance, and stress resistance were evaluated. Dissolved oxygen was monitored daily. In the middle of the research period, a stress test was performed using different salinity at 12 and 24 ppt. Statistical analysis was subjected to water quality, fish culture performance, and stressed resistance. The microbubble aeration was able to stabilize DO level on 4.28 mg/L until the end of the experiment and suppressed the CO2 and ammonia content. Fish biomass was higher in microbubble treatment, with a lower FCR value, lower stress level indicating fish in good health and promoting good culture performance.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 The critical parameter of water quality in aquaculture is dissolved oxygen (DO) and to increase its content is by aeration
 A nobel microbubble aeration was able to increase DO level higher than blower aeration and stabilize DO at requirement level until the end of the fish culture
 The strong relationship of DO with fish hematology parameters those more stable that indicate a lower stress level
 Stable physiological conditions and low stress of fish implied that the cultivated fish is in good health and good performance by microbubble aeration
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT