Production of Microbial Flocs Using Laboratoryscale Sequencing Batch Reactors and Tilapia Wastewater

Abstract

Laboratory-scale studies using sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were conducted to evaluate microbial floc production and treatability of fish effluent from a tilapia farm utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Several trials were conducted, both with and without carbon sucrose supplementation. Results from this project suggest that treatment with carbon supplementation improved nutrient removal from the fish effluent and increased microbial floc production. Successful treatment of effluent using bioreactors could accomplish two primary objectives. The first objective is improving water quality of effluent to maximize water reuse. Secondly, production of microbial flocs is a means of recycling nutrients from the effluent into a useable and alternative protein source for aquaculture diets. Ultimately, this option could offer a sustainable option for the aquaculture industry.