The Role of Filter with Different Media Compositions on Water Quality and Survival of Pangasius (Pangasius sp.) in Recirculation Aquaculture System

Ariska Nur Oktavia,Sri Hastuti,Dicky Harwanto

doi:10.20884/1.oa.2021.17.1.824

Abstract

The high market demand for Pangasius (Pangasius sp.) has encouraged farmers to adopt a cultivation system with high stocking densities and high feeding rates. This causes fish farming waste to increase and ammonia in the waters also increases, resulting in a decrease in water quality. One of the efforts to overcome this problem is by using Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS). This study aims to examine the effect of filters with different media compositions in RAS of Pangasius. Test fish, average weight of 4.59 g, kept for 30 days in aquarium with a density of 1.15 g.L-1. The feed is given at satiation, twice a day. There were five treatments and four replications during study. The treatments were the difference composition of filter media, i.e. A (100% zeolite), B (25% net + 75% zeolite), C (50% net + 50% zeolite), D (75% net + 25% zeolite), and E (100% net). Dacron was used as a mechanical filter in all treatments. The results showed that the composition of different filter materials had a significant effect (P <0.05) on Survival Rate (SR), Total Amount of Feed Fed (TFF), Relative Growth Rate (RGR), and Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE). The best performance was showed by media biofilter composition of 25% nets + 75% zeolite, with the value of VTR (Volumetric Total Ammonia Nitrogen Removal) were 55.45-66.32 g.m-3.day-1, SR was 93.75%; TFF was 124.84 g; RGR was 2.13%.day-1, and FCE was 46.87%. Various different compositions of net and zeolite as filter media on RAS were able to manage TAN below tolerance limit.Keywords: catfish, recirculation system, filter composition, dacron, net, zeolite.

Highlights

Pangasius is one of the important freshwater fish commodities in Indonesia
The weight of the feed eaten is determined by the weight of the initial feed minus the number of uneaten granules multiplied by the known average granules weight
Temperatures ranged from 27-30 oC, pH values were stable at 7, DO values ranged from 6.4-7.5 mg.L-1, ammonia and nitrites were far below 1 mg.L-1 and Nitrates were below 20 mg.L-1. 3.2 Volumetric Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) Removal (VTR)

Summary

Introduction

Pangasius is one of the important freshwater fish commodities in Indonesia. Pangasius is a production target in national aquaculture because it is considered an economically important fish. Efforts to meet market demand are needed, namely with intensive culture systems. Intensive culture with high stocking densities and high feeding results in a rapid decline in water quality. The decrease in water quality is caused by feces and excess food waste. Culture with the Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) system is expected to be able to conserve and utilize water more efficiently. The use of RAS systems in intensive aquaculture is important to create an optimal environment for fish (Harwanto and Jo, 2010; Enache et al, 2011). The RAS system aims to conserve water, and the quality of recirculated water remains controlled

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