Using a macroalgae Ulva pertusa biofilter in a recirculating system for production of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Abstract

A simple indoor recirculating system for production of juvenile sea cucumber ( Apostichopus japonicus) was operated on a commercial scale for 90 days during winter. The system consists of three 70 m 3 sea cucumber rearing tanks and one biofilter tank where macroalgae ( Ulva pertusa) was used as a biofilter in order to reduce water requirements. Effluent from the sea cucumber tanks drained into the macroalgae biofilter tank and were then returned to the sea cucumber tanks by a discontinuous-flow recirculation system. Survival and growth rates in the sea cucumber culture tanks were similar to those in the control tank (with one water exchange per day). The survival rate averaged about 87%. The average body weight increased from 3.5 ± 0.3 g to 8.1 ± 0.8 g and total sea cucumber biomass production over the experimental period was 745 g m −2 after initial stocking densities of 375 g m −2. The growth rate of U. pertusa was 3.3% day −1. U. pertusa was efficient in removing toxic ammonia and in maintaining the water quality within acceptable levels for sea cucumber culture; there were only small daily variations of temperature, pH and DO. The U. pertusa tank removed 68% of the TAN (total ammonia-nitrogen) and 26% of the orthophosphate from the sea cucumber culture effluent; the macroalgae biofilter removed ammonia at an average rate of 0.459 g N m −2 day −1. It would be efficient to use the U. pertusa biofilter in a recirculating system for production of A. japonicus juveniles in winter.