1. Imbalanced C/N - controlled, periphyton-based system has hampered tilapia growth in stagnant experimental tanks
- Author
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Rafael Barroso Martins, Diego Alves do Vale, Vanessa Tomaz Rebouças, and Marcelo Vinícius do Carmo e Sá
- Subjects
fish culture ,bioflocs ,natural food ,bioturbation effect ,Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,TA1-2040 ,Science (General) ,Q1-390 - Abstract
The simultaneous use of periphyton and controlled C/N ratio of water may improve water quality and fish growth. The current assay investigated the interaction between periphyton and C/N ratio of water in rearing tanks with Niletilapia juveniles. The study was carried out in 20 outdoor stagnant 250-L tanks. A wooden structure for periphyton development was submerged in five of the tanks. A completely randomized 2 x 2 factorial mode design was employed to evaluate the following factors: (1) substrate for periphyton and (2) the C/N ratio of water. Dry molasses were applied weekly in the tanks to raise C/N ratio of water to 20:1. The addition of molasses to the culture water significantly lowered DO2 and pH levels of water, and raised nitrite concentration. Fish stocked in the control tanks (no periphyton, no C/N ratio balance) attained a final body weight significantly higher than those observed for other treatments after 6 weeks of culture. In spite of the correction of C/N ratio of water to 20: 1, low DO2 concentrations avoided the suitable development of bioflocs.
- Published
- 2014
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