Use of Natural Zeolite for Ammonia Removal during Simulated Transport of Live Juvenile Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

This study was conducted to determine the effects of zeolites on total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) removal during a 24-hour-sea bass transport. Five experimental treatments (0 (control), 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/l zeolite) with 3 replications were applied in 14 l plastic tanks. 90 sea bass (total weight 175.07 ± 0.49 g) were stocked in each tank. The zeolites were placed in mesh bags and renewed 8 and 16 hours (h) after the commencement of transfer. TAN contents of tank waters were measured after 8, 16 and 24 h. The results revealed that at the 8th h, 20, 30 and 40 g/l zeolite doses were significantly effective compared with the control. At the 16th and 24th h the lowest zeolite level (10 g/l) was also effective in TAN removal. In general highest TAN removal was achieved with 40 g/l treatment with efficiencies of 18.33%, 34.08% and 20.96% at the 8th, 16th and 24th h respectively. Overall, the results suggest that the use of zeolite in sea bass transportation could bring remarkable benefits and thereby increase fish transportation density and welfare.