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1
Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries Mangaluru, India
2
Department of Aquaculture, College of Fishery Science Muthukur, India
*Corresponding author
ABSTRACT
Keywords The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of biofloc-based
Rohu, Labeo rohita aquaculture system on water quality suitability for the growth of rohu for a
(Hamilton) Culture Tanks
period of 120 days under laboratory conditions in triplicates. Different
Article Info water quality parameters were checked at weekly interval. Sugar has been
Accepted: given as the source of carbon and ammonium chloride as source of
17 July 2018 ammonia. Much difference was not found in the water quality parameters
Available Online: except nitrate, nitrite and BOD when compared to control.
10 August 2018
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formation of new cells (Avnimelech, 1999). Fishery Science, Eguvamitta, Potti Sreeramulu
Thus, as a basic microbial process, utilization Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India. 18
of carbohydrate is accompanied by the tanks were used made of polyethylene with
immobilization of inorganic nitrogen the capacity of 100 liters and covered with
(Avnimelech, 1999). A high C/N ratio (10-20) Netlon mesh to avoid jumping of fish. Tanks
is recommended for development of biofloc were cleaned after checking the leakages and
and efficient ammonia removal (Hargreaves, the level of water filled in each tank was 90
2006). This can be achieved by adding liters only. In the beginning rohu (Labeo
different locally available carbon sources rohita) weighing on an average 3 to 6 grams
and/or using low nitrogen feed (Hargreaves, each were stocked with Sarvepalli Reservoir
2006). water, filled in the polythene tanks of 100
liters capacity and aeration was supplied
The benefits of biofloc technology over continuously 24 hours a day. On third day
conventional practices in terms of water usage rohu fishes were stocked @ 3, 4, and 5
efficiency and dynamic changes in water including control in triplicates. Ground nut oil
quality have been successfully demonstrated cake and rice bran was given as feed. For the
in shrimp farming (Xu et al., 2016) and to development of biofloc sugar and ammonium
some extent in finfish culture (Perez- Fuentes chloride was added in each tank @ 5 grams
et al., 2016). Owing to the limited work on each and later stages the ammonium chloride
biofloc technology application in finfish dose has been increased, after 3rd day of
aquaculture, more researches need to be stocking.
performed to include potential species under
such system. Apart from being filter feeder After one month the water colour was changed
(Chondar, 1999) and periphyton feeder (Azim into coffee brown colour and when it was
et al., 2002), rohu (Labeo rohita) is also checked in emhoff cone, it was around 2.5 ml.
capable of ingesting bacteria in suspension whenever the measuring (biofloc) reached 3.5
(Rahmatullah and Beveridge, 1993). These ml in the cone the water exchanged about
attributes can make this species suitable for 20%. In control 30% water exchange has been
cultivation in biofloc based system. However, done weekly thrice for two weeks till water
biofloc technology application for culture of gets plankton levels and later daily once 30%
this species is yet to be fully demonstrated. water exchange has been done. Ammonium
Moreover, in general, limited studies have chloride has been added as source of ammonia
investigated the potential of biofloc 5 mg every week and when the level of
technology in augmenting the welfare of ammonia was decreased the dose has been
cultured animals, particularly in terms of doubled.
water quality and immunity.
Water quality parameters were estimated
Thus, in order to assess the viability of this weekly once including control and monthly
novel technology for culture of rohu, the once in treatment ponds 20% water was
experiments were designed to elucidate the exchanged every alternative day 30% water in
water quality dynamics in biofloc technology. control tanks. The parameters like pH,
Dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite,
Materials and Methods alkalinity biological oxygen demand were
estimated weekly in both treatment and
The experiment has conducted in the control tanks following the standards methods
Instructional Freshwater Fish Farm, College of (APHA, 1998).
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Fig.1 Treatment 1: Graphical representation of the water quality parameters are given in the table
in experimental tank 3 Rohu’s per tank
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Fig.2 Treatment 2: Graphical representation of the water quality parameters are given in the table
in experimental tank 4 Rohu’s per tank
Fig.3 Treatment 3: Graphical representation of the water quality parameters are given in the table
in experimental tank 5 Rohu’s per tank
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Fig.4 Control 1: Graphical representation of the water quality parameters are given in the table in
experimental tank 3 Rohu’s per tank
Fig.5 Control 2: Graphical representation of the water quality parameters are given in the table in
experimental tank 4 Rohu’s per tank
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Fig.6 Control 3: Graphical representation of the water quality parameters are given in the table in
experimental tank 5 Rohu’s per tank
In control tanks DO ranged from 4.0 to 8.0, The generation of lower levels of NH3, NO2-
5.0 to 8.0 and 5.0 to 8.0 ppm in C1, C2, and C3 and NO3- may be due to the dominance of
control tanks. Ammonia ranged from 0.0 to heterotrophic pathway of ammonia
0.68, 0.00 to 0.65 and 0.00 to 0.65 ppm in C1, immobilization. In fact, biofloc system with
C2, and C3 consequently. Nitrate ranged from proper C/N ratio encourages immobilization
0.00 to 0.40, 0.00 to 0.42 and 0.00 to 0.51 of ammonia by heterotrophic bacteria rather
ppm in C1, C2, and C3 consequently. Nitrite than nitrification (Burford et al., 2004).
ranged from 0.00 to 0.03, 0.00 to 0.33 and Overall, the dynamics of three inorganic
0.00 to 0.20 ppm in C1, C2, and C3 nitrogen species in the biofloc system
consequently. Alkalinity ranged from 144 to indicated involvement of ammonia
196, 153 to 173 and 143 to 174 ppm in C1, C2, immobilization through heterotrophic
and C3 consequently. BOD ranged from 3.2 to pathway as well as nitrification.
4.6, 3.8 to 5.3 and 3.9 to 5.2 ppm (Figure 4, 5
and 6). References
In the present biofloc system, water quality APHA, 1998. Standard Methods for the
parameters DO concentrations and pH were Examination of the Water and
well within the acceptable limits required for Wastewater, twenty second ed.
tropical aquaculture (Bhatnagar and Devi, American Public Health Association,
2013). The higher oxygen utilization during Washington, DC.
nitrification coupled with nitrogen Avnimelech, Y. 1999. Carbon/nitrogen ratio
immobilization through heterotrophic as a control element in aquaculture
pathway of microbial production which is systems. Aquaculture, 176, 227-235.
common in biofloc system (Sharma and Avnimelech, Y., Weber, B., Millstien, A.,
Ahlert, 1977). Hepher, B., Zoran, M.1986. Studies in
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