Impact of Red Water System (RWS) application on water quality of catfish culture using aquaponics

Abstract

This study aim was to analyze the effect of Red Water System (RWS) probiotics application on water quality in aquaponic system. The research used experimental method using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and three replications. Treatment A: RWS 7.5 μL•L-1/week without aquaponic probiotic, Treatment B: aquaponic without RWS probiotics, treatment C: RWS probiotic addition in aquaponic media at 7.5 μL•L-1/week, treatment D: addition of RWS probiotics in aquaponic media at 10 μL•L-1/week and treatment E: addition of RWS probiotics in in aquaponic media at 12.8 μL•L-1/week. Parameters measured were pH, temperature, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate. The results showed that water temperature and pH relatively unchanged in all treatments. The addition of RWS probiotics did not improve the concentration of ammonia, nitrate and phosphate. In fact, the catfish culture with only aquaponic resulted lower concentration of ammonia, nitrate and phosphate than other treatment. The lowest value of ammonia, nitrate and phosphates was obtained in the experimental groups of aquaponic with RWS of 10 μL•L-1/week (Treatment D). Treatment D has the lowest average ammonia of 0.50 ppm, reduced nitrate up to 60.78 % and temperature and pH relatively unchanged.