Serial particle size fractionation and water quality in a recirculating aquaculture system for eel

Abstract

The effects of suspended solids size on culture water quality were determined in a commercial recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. The particulate phase of the culture water was serially divided into six size fractions using 300, 200, 100, 75, 45, and 26 μm pore size stainless sieves. The total, dissolved, and particulate nitrogen and phosphorus, and suspended solids for each fraction were determined. The concentration ranges in the fractions were: total nitrogen, 164-148 mg L-1; total phosphorus, 20.4-15.5 mg L-1; and total suspended solids, 8.1-6.1 mg L-1. The concentration of total nitrogen and total phosphorus decreased significantly (P<0.05) with a 26 μm and 200 μm filter pore size, respectively. Nutrients from dissolved organic substances were much higher than from particulates. Analysis of particle size fractionation and its effects on water quality is useful to estimate removal efficiencies of a commercial effluent screening device for solid management and development of solid removal systems.