Improving productivity and water quality of catfish, Clarias sp. cultured in an aquaponic ebb-tide system using different filtration

Abstract

Intensive culture waste has containing high nitrogen and phosphor elements can cause a negative impact on the fish and aquatic environment. The purpose of this experiment to examine the survival, growth, biomass of catfish, vegetable biomass production, and water quality. The treatments of this experiment were A) catfish culture in aquaponic with settling tank filter; B) catfish culture in aquaponic with settling tank and aerobic tank filters; and C) catfish culture in aquaponic with settling tank, semi-anaerobic tank, and aerobic tank filters. Each treatment consisted of three replicates. The result showed that growth, survival, and biomass of catfish at B and C treatments were higher than that of A treatment (P<0.05). Vegetable production such as pakchoy, caisim, tomato, and eggplant at B and C treatments showed higher than that of A treatment (P<0.05). Percentage of removal efficiency (RE) such as nitrite, nitrate, total ammonia (TAN), phosphate, total dissolved solids (TDS), and total organic matter (TOM) at B and C treatments were higher compared to A treatment (P<0.05). Addition of a filter tank in the aquaponic system should be installed in order to increase fish and vegetable production and to keep water quality stable.