Microbubble Aeration in A Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) Increased Dissolved Oxygen, Fish Culture Performance, and Stress Resistance of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

Abstract

Microbubble aeration has been recognized as a tool to improve dissolved oxygen and fish culture performance in limited water aquaculture. This research aims to investigate the effect of microbubble aeration on increasing dissolved oxygen, fish culture performance, and stress resistance of red tilapia. The study used 3 treatments of aerations namely microbubble, blower, and without aeration with 3 replicates each. Red tilapia weighing 115.27±3.93 g were stocked in a plastic tank of 800 L water volume at density 50 individual/tank and cultured for 50 days in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Dissolved oxygen, fish culture performance, and stress resistance were evaluated. Dissolved oxygen was monitored daily. In the middle of the research period, a stress test was performed using different salinity at 12 and 24 ppt. Statistical analysis was subjected to water quality, fish culture performance, and stressed resistance. The microbubble aeration was able to stabilize DO level on 4.28 mg/L until the end of the experiment and suppressed the CO2 and ammonia content. Fish biomass was higher in microbubble treatment, with a lower FCR value, lower stress level indicating fish in good health and promoting good culture performance.