Comparison of Different Biofilter Media During Biological Bed Maturation Using Common Carp as a Biogen Donor

Abstract

This experiment analysed the operation of submerged and dripping biological filters with three types of filling: commercial fitting HXF12KLL (CF), two innovative polypropylene aggregates (PPA) and polyethylene screw caps for PET bottles (PSC). The experiment determined the time needed to reach full filter functionality at the maturation stage, the time needed to start successive stages of the nitrification process and the maximum concentration of each nitrogen compound in water in the recirculation systems. The filter operation characteristics after the maturation stage were also examined. These issues are crucial during the preparation and launch of new aquaculture facilities. A literature analysis indicated that the ability of biological filters to oxidise nitrogen compounds is affected by a number of factors. Studies conducted at various centres have covered selected aspects and factors affecting the effectiveness of biological filters. During this study, the model fish common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was used. The current experiment involved examination of biological filter maturation and operation during the carp fry rearing stage, which allowed the biofilter operation characteristics to be determined. At the third day of the experiment, the ammonium concentration reached approximately 3 mg NH4-N/dm3. It remained at this level for 10 days and later decreased below 0.25 mg NH4-N/dm3. The maximum nitrite concentration ranged from 11.7 mg/dm3 to 20.9 mg NO2-N/dm3 within 9 to 20 days and later decreased with time. Nitrate concentrations were seen to increase during the experiment. The all applied biofilter media showed possibility to be used in commercial aquaculture systems.

Using Rutilus rutilus (L.) and Perca fluviatilis (L.) as Bioindicators of the Environmental Condition and Human Health: Lake Łańskie, Poland

“…One is the intensive breeding combined with artificial reproduction in captivity [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ] and the other is fishing in oceans, seas, lakes and rivers. Fish farming, especially in recirculated aquaculture systems (RAS), is carried out under strict control of both the physicochemical parameters of water and food quality (e.g., [ 15 , 16 ]). However, in the wild, fish eat food that they find, which may contain contaminants that are harmful not only to the fish themselves, for example, by interfering with reproductive efficiency (e.g., [ 17 ]), but also potentially to humans who consume these fish.…”

The challenges of aquaculture in protecting the aquatic ecosystems in the context of climate changes

“…Biological treatment (treatment level 2) is the core of RAS (Davidson et al, 2014;Diem, Konnerup and Brix, 2017;Sikora, Nowosad and Kucharczyk, 2020;Qi et al, 2022;Santorio et al, 2022;Shitu et al, 2022). Ammonium and nitrite nitrogen are the main metabolic wastes produced by feed residue and excrement.…”