Modeling of Nutrients Removal in Lab Scale Ecosystem using Aquatox

Abstract

Paper Protection and restoration of water resources is a major challenging task in recent past. In this study, ability of Aquatox in predicting small scale aquatic ecosystem is studied with limited data. For this purpose experimental pond is created with and without macrophyte duckweed. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is used as performance measure for simulated and experimental values. The phosphate and ammonia concentrations are well predicted while the prediction of nitrate is not encouraging which may require some additional parameters in this model for prediction. After introducing detritus (sediment) as input parameter, RMSE decreases and it is confirmed that sediments parameter improve the model prediction. This suggests special attention is to be given for selection of input parameters in small lab scale aquatic ecosystem.