Impact of aquaponic system on water quality and health status of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract EN

The present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of aquaponic system on physicochemical water constituents and health status of Oreochromis niloticus.

One hundred and twenty apparently healthy fish were collected and divided equally into two treatments representing aquaponic system and the aquaria (control).Water quality was measured on basis of daily [EC, pH, DO and Temperature], three time weekly [un-ionized ammonia (NH3), Nitrite (NO2) and Nitrate (NO3)], twice weekly (Alkalinity, Total phosphate, Total Hardness, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Chloride (Cl)] and once weekly [Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Iron(Fe), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd)].

Results of water analysis revealed improvement of water quality parameters in aquaponic system including significant beneficial increase in pH value with DO and significant decrease in toxic ammonia, nitrite and temperature.

On the other hand, the total hardness, Ca, Mg, Cl, Na, K and heavy metals showed non-significant decrease in aquaponic system.

Ten fish from each system were experimentally infected with Aeromonas veronibiovar sobria to detect the mortality rates for evaluating the health state of the fish.

Challenged fish in control system showed mass mortalities in all fish, while in aquaponic fish mortality represented as 10% at 4th day until the end of the experiment.s