Integration of duckweed (Lemna minor) as a biological filter in the larval rearing technology of hybrid African catfish (Clarias gariepinus x Heterobranchus longifilis)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17205/aweth.7054Keywords:
African catfish, duckweed, aquacultureAbstract
Aquaculture can provide the solution to meet humanity's animal protein needs. Heteroclarias, produced by crossing the catfish species Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus longifilis, is a hybrid species with good growth parameters and high technological and environmental tolerance. To exploit the genetic potential of the hybrid, intensive feeding is required, therefore rearing can have a negative impact on the environment. The aim of our experiment was to investigate the impact of the integration of Lemna minor as a biological filter on the water quality parameters of an intensive fish production system. In our experiments, we produced Heteroclarias fry in two cycles under semi-farm conditions in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with a water volume of 15 m3 in the first cycle as control (K), and in the second cycle, we integrated Lemna minor (BL) as a biofilter. The use of the duckweed as a biofilter did not affect the production parameters of the fish. However, the analysis of water quality parameters showed that the use of duckweed reduced the average ammonia ((K) 1.26 ± 0.64 mg/l and (BL) 0.29 ± 0.29 mg/l) and nitrite ((K) 1.81 ± 1.39 mg/l; (BL) 0.17 ± 0.22 mg/l) concentrations in the system water compared to the control group. As a result, the number of water exchanges to maintain good water quality was significantly reduced, providing an economic benefit and making the rearing process more sustainable.
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