Experimental Investigation of Plant Bio-Filter on Water Quality and Growth of Iridescent Shark in a Pilot Scale Aquaponic System
Bharat N. Mulay1, K. Rajasekhara Reddy2
1Bharat N. Mulay, Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram, (A.P), India.
2K. Rajasekhara Reddy, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, K.L. University, Guntur (A.P), India.
Manuscript received on 03 May 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 15 May 2019 | Manuscript Published on 28 May 2019 | PP: 551-556 | Volume-7 Issue-6C2 April 2019 | Retrieval Number: F10990476C219/2019©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: An aquaponic system is a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) that incorporate the production of plants without soil. These systems raise large quantities of fish in relatively small volumes of water by treating the water to remove waste products. System reuses the water many times for the production of plants. The system has two components: hydroponics and aquaculture in which it converts the food as excreta of the fish. The excreta dissolved in water fulfill the nutrient requirement of plants. The experiment is conducted to test the survival and growth of the iridescent shark and balsam plants in an aquaponic system. A pilot aquaponic system is developed to examine such possibility and sustainability with 1.08 m3 area of water in aquaponic component and 1 m2 for plant growth. The hydroponic component is used as a plant bio-filter. In the hydroponic component, the coarse aggregate of 0.01m is selected to support the plants. Coconut husk and sand particle layers of 0.03m and 0.06m are used for the growth and development of nitrifying bacteria. The aim of the experiment is to test the success of the aquaponic system in adverse conditions like the unavailability of fresh water for replacement, poor sunlight, drastic temperature variations, and minimum D.O. condition. The system is examined with only 25% of water replacement after 45 days and without maintenance of the biofilter. The recirculation period of water is varied for every 20 days of the span. The impact on environmental factors like D.O., Ammonia, Nitrogen, Nitrates, TDS, and pH are studied in experimental investigations. The growth of fish is steady, and no death is observed during the experimentation. The experimental investigation proves that water can successfully be recirculated and reused for the growth of iridescent shark and balsam plants with a minimum replacement of water for once in 70 days.
Keywords: Aquaponics, ANOVA, Recirculation, TAN.
Scope of the Article: Water Supply and Drainage