The following research isolated and identified the main bacterial groups present in the culture of juvenile Nile tilapia in the presence of bioflocs and/or periphyton. The strains were also tested for the production of exoenzymes, indicative of potential virulence factors, and ability to form biofilm. The water samples were taken from tilapia cultured in the presence of bioflocs (T1), in the presence of bioflocs and periphyton (T2), from traditional culture (T3) and from culture in the presence of periphyton (T4). In the growth and selection of the bacterial groups, pour plate method was used, along with the following media: Plate Count Agar (PCA - DIFCO), Aero Pseudo Selective Agar (GSP - Himedia) and Nutrient Agar (AN - Merck). 46 strains were isolated in the following distribution: T1 (n = 12); T2 (n = 10); T3 (n = 14) and T4 (n = 10). Among the isolates, the most frequent genera were: Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Mycobacterium spp., Micrococcus spp., and Corybacterium spp. Bacterial isolates in treatments T1 and T3 tested positive for five virulence profiles each, while those isolated from T2 and T4 for two and three virulence profiles, respectively. Treatments in bioflocs and periphyton (T2) or only periphyton (T4) yielded bacteria of less pathogenic potentials. In relation to the fish growth, T1 and T4 resulted in a higher final weight.

The effects of supplying dried bioflocs biomass to Nile tilapia juveniles were investigated in the present work. Fish were stocked in experimental rearing tanks for eight weeks. Selected variables of water quality, growth performance and effluent quality were evaluated. Fish were given different combinations of artificial diets and biofloc biomass, in wet (in natura) or dry form. As the supply of artificial diet decreased, the allowance of biofloc biomass increased in the same proportion. Biofloc biomass was produced in two 500-L tanks that received daily applications of dry molasses to adjust the C: N ratio of the water to 15: 1. The concentration of nitrite in water was only reduced in the tanks receiving wet bioflocs. The fish growth performance was poorer in the tanks that received dried biofloc biomass than in the tanks with wet biofloc biomass. Given the lack of positive results, there is no justification to dry the biofloc biomass aiming at delivering it as a dry biomass to reared fish.

The present work aimed at determining the tolerance of Nile tilapia juveniles to highly acidic rearing waters and the effects of water acidity on the quality of tank effluents. The experimental design consisted of four treatments with different water pH values (4.12 ± 0.84; 5.13 ± 0.74; 6.14 ± 0.64 and 8.06 ± 0.48), with five replicates each. No exchange of water was performed throughout the study, only water replenishment to maintain the initial level. Variables of water quality, soil, growth performance, metabolism and effluents were monitored for eight weeks. Despite the lower total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration in the pH 8 tanks, their levels of non-ionized ammonia (NH 3 ) were the highest ones. At the end, the lowest body weight of fish was observed in the pH 8 tanks. There was a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) due to to water acidification. There were reduced concentrations of NH 3 in the acidified tanks' effluents. It was concluded that the gradual water acidification up to pH 4 can improve the Nile tilapia juveniles' growth performance.Tolerância de juvenis de tilápia do Nilo à acidez elevada da água de cultivo RESUMO. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a tolerância de juvenis de tilápia do Nilo à acidez elevada da água de cultivo e os efeitos da acidificação da água de cultivo na qualidade dos efluentes dos tanques. O delineamento experimental foi constituído por quatro tratamentos, águas de cultivo com diferentes valores de pH (4,12 ± 0,84; 5,13 ± 0,74; 6,14 ± 0,64 e 8,06 ± 0,48), com cinco repetições cada. Não houve troca da água de cultivo, apenas reposição para manter o nível inicial. Durante oito semanas, foram observadas variáveis de qualidade de água, solo, zootécnicas, metabólicas e efluentes. Embora a concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal total (NAT) na água tenha sido menor nos tanques pH8, sua concentração de amônia não-ionizada (NH 3 ) foi maior que nos demais. Ao final, o menor peso corporal dos peixes foi observado nos tanques pH8. Houve significativa melhora nos resultados de conversão alimentar e na taxa de eficiência proteica com a acidificação do pH da água. As concentrações de NH 3 nos efluentes dos tanques acidificados foram reduzidas. Concluiu-se que a acidificação gradual da água de cultivo de juvenis da tilápia do Nilo até pH 4 é benéfica ao crescimento corporal dos peixes. Palavras-chave: aquicultura, Oreochromis niloticus, peixe acidófilo, amônia, pH. 228Rebouças et al.

ABSTRACT. The present work aimed at reassessing the suitable range of water pH for culture of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. juveniles in eutrophic water. Two hundred and forty tilapia juveniles (1.37 ± 0.04 g) were stocked in twenty 250-L polyethylene tanks (12 fish per tank) for eight weeks. In the control tanks, the pH of water was not adjusted at any time, varying freely over the entire study. In the slight acidification treatment, the culture water was acidified daily to reach a water pH between 5.5 and 6.5. In the moderate acidification treatment, there were daily applications of HCl solution to reach a water pH between 4.5 and 5.5. In the alkalinization treatment, tanks received daily applications of Na 2 CO 3 and NaOH to achieve a water pH between 8.5 and 9.5. Acidification of water, regardless the degree, i.e., slight or moderate, was not able to significantly affect final body weight, specific growth rate and yield of fish. It can be concluded that the acidification of water up to pH 5.5 has no negative influence on growth of Nile tilapia fingerlings in eutrophic tanks. Accordingly, the suitable range of water pH for rearing Nile tilapia should be set at 5.5 -9.0.Keywords: pH of water, tilapia, aquaculture.Reavaliação da faixa adequada de pH da água para o cultivo da tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus L. em águas eutróficas RESUMO. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo reavaliar a faixa adequada de pH da água para o cultivo de juvenis da tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus L. em águas eutróficas. Foram estocados 140 juvenis de 1,37 ± 0,04 g em 20 tanques de polietileno de 250 L por oito semanas (12 peixes por tanque). Nos tanques do grupo controle, não houve ajuste do pH da água em nenhum momento, o qual variou livremente ao longo do estudo. Nos tanques submetidos à acidificação leve, a água de cultivo foi acidificada diariamente para atingir o valor de pH entre 5,5 e 6,5. Os tanques submetidos à acidificação moderada receberam aplicações diárias de solução de HCl para manter o pH da água entre 4,5 e 5,5. Nos tanques submetidos à alcalinização, procedeu-se a aplicação diária de Na 2 CO 3 e NaOH para manter o pH da água entre 8,5 e 9,5. A acidificação da água, independentemente do nível empregado, i.e., leve ou moderado, não foi capaz de afetar significativamente o peso corporal final, taxa de crescimento específico e produtividade de peixe. Concluiu-se que a acidificação da água até pH 5,5 não prejudica o crescimento de juvenis de tilápia em águas eutróficas. Por consequência, a faixa de adequação de pH da água para cultivo da tilápia do Nilo deveria ser estendida para 5,5 -9,0.Palavras-chave: pH da água, tilápia, aquicultura.

ABSTRACT. The present work aimed at evaluating the effects of single or paired increase of water's total alkalinity (TA) and total hardness (TH) on the performance of Nile tilapia juveniles' growth and culture water quality. Twenty five 25-L outdoor polyethylene aquaria were used to hold experimental fish (0.82 ± 0.06 g; 10 fish per aquarium) for 6 weeks. There were two conditions of TA (low or high) and of TH (moderate or high) in the culture water, obtained by the application of different salts (CaCO 3 , Na 2 CO 3 and CaSO 4 ) upon a previously acidified water, all at the same rate. Water quality and growth performance variables were observed in each replicate. The acidification of the supply water with HCl has resulted in significantly lower final body weight (p < 0.05). Except for the Na 2 CO 3 , growth performance of tilapia has improved significantly after CaCO 3 liming or CaSO 4 application (p < 0.05) and no significant difference was detected between these last two fish groups (p > 0.05). It was concluded that beyond a minimum level of TA (≥ 20 mg L CaCO 3 ), it is also important that fish culture waters have a TH/TA ratio higher than 1.Keywords: calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, fish culture, liming, sodium carbonate.Aumento isolado ou combinado da alcalinidade e dureza da água de cultivo de juvenis de tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus RESUMO. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do aumento isolado ou combinado da alcalinidade total (AT) e da dureza total (DT) da água no desempenho produtivo de juvenis de tilápia do Nilo e na qualidade da água de cultivo. Vinte e cinco aquários de polietileno de 25 litros foram utilizados, cada um contendo dez juvenis de tilápia (0,82 ± 0,06 g), que foram cultivados durante o período de seis semanas. Havia duas condições de AT (baixa ou alta) e duas de DT (moderada ou alta) que foram obtidas a partir da aplicação de diferentes sais (CaCO 3 , Na 2 CO 3 and CaSO 4 ) em água previamente acidificada com HCl, todos na mesma taxa. Após seis semanas, os peixes mantidos em água acidificada apresentaram peso corporal significativamente menor que o observado no grupo controle (p < 0,05). Exceto pelo Na 2 CO 3 , o desempenho produtivo da tilápia melhorou significativamente após a aplicação de CaCO 3 ou CaSO 4 na água (p < 0,05), não havendo diferença significativa entre esses dois últimos grupos (p > 0,05). Concluiuse que além de níveis mínimos de AT (≥ 20 mg L CaCO 3 ), é também importante que a água de cultivo de peixes apresente relação DT/AT maior que um.Palavras-chave: carbonato de cálcio, sulfato de cálcio, piscicultura, calagem, carbonato de sódio.