Objective. To evaluate the performance of different biofilters in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for trout farming. Materials and methods. It was used a 1m3 plastic tank for fries farming; fabric bags to solids retention; a submersible pump; a constant water level and flow distribution box; six up flow biofilters in 3” PVC tube; sand of D10=0.45mm as carrier. The reactors were operated at local temperature and with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 11 min, the biofilters were inoculated in the next way: R1-Control: RAS water; R2-Fish culture farm sludges; R3- Water from aerated lagoon of Antanas landfill (AL); R4-Aquarium sediments; R5- Aerated lagoon of AL sludges; R6-Sludges from sulfidogenic reactor of AL. The weight gain (WG) and the food conversion (FC) were evaluated, some physic-chemical parameters were monitored and the nitrogen and suspended solids removal efficiency were evaluated. Results. The WG of the cultured animals was 1.58 g/d and the FC was 1.41. There were no differences for ammonium and nitrite removal between the reactors; the average removal efficiencies were: ammonium 4.78%, nitrite 27.2%, nitrate 32.3%, suspended solids 37.5%; R4 and R5 reactors presented the best performance on nitrate removal, with average efficiencies of 47.4% and 42.8%. R3 presented the best SS removal with an average of 58.2%. Conclusions. The RAS water treatment system guaranteed appropriated liquid quality conditions for trout farming; the most efficient reactor for removal of the different forms of nitrogen was the inoculated with the aerated lagoon of AL sludges.RESUMEN Objetivo. Evaluar el desempeño de diferentes biofiltros en un sistema de recirculación (SRA) para cultivo de trucha arcoiris. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizó: un tanque de 1m3 para cultivo de alevines, bolsas de lienzo para retención de sólidos, bomba sumergible, caja de nivel constante y distribución de flujo, seis biofiltros en tubo de PVC de 3”, arena con D10=0.45mm como medio soporte. Los biofiltros se operaron a temperatura ambiente y con tiempo de retención hidráulica (TRH) de 11 min, se inocularon así: R1-Control: Aguas del SRA; R2-Lodos estación piscícola; R3-Agua Laguna aireada relleno sanitario Antanas (RSA); R4-Sedimentos acuarios; R5-Lodos laguna aireada RSA; R6-Lodos reactor sulfidogénico RSA. Se evaluó la ganancia de peso (GP) y la conversión alimenticia (CA), se monitorearon parámetros físico-químicos y se evaluó la eficiencia de remoción de nitrógeno y sólidos suspendidos. Resultados. La GP de los animales fue de 1.58 g/d y la CA de 1.41. No hubo diferencias para remoción de amonio ni nitritos entre reactores; las eficiencias medias de remoción fueron: amonio 4.78%, nitrito 27.2%, nitrato 32.3%, sólidos suspendidos 37.5%. Los reactores R4 y R5 presentaron mejor remoción de nitratos, con eficiencias medias de 47.4% y 42.8%. El R3 reportó la mejor remoción de SS con promedio del 58.2%. Conclusiones. El sistema de tratamiento del agua en el SRA garantizó condiciones de calidad del líquido, apropiadas para el cultivo de la trucha; el reactor más eficiente para la remoción de las formas de nitrógeno evaluadas fue el inoculado con lodos de la laguna aireada del RSA.

Objective. To evaluate a water recirculation system for rainbow trout fish cultures at the recirculating laboratory of the Aquaculture Engineering Production Program of University of Nariño. Materials and Methods. 324 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mikyss) fries were cultured in 12 plastic tanks with a capacity of 250 L in an aquaculture recirculating system the treatment system of which was made up by a conventional sedimentation tank, a fixed stand upflow biofilter with recycled PVC tube pieces and a natural degassing system; the sedimentation unit effluent was pumped up to a reservoir tank using a 2 HP centrifugal pump after being subject to gravity through the biofilter and to be then distributed to the 12 culture units to which a constant amount of air from a blower was injected. Results. The water treatment system removed 31% of total suspended solids, 9.5% of total ammonia nitrogen, and increased dissolved oxygen to the final effluent in 6.5%. An increase of 305% in biomass was calculated during 75 days, the mortality percentage registered throughout the study period was 4.9%. Conclusions. The water treatment system maintained the physicochemical water quality parameters within the values recommended for the species. The increase in weight and size, food conversion, mortality and biomass production reported normal values for rainbow trout fish culture in recirculating systems.

RESUMENObjetivo. Comparar la eficiencia de remoción de sólidos, turbidez y color aparente en un decantador convencional y uno de columna en un sistema de recirculación acuícola (SRA) para cultivo de tilapia. Materiales y métodos. Se cultivaron tilapias con densidad entre 30 y 33 kg/m 3 en un SRA, el cual constó de: caja de nivel constante, tubería en PVC, tres tanques de cultivo, decantador convencional de flujo horizontal (D.Con), decantador de columna de flujo ascendente (D.Col), reactor de lecho fluidizado trifásico, reactor para transferencia de oxígeno, compresor, blower, electrobomba. El D.Con operó con volumen útil (VU) de 1.4 m 3 y tiempo de retención hidráulica (TRH) de 2.94 h, fue vaciado una vez por semana para lavado y colecta del lodo, representando sustitución del 55% del volumen del sistema. El D.Col operó con 0.30 m 3 de VU y TRH de 0.553 h. Se realizaron 3 sangrados diarios, representando sustitución semanal de 50% del volumen. Resultados. Las eficiencias promedio de remoción fueron: para sólidos totales de 34.01 y 44.44%; sólidos suspendidos 64.45% y 71.71%; sólidos volátiles 21.10 y 45.65%; para turbidez 65.51 y 62.79%; para color aparente 56.37 y 50.91%, respectivamente en el D.Con y el D.Col. Conclusiones. Ambos decantadores son útiles en la remoción de los parámetros estudiados y presentaron comportamientos semejantes en remoción de turbidez y color aparente. Sin embargo, el D.Col es más eficiente que el convencional para remoción de los sólidos, ocupa menor espacio, menor volumen y requiere menor porcentaje de renovación, mostrando viabilidad para su utilización en SRA.Palabras clave: Acuicultura, gravimetría, recirculación, tilapia, SRA (Fuente: DeCS). Rev.MVZ Córdoba 18(2):3492-3500, 2013. ORIGINAL 3493 ABSTRACTObjective. To compare the removal efficiency of solids, turbidity and apparent color between a conventional and a column settling tanks in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for tilapia farming. Materials and methods. Tilapia with a stocking density between 30 and 33 kg/m 3 were cultured in a RAS consisting of a water level control box, PVC piping system, three plastic tanks for culture, conventional horizontal flow settling tank (Con.ST), column vertical flow settling tank (Col. ST), three phase fluidized bed reactor, oxygen transfer reactor, air compressor, air blower, centrifugal pump. The Con.ST operated at a volume of 1.4 m 3 and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2.94 h; and was drained weekly for washing and sludge collection, representing a 55%discharge of system water volume. The Col.ST operated with a volume of 0.30 m 3 and HRT of 0.553 h. Three daily partial draining operations were executed, representing a discharge of 50% of the system volume. Results. The mean solids removal efficiencies were: 34.01 and 44.44%for total solids; 64.45 and 71.71% for suspended solids; 21.10 and 45.65% volatile solids; 65.51% and 62.79% for turbidity; and 56.37 and 50.91% for apparent color, respectively for Con.ST and Col.ST. Conclusions. The two settling devices are useful on remo...