Performance of the seaweeds Gracilaria salicornia and Caulerpa lentillifera as biofilters in a hatchery scale recirculating aquaculture system for juvenile spotted babylons (Babylonia areolata)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using seaweeds as biofilters in a hatchery scale recirculating aquaculture system for juvenile spotted babylons (Babylonia areolata). Two seaweeds Gracilaria salicornia and Caulerpa lentillifera were used with three initial biomass levels of each species (280, 560 and 840 g wet weight m -3 ). Spotted babylon with an average initial shell length of 1.32 ± 0.01 cm and body weight of 0.37 ± 0.01 g was used with a stocking density of 300 snails m -2 . The experiment was carried out in triplicate over a period of 120 days. Results showed that seawater quality (water temperature, conductivity, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and total suspended solids) gradually changed with no significant differences between treatments throughout the experimental period, except alkalinity, total ammonia nitrogen, nitritenitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and phosphate. Growth rates in weight and shell length of the spotted babylon cultured in all seaweed treatments used were not significantly different between seaweeds and density treatments, but significant differences in final survival rate of the spotted babylon were found between seaweed and density treatments. Growth rate and biomass gain of C. lentillifera were significantly higher than those of G. salicornia for all stocking density treatments. This study shows that Gracilaria salicornia and Caulerpa lentillifera can be used as biofilters for regulating water quality in a recirculating culture system for spotted babylons.

Growth and potential purification ability of Nitzschia sp. benthic diatoms in sea cucumber aquaculture wastewater

“…Treatment of aquaculture effluent has been a significant focus of attention in coastal areas around the world, including those of China (Quintã, Santos, Thomas, & Le, ; Su et al., ). Methods of treating aquaculture wastewater are generally classified as physical methods, chemical methods or biological methods (Chaitanawisuti, Santhaweesuk, & Kritsanapuntu, ; Oladoja, Adelagun, Ahmad, & Ololade, ; Webb et al., , ). Biological treatment methods are particularly suitable for wastewater treatment because of their high efficiency, low cost and lack of secondary pollution (Chaitanawisuti et al., ; Quintã et al., ; Webb et al., , ).…”

“…Methods of treating aquaculture wastewater are generally classified as physical methods, chemical methods or biological methods (Chaitanawisuti, Santhaweesuk, & Kritsanapuntu, ; Oladoja, Adelagun, Ahmad, & Ololade, ; Webb et al., , ). Biological treatment methods are particularly suitable for wastewater treatment because of their high efficiency, low cost and lack of secondary pollution (Chaitanawisuti et al., ; Quintã et al., ; Webb et al., , ). Algae that utilize nitrogen and phosphorus may be used to remove nutrients from eutrophic aquaculture wastewater (Chaitanawisuti et al., ; Deviller, Aliaume, Nava, Casellas, & Blancheton, ; Quintã et al., ; Vílchez, Garbayo, Lobato, & Vega, ).…”

“…Biological treatment methods are particularly suitable for wastewater treatment because of their high efficiency, low cost and lack of secondary pollution (Chaitanawisuti et al., ; Quintã et al., ; Webb et al., , ). Algae that utilize nitrogen and phosphorus may be used to remove nutrients from eutrophic aquaculture wastewater (Chaitanawisuti et al., ; Deviller, Aliaume, Nava, Casellas, & Blancheton, ; Quintã et al., ; Vílchez, Garbayo, Lobato, & Vega, ). Algae are well‐suited for wastewater treatment applications because algae are easy to obtain, easily controlled and grow rapidly.…”

“…Algae are well‐suited for wastewater treatment applications because algae are easy to obtain, easily controlled and grow rapidly. Moreover, a wide variety of species of algae with different characteristics are available (Avendano‐Herrera & Riquelme, ; Cañizares & Domínguez, ; Rawatna, Ral, & Hall, ; Chen, Zhuang, & Fang, ; Chaitanawisuti et al., ; Sawayama, Rao, & Hall, ; Su et al., ) .…”

Temperature modeling of a land-based aquaculture system for the production of Gracilaria pacifica : Possible system modifications to conserve heat and extend the growing season

“…Neori et al (1996) used Gracilaria as a biofilter for a fish producing system with a water residence time of 4.9 days. More recent biofilter research has maintained Gracilaria in a 900 l recirculating system for 120 days with no water exchange (Chaitanawisuti et al, 2011). Although Gracilaria is commonly cultured, very little work has been done in respect to growing Gracilaria pacifica, a species native to the Eastern Pacific Ocean.…”