International Journal of Aquaculture, 2013, Vol.3, No.21, 117
-
125
http://ija.sophiapublisher.com
117
Research Report Open Access
Production of
Clarias Gariepinus
Fingerlings in Recirculating Sytems
Oparaku Nkiruka Francisca , Mgbenka B. O
National Centre for Energy Research and Development, Zoology Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Corresponding author email:
greatgodnf@yahoo.com;
Authors
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2013, Vol.3, No.21 doi: 10.5376/ija.2013.03.0021
Received: 9 Jun., 2013
Accepted: 27 Jun., 2013
Published: 9 Jul., 2013
Copyright © 2013
Francisca. This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article
:
Francisca, 2013, Production of
Clarias Gariepinus
Fingerlings in Recirculating Sytems, International Journal of Aquaculture, Vol.3, No.21 117-125 (doi:
10.5376/
ija.2013. 03.0021)
Abstract
Fingerling productions using recirculating system of fish pond, powered with electricity and solar panelsas power sources
were carried out. Plumbing work was carried out for installation of pipes and accessories that helped in water circulation inside and
outside the pond and treatment tank. Oxygen pump with air stones was installed and air stones placed in each pond to aerate the
ponds continuously. The dimensions of treatment tank which was constructed with concrete were (3.4×1×1.5) m. There were four
compartments in the water treatment tank each measuring (1×0.6×1.25) m. Procurements of biofilters that were arranged inside the
treatment tank in the following order; bioblocks, biobrush, Maifan stones, coral sand, ceramic ring, activated charcoal and UV light.
The results of the microbial analysis of the recirculating system water samples were (2.2×10
3
±200) cfu/mL, (6.8×10
3
±10)
cfu/mL
and
(1.8
×10
3
±10)cfu/mL for solar powered pump water, electric powered pump water, and UV treated waste water (outlet water)
respectively. Oxygen values were 9.4±1.6, 6.2±0.20, 5.7±0.20, 7.2±0.15 for inlet, solar powered fish pond, electric powered fish
pond and UV treated water respectively; dissolved oxygen was between 5.7 mg/L to 9.4 mg/L. Survival % was high for both systems.
Keywords
Recirculating system;
Clarias gariepinus
;
Power sources
Introduction
Water conservation and reuse has become a major
issue in aquaculture in recent years. Concern over
increased demand in aquifers, cost of operating wells,
environmental impact of aquaculture effluent, and the
desire to increase production efficiency continues to
drive advances in technology and management practices.
Several of the management strategies developed to
address these issues include enhancing water
circulation in ponds and developing intensive,
recirculating tank systems. The combination of these two
technologies is referred to as pond recirculating systems.
Pond culture is the most widely used production
technology in world aquaculture. The lower stocking
and feeding rates, permit of water and lower
investment and production costs have contributed to
the present expanse of pond production worldwide
(
Wheaton, 1977).
Masser et al. (1992) stated that recirculating system is
biologically complex and mechanically sophisticated.
It requires constant monitoring to ensure that they are
functioning properly.
Major objective of water circulation is to destratify, or
mix, the deeper, cooler, oxygen-deficient waters with
the shallow, warmer waters rich in dissolved oxygen,
reducing the risk of low dissolved oxygen due to
turnovers and again water disinfection is important. In
this experiment filtered water was passed through UV
light to destroy any microbes causing disease that may
be in the water.
One way of achieving high production intensities is
through the use of recirculating aquaculture tanks
systems (concrete or fibre glass). This system requires
aeration and complete feeds to support the high
stocking densities (Boyd, 1982). In aquatic production
aeration is vital to the vigorous health and vitality of
fish. Intensively cultured fish becomes stressed
without enough oxygen if not aerated, Boyd (1982).
Paddle wheels and surface aerators do not address
these problems or correct them. Complete aeration of
pond through pond bottom is achieved with
recirculating systems and toxic gas removal enables
oxygen-breathing micro organisms and insects to feed
on the organic sediment and organic water (Boyd and
Watten, 1989). Recirculating system maximizes water
re-use by employing comprehensive water treatment
system. Water treatment processes typically are solid