Open AccessIntensive Rotifer Production in a Pilot‐scale Continuous Culture Recirculating System Using Nonviable Microalgae and an Ammonia Neutralizer
Author(s) -
Bentley C. D.,
Carroll P. M.,
Watanabe W. O.,
Riedel A. M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the world aquaculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0893-8849
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.2008.00201.x
Subject(s) - rotifer , biology , zoology , feed conversion ratio , biofilter , ammonia , recirculating aquaculture system , microbiology and biotechnology , pulp and paper industry , ecology , aquaculture , fishery , body weight , biochemistry , engineering , endocrinology , fish <actinopterygii>
A study was conducted to test the performance of a high‐density (>3000 individuals/mL) continuous recirculating system for rotifers ( B. rotundiformis ) fed nonviable Nannochloropsis oculata and using sodium hydroxymethanesulfonate to neutralize ammonia. Three different microalgae feed rates (g of N. oculata [68 × 10 9 cells/mL] per million rotifers/d) were tested in successive trials. In Trial 1 (feed rate = 1.5), during a 30‐d period, rotifers were harvested daily to 3000 individuals/mL, for an average yield of 178 million/d. Feed efficiency (million rotifers/g/d) was 0.33. In Trial 2 (feed rate = 1.1), during a 32‐d period, an average of 106 million rotifers were harvested daily, and feed efficiency was 0.26. In Trial 3 (feed rate = 1.3), during a 30‐d period, an average of 107 million rotifers was harvested daily, and feed efficiency was 0.23. An economic analysis based on a feed rate of 1.5 showed that production cost was 40% lower than the traditional batch culture method (US$ 0.29 vs. 0.46 per million rotifers/d). The continuous culture system tested reliably produced large quantities of rotifers on a daily basis without the use of a biofilter and with a lower production cost than a batch culture system.