Open AccessAlternative Solids Removal for Warm Water Recirculating Raft Aquaponic Systems
Author(s) -
Danaher Jason J.,
Shultz R. Charlie,
Rakocy James E.,
Bailey Donald S.
Publication year - 2013
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/jwas.12040
Subject(s) - aquaponics , clarifier , spinach , water quality , suspended solids , biology , nitrite , nitrate , total suspended solids , separator (oil production) , pulp and paper industry , tilapia , total dissolved solids , alkalinity , zoology , wastewater , chemical oxygen demand , environmental engineering , aquaculture , environmental science , fishery , chemistry , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , physics , organic chemistry , engineering , thermodynamics
Aquaponics is an integrated fish and plant recirculating production system. The University of the Virgin Islands' raft aquaponic system uses a cylindro‐conical clarifier as a primary solids removal device; however, a swirl separator may offer advantages. The objectives of the 8‐wk experiment were to compare water quality parameters, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus , production and water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica , production in a raft aquaponic system using a clarifier or swirl separator for primary treatment of solids in the waste stream . No significant differences ( P ≥ 0.05) existed between treatments for temperature, oxygen, pH , total suspended solids, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, total ammonia‐nitrogen, nitrite‐nitrogen, nitrate‐nitrogen, macronutrients, and micronutrients concentrations in the culture water. There were no significant differences ( P ≥ 0.05) between treatments for Nile tilapia production, average weight, survival, or feed conversion ratio. There were no significant differences ( P ≥ 0.05) between treatments for water spinach production or plant tissue analysis. In conclusion, the swirl separator used in this experiment performed similar to the clarifier and water spinach grew vigorously in the raft aquaponic system .