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Comparison of Water Quality and Rainbow Trout Production in Oxygenated and Aerated Raceways
Author(s) -
Clark Michael L.,
Helfrich Louis A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
north american journal of aquaculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.432
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1548-8454
pISSN - 1522-2055
DOI - 10.1577/a05-020.1
Subject(s) - rainbow trout , raceway , aeration , alkalinity , trout , zoology , effluent , biology , total dissolved solids , water quality , ammoniacal nitrogen , chemical oxygen demand , fish farming , fishery , nitrogen , aquaculture , chemistry , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , wastewater , environmental engineering , environmental science , physics , organic chemistry , finite element method , thermodynamics
The effects of oxygenation and aeration on water quality and the production of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were compared in eight raceways from 2002 to March 2003. Mean dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were significantly higher in the oxygenated (9.5 mg/L) than aerated raceways (7.4 mg/L). Total sedimented solids loads per day were significantly greater in aerated (10.3 g/L) than oxygenated (8.8 g/L) raceways. Dissolved nitrogen, total gas pressure, and other water quality variables (CO 2 , NO 2 − , total ammonia nitrogen, alkalinity, and pH) did not differ significantly between the treatments. Trout carrying capacity was significantly higher (1,138 kg/raceway) in the oxygenated raceways. However, trout production, growth rates, feed conversion rate, hematocrit, and fish survival were not significantly different between treatments. Oxygen injection was an effective method of increasing carrying capacity and improving water quality by reducing effluent solids loads, but it did not enhance trout production variables at 90% saturation.