An Experimental Study of Water Quality and Balsam Growth in Minimum Dissolved Oxygen Conditions with Aquaponic System
Bharat Mulay1, K. Rajasekhara Reddy2
1Bharat N. Mulay, Department of Civil Engineering, K.L University, Guntur (A.P), India.
2K.Rajasekhara Reddy, Department of Civil Engineering, K.L University, Guntur (A.P), India.
Manuscript received on 07 March 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 20 March 2019 | Manuscript published on 30 March 2019 | PP: 288-292 | Volume-8 Issue-5, March 2019 | Retrieval Number: E3301038519/19©BEIESP
Open Access | Ethics and Policies | Cite | Mendeley | Indexing and Abstracting
© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: The aquaponic systems are the combination of fish and plant culture. These are recirculating systems with two components: hydroponics and aquaculture. In these systems, the food given to fish is metabolized. This metabolized food fulfills the nutrient requirement of plants. This is achieved by the recirculation of water from the aquaculture component to the hydroponic component and back to the aquaculture component. This experiment is conducted to test the effect of recycling of water in a longer period on the growth of iridescent shark and balsam plant in the aquaponic system. The system developed is 1.08 m3 area of water in aquaponic component and 1 m2 for plant growth. In the hydroponic component course aggregate of 0.1m diameter was selected to support the plants. Coconut husk and sand particle layers of 0.03m and 0.06m are used for the growth and development of nitrifying bacteria. An average quantity of 1 kg of balsam plant leaves was produced in 60 days of plant growth. It has been found that balsam plant and iridescent shark species in this system has a faster and better growth compared to the conventional growth. The water used in the system is completely replaced once in three months after 45 days. Also, it was recirculated once in 3 days during experimentation. The DO level of fish tank water was dropped below 2 ppm during the span of two successive recirculations. No direct sunlight was available for the plants and no other artificial light source was used in cloudy and humid atmospheric conditions. The experiment also tested the success of the aquaponic system in adverse conditions like unavailability of fresh water for replacement, poor sunlight and minimum DO condition. The combination of balsam and iridescent shark proved to be suitable for the aquaponic system under such adverse conditions.
Keyword: Aquaponic, Biofilter, TAN, DO, Nitrates.
Scope of the Article: Water Supply and Drainage