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Growth Response, Feed Utilization and Nutrient Retention in Monosex Tilapia (oreochromis Niloticus) Fed with Floating and Sinking Pellets in a Recirculating Aquaponic System

AQM Robiul Kawser,
Department of Aquaculture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Md Amzad Hossain
Department of Aquaculture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Shah Alam Sarker
School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bangladesh Open University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted for 10 weeks to compare the effects of feeding sinking and floating commercial pellets in monosex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a recirculating aquaponic system. Each of the commercially available isonitrogenous floating and sinking pellets were tested in triplicates. The water quality parameters during the experimental period were within the suitable range for fish culture. At the end of the rearing period, significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in % weight gain, specific growth rate, hepatosomatic index and feed conversion ratio of fish fed with floating and sinking pellets. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the chemical composition of O. niloticus except lipid content. In terms of growth.

Keywords: Aquaponic, Monosex tilapia, Feed, Growth, Nutrient retention

Location: Department of aquaculture field research area of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU)

Start Date: 17-06-2014

End Date: 25-08-2014

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Tilapia, Feed, Nutrition

Objectives:

Formulated fish feeds represent one of the largest variable costs in traditional aquaculture systems (Naylor et al. 2009). Both floating and sinking pellet can produce satisfactory growth, but some fish species prefer floating, others sinking (Craig and Helfrich 2002). Tilapia can utilize both the floating pellets and sinking pellets very efficiently (Santiago 1987). The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of floating and sinking pellets on the growth of monosex tilapia and their feed utilization as well as nutrient retention in a recirculating aquaponic system.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted for a period of 70 days from 17th June to 25 August, 2014 in department of aquaculture field research area of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU). The experiment was designed into two treatment groups (T1 and T2) consist of two different pellets each having three replications. Size of the fish rearing tanks was 300 liter where 50 fish were stocked in each of these six tanks. Commercially made floating pellets (T1) and sinking pellets (T2) were used to evaluate the performance of monosex tilapia where the protein percentage of both the pellets was 30% (according to manufacturer labeling). 2.1 Setting up recirculating aquaponic system In this experiment fish was reared in plastic tanks. There were six fish rearing tanks in total where three tanks were received floating pellets and other three were received sinking pellets. Both groups of tanks were interconnected with siphoning pipe.

Vegetable trays (51cm×24cm×17cm) were placed above a stage under shed. In this experiment water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Indian spinach (Spinacia oleracea) were used. All the trays were interconnected with pipe. These six vegetable growing trays were filled with small piece of bricks. Seedlings were transplanted in aquaponic units at three weeks when plants have at least 2–3 true leaves. Separate recirculation system was established for each group of fish rearing tanks. At first all the fish rearing tanks were filled with water. For the first group of tank, a water pump of 12 watt capacity was set in the floating feed receiving tank. Opening of the one side of a pipe was jointed with the water pump while the other side of the pipe was inserted into a PVC plastic pipe that carries nutrient rich water into the elevated vegetables trays. Water from all the trays via the central trays through an outlet pipe enter into the fish rearing tank by gravitational force. Rearing tanks of each treatment were interconnected with siphoning pipe.

2.2 Stocking and rearing of fish species Monosex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) of 3.4±0.3 g size was collected from a commercial fish hatchery. In the beginning of the experiment, fish was weighed individually, selected and distributed into each of the 300 liter tanks; 50 fish per tank. All tanks were uniformly aerated. Triplicate groups of fish were fed with commercially available floating and sinking tilapia pellets. The fish was fed up to satiation two times a day, six days in a week.

2.3 Sampling and water quality monitoring Fish were sampled fortnightly and growth and survival monitored. Ten carcasses from each tank was pooled, washed with distilled water and stored at -20 ⁰ C for whole body chemical composition analysis. Temperature was recorded daily in each tank. For water analysis, samples from the inflow pipe and fish culture tanks were collected. Dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH were measured using Oxygen and pH meters (Hach Co., Loveland, Colorado). Ammonia level was measured weekly using a spectrophotometer (DR 5000).

2.4 Chemical Analysis of Sample The proximate composition of fish and fish feed samples was determined according to standard method given by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC, 2000) [2].

2.5 Growth parameters Growth of fry in length (cm) and weight (g) was measured and the following parameters were used to evaluate fry growth: The specific growth rate (SGR) was calculated as: SGR = 100 (ln mean final weight) - (ln mean initial weight) ÷ culture days. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated as: FCR = total feed given ÷ total wet weight gain. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) was calculated as: PER = total wet weight gain ÷ total protein fed. % Weight gain (g) was calculated as: 100 ((Mean final weight - Mean initial weight)/ Mean initial weight). Hepatosomatic index (HSI) was calculated as: 100 (Liver weight/ Body weight). Nutrient retention (%) was calculated as: 100 ((Final carcass composition - Initial carcass composition) /Amount of nutrient fed)

2.6 Statistical analysis Data obtained from this experiment were subjected to oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA). All statistical analyses were performed using the statistical software package (Statistics 10).

Source of Information: International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2016; 4(6): 329-333

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Achievement/Findings:

The overall performance of O. niloticus fed with floating pellet was better than sinking pellet in terms of growth response, feed utilization and nutrient retention. If the farmers of Bangladesh adopt this recirculating aquaponic technology in mass scale and in accordance with appropriate guideline, this could be the future of fish production in Bangladesh. Further research needs to be done to optimize the stocking and planting density of fish and vegetables in different size fish rearing tanks and use of different medium for the culture of vegetables.

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