Aquaponics and sustainability: The comparison of two different aquaponic techniques using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Aquaponics is generally regarded as a sustainable practice, but its environmental burdens were not yet deeply investigated. In this study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used to assess the environmental impacts of two hypothetical coupled aquaponics systems (CAPS): Raft System (RAFT) and Media-Filled Beds System (MFBS). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) were considered as cultivated species in both systems. The Simapro^© software V.8.0 was used for calculation. The comparison between the two virtual systems indicated the floating technique as the less impacting one. Even though energy consumption appears to be higher in the floating system, LCA results were markedly influenced by the extensive use of inert materials in MFSB. In both systems, contribution analyses underlined that the main environmental impacts are related to infrastructures, electricity and fish feed. The LCA analyses carried out in this study highlights that the choice of less impacting materials, and the optimization of management practices, should be taken as priorities in order to reduce environmental impacts of this activity.     

Homeopathic complex increases survival without affecting the performance of Nile tilapia during masculinization

During the masculinization of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, the effect of a homeopathic complex (containing Chamomilla, Quina, and sulphur) was evaluated based on survival, performance, gills and liver integrity, and parasitism. Group fed with basal diet + 17 alpha-methyltestosterone (control) showed low survival (40.02%), while the group that additionally received homeopathy and the group that received sucrose (vehicle) showed 73.7% and 87.7% survival, respectively. The growth performance of the group that received homeopathic and the control group was significantly higher than that of the group that received only sucrose. Still, fish that received the homeopathic complex showed higher branchial and hepatic integrity as compared to the other groups. The homeopathic complex contributes to a greater survival of fish in addition to maintaining satisfactory growth. Furthermore, homeopathy contributes to the improvement in gill and liver integrity of the Nile tilapia larvae.     

Experimental investigation on the transport of different fish species in a jet fish pump

A jet fish pump with a throat of ø60 mm was designed to study its performance in the transport of different fish species and the physiological changes in fish thereafter. Experiments were conducted to investigate the fish transport rate and energy required to transport each ton of fish when transporting Carassius auratus, commonly known as the Chinese goldfish, Megalobrama amblycephala, or Wuchang bream, and Ctenopharyngodon idella, the grass carp. Fish were examined for external injuries as well as for several important enzymes and hormones which are indicators of tissue injury and stress. The results showed that the transport rate for all three species of fish rose dramatically with an increase in the primary stream rate. In this experiment, the transport rates of C. auratus, M. amblycephala and C. idella reached 2357 ± 37.2 kg ∙ h⁻¹, 2888 ± 41.6 kg ∙ h⁻¹, and 2060 ± 40.2 kg ∙ h⁻¹, respectively. However, both injury rate and energy required to transport each ton of fish increased no matter whether the primary stream rate was too low or too high. Considering both transport rate and injury rate, the mean primary stream rate of 80 m³ ∙ h⁻¹ was determined to be the optimal operating condition in this experiment. Fish were stressed and most likely some of their organs were damaged. However, most physiological indexes almost fully recovered after several hours.     

Engineered-airlift pumps for aquaculture applications using multiphase flow analysis

Currently, very few aquaculture operations are employing airlift pump technology for water recirculation, aeration, and waste removal. This is likely due to the poor design and lower efficiency of traditional airlift design, the limited amount of research effort that has been invested in improving performance capabilities of air lift pumps and the general lack of awareness of the industry about the inherent advantages of airlift systems. A new efficient airlift pump is hydrodynamically designed by incorporating the Volume of Fluid (VOF) multi-phase model along with the K-ε turbulence model utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools. The pump is designed to offer a substantial reduction in total energy usage as well as an improved quality of the culture products in order to make it attractive to aquaculture industry. In this study, both numerical and experimental investigations were carried out for airlift systems operating under two different submergence ratios of 50% and 90% in a lab setting using 2.54 cm diameter pumps. Also, the performance of a large-scale pumps of 10.16 cm diameters were also tested in an aquaculture raceway to determine its effect on the operation. The numerical results were found to be in agreement with the experiments within ±20% which is considered very reasonable for multiphase flow analysis. The present study was found to present a great tool for modelling the airlift pump performance, and potentially proposing new designs.     

富藻养殖水体中金鱼藻和篦齿眼子菜的抑藻效果研究

夏季高温时，养殖水体水华现象频繁发生，给养殖业带来巨大的损失。常见水生植物释放的活性物质在低浓度下可以起到抑藻作用，对藻类调控具有重要意义。本研究采用实验室静态模拟方法，取养殖池塘暴发蓝藻水华的水体，与沉水植物金鱼藻(Ceratophyllum demersum)及篦齿眼子菜(Potamogeton pectinatus)进行共培养，研究这2种沉水植物对养殖水华水体营养水平、藻类生长、藻类结构及浮游藻类生物多样性的影响。结果显示，金鱼藻和篦齿眼子菜可显著降低水华水体氮、磷等营养水平(P<0.05)；金鱼藻和篦齿眼子菜可有效抑制水华蓝藻(Cyanobacteria)生长，尤其对颤藻和微囊藻(Microcystis sp.)效果显著(P<0.05)，且篦齿眼子菜对水华蓝藻抑制效果更为显著。实验结束时，篦齿眼子菜培养组藻密度下降93.6%，生物量下降98.9%，叶绿素a含量下降60.5%；金鱼藻培养组藻密度下降72.5%，生物量下降86.8%，叶绿素a含量下降54.3%；金鱼藻和篦齿眼子菜的存在可促进养殖水体浮游藻类生物多样性增加，且金鱼藻提高浮游藻类生物多样性效果更显著。金鱼藻培养组浮游藻类生物多样性升高98.4%，篦齿眼子菜培养组浮游藻类生物多样性升高50.3%。本研究结果可为未来生态养殖提供理论依据和参考。     

Vibrio harveyi (VirB11) recombinant vaccine development against vibriosis in orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

Despite significant improvements in aquaculture to compensate wild catch, disease organisms have thrived in limiting its national and global potential. Using antibiotics, in a bid to remedy the havoc, has given rise to complications, attracting attention to disease prevention by immune enhancement against diseases. Grouper production has been inhibited for the threats of bacterial infection, particularly of Vibrio origin. Considering the rise in vibriosis cases, improved vaccines are necessary; moreover, recombinant vaccines, the choice for trial in the present experiment have been effective and more specific in improving immunity. The current work deals with grouper immune system enhancement with a recombinant vaccine developed from VirB11 gene in Vibrio harveyi. VirB11 was cloned in V. harveyi for recombinant vaccine development against vibriosis in orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). As indicated by the results, recombinant VirB11 protein showed effectiveness in conferring protection against vibriosis with observable specific antibody response in enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis; a significant increase (p < 0.05) in antibody levels was observed after a week and after 8 weeks post‐vaccination. From the weeks post‐vaccination, log2 (antibody titres) in the sera of vaccinated groups reached a peak of 14.2 at week 5 in the vaccinated group in comparison with a peak of approximately 5 and 2 in adjuvant and PBS controls. As indicated by the challenge results, 90% relative survival was observed in vaccinated group and 13% relative survival in control group I (adjuvant control). The cumulative performance of protein concludes VirB11 commendable for recombinant vaccine development.     

Typical hydrodynamic models for aquaculture nets: A comparative study under pure current conditions

The net is regarded as the most critical component in marine aquaculture facilities as it is the only barrier which protects the environment from fish escapes. Accurate predictions of the net cage deformation and drag force on the nets are needed, both for ensuring fish welfare and for dimensioning of the mooring system. Thus, an appropriate hydrodynamic model is essential. In practice, two types of hydrodynamic force models, i.e., the Morison type and the Screen type, are commonly used to calculate the hydrodynamic forces on nets. Application of the models depends on the underlying structural model and the availability of data. A systematic review of hydrodynamic models is therefore undertaken to compare the models and various parameterisations, in aid of model selection during the design. In this study, eleven commonly used hydrodynamic models, i.e., five Morison models and six Screen models, are reviewed comprehensively, and implemented into a general finite element (FE) solver for dynamic simulations. Sensitivity studies on different current velocities, inflow angles and solidities of the nets are carried out. Moreover, different wake effects are also considered in numerical simulations. The numerical results from different models are compared against existing experimental data under pure current conditions. Suggestions for selection of suitable hydrodynamic models are provided, based on the model comparison.     

Using Chlorella vulgaris and iron oxide nanoparticles in a designed bioreactor for aquaculture effluents purification

Aquaculture operations produce high volumes of wastewater containing suspended solids and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Treatment of water effluent from fish production ponds is essential for sustain environment. So, the present study was conducted to evaluate simultaneous use of microalgae and iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) to purify aquaculture effluents within a designed bioreactor. For designing experiment, effluent samples were collected from fish farms in Sari, Iran. Iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared from Iranian Nano Pishgaman Company. Chlorella vulgaris was captured from the environment, then purified and cultured in the laboratory. After that, NP and microalgae were transferred to the reactor space. TSS (total suspended solid), TDS (total dissolved solid), BOD (biological oxygen demand), pH (power of hydrogen), EC (electrical conductivity), NO₃ (nitrates), NO₂ (nitrite), NH₄, (ammonium) and PO₄ (phosphates) were measured during the experiment period which NH₄ (93.67 %), NO₃ (92.23 %), NO₂ (89.3 %), and PO₄ (89.25 %) showed the highest reduction percentage, respectively. Also, significant differences among the calculated parameters (except for pH) were observed during the experiment (P < 0.05). Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that the simultaneous use of microalgae and nanoparticles is desirable for purification of aquaculture wastewaters.     

Process performance of anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and aquaculture sludge

The mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion (AcD) performances of waste activated sludge (WAS) and aquaculture sludge (AS) were studied. Mixtures of different compositions (0, 30, 50, 70 and 100 % of AS on the volume basis) were used as AcD substrates and tested via biochemical methane potential assay. The results showed that CH₄ production increased with AS/WAS ratio increment, and AS alone used as the substrate showed the maximum CH₄ yield, which was 8% higher than that achieved using WAS alone as the substrate. The CH₄ yield values were well fitted with the modified Gompertz model. The maximum methane potential (P₀) and maximum methane production rate (R₀) increased from 66.8 mL CH₄/g VS_fed to 70.9 mL CH₄/g VS_fed and from 4.40 mL CH₄/g VS_fed·d to 5.59 mL CH₄/g VS_fed·d, respectively, as the AS/WAS ratio increased from 0% to 100 %. In addition, lower levels of free ammonia and non-biodegradable organic matter contributed to the CH₄ production increasing with AS/WAS ratio increased.     

Simulation of future dissolved oxygen distribution in pond culture based on sliding window-temporal convolutional network and trend surface analysis

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a key ecological factor to measure the quality of water in the aquaculture. As the pond water body is affected by the breeding environment, the spatial distribution of DO shows a certain law in the entire pond. Therefore, to simulate the distribution of DO in aquaculture waters and grasp the temporal and spatial variation of DO is the key to achieving precise regulation of DO. For this purpose, this paper proposed a method for simulating the temporal and spatial distribution of DO in pond culture based on a sliding window-temporal convolutional network together with trend surface analysis (SW-TCN-TSA). This paper first utilized SW to construct DO data sets with different prediction durations, and then used the improved TCN model to realize one-dimensional time series prediction for DO at single monitoring point. Based on the prediction results of DO, a TSA method was performed on the predicted values of DO at the extreme moments of all discrete monitoring points, so as to realize the simulation of the temporal and spatial distribution of DO in the pond. Experimental results show that the SW-TCN model has better prediction performance for one-dimensional time series prediction of DO. Compared with traditional deep networks, such as CNN, GRU, LSTM, CNN-GRU and CNN-LSTM, the values of evaluation indicators (MSE, MAE and RMSE) have been greatly improved. In the process of trend surface fitting, all fitting R² of DO at different water depths are higher than 0.9, indicating that the TSA can accurately reflect the temporal and spatial distribution of DO. This method can provide a basis for the prediction and early warning of DO in the three-dimensional space of the pond and has high practicability in aquaculture.