Problems affecting nitrification in commercial RAS with fixed-bed biofilters for salmonids in Chile

The present case study focused on the problems that affect the nitrification process at three commercial recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for salmonids with fixed-bed biofilters operating in Chile, where the main factors were found to be management problems: (1) large variations in daily feeding, which results in unstable nitrogenous compounds (TAN, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻) concentration; (2) variable daily water exchange, producing unstable culture conditions (variations in pH and temperature); (3) high densities of culture, which results in overall bad culture conditions (high CO₂ concentration, high amount of fine solids, high oxygen consumption). When properly managed, the RAS have proven to tolerate up to 15% of daily variation in feeding, as low as 10% of daily “new” water inlet, and densities as high as 60 kg fish/m³ without showing any nitrification problems. The results from this study demonstrates that maintaining good water quality is essential to secure an efficient growth of both the target species and the nitrifying bacteria, therefore, the production strategies should consider both the target species and the nitrification process requirements.     

Application of the consortia of nitrifying archaea and bacteria for fish transportation may be beneficial for fish trading and aquaculture

The growing popularity of the aquarium trade is greatly increasing the demand for many ornamental fish. While shipping technology has made the worldwide transportation of ornamental fish possible, a significant portion of the fish caught for the aquarium trade perish in transport before being sold to hobbyists. One of the major causes of fish death in transport is ammonia building up to toxic levels in the shipping bags. In order to solve this problem, we investigated the effectiveness of using nitrifying consortia in reducing the ammonia build‐up in marine fish bags during transport. A pre‐activated nitrifying consortium was effective in safely maintaining low ammonia levels during a three‐day experiment. We found that both ammonium chloride and urea can activate nitrifying consortia. Activation of nitrifiers by urea is not only novel but also beneficial due to being less harmful to fish in comparison with ammonia. We also discovered that unexpectedly one nitrifying consortium examined mainly contained ammonia‐oxidizing archaea. The confirmation of the concept of the use of activated nitrifying consortia and the usefulness of nitrifying archaea for fish transportation may be beneficial for the fish trading and aquaculture.     

Nutrient uptakes and biochemical composition of Lemna minor in brackish water

The freshwater plant species Lemna minor suffers significantly in nutrient uptake and biomass accumulation performance when grown in saline effluents, such as those produced in brackish aquaculture operations. To determine the exact impact of salinity to these plant traits, this study measured the nutrient uptakes and biochemical composition of L. minor grown in synthetic aquaculture medium of increasing salinity levels. The overall trend for biomass growth showed that higher salinity levels resulted in lower growth with a mass gain of about 13% in 12.5 ppt medium compared with 96% in the control. However, the NO₃^– uptake appeared to be unaffected by differences in salinity. NH₄⁺ uptake was significantly affected only at salinity concentrations of 10 ppt and 12.5 ppt. The relationship between PO₄^3– uptake and salinity was less clear, as PO₄^3– levels appeared to decrease linearly for all test groups and were shown to be statistically insignificant. At the end of the experiment period, the control medium showed the lowest measured COD levels, 17 mg/L while the 12.5 ppt solution has the highest COD level, 61 mg/L. Protein content showed a decline with increasing salinity of growth medium, while carbohydrate content was shown to be increasing. These preliminary data identify the general relationship between salinity and the measured criteria of L. minor and will subsequently serve as the basis for further remediation studies and the development of salinity mitigation methods.     

Degradation and effect of hydrogen peroxide in small‐scale recirculation aquaculture system biofilters

From an environmental point of view, hydrogen peroxide (HP) has beneficial attributes compared with other disinfectants in terms of its ready degradation and neutral by‐products. The rapid degradation of HP can, however, cause difficulties with regard to safe and efficient water treatment when applied in different systems. In this study, we investigated the degradation kinetics of HP in biofilters from water recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The potential effect of HP on the nitrification process in the biofilters was also examined. Biofilter elements from two different pilot‐scale RAS were exposed to various HP treatments in batch experiments, and the HP concentration was found to follow an exponential decay. The biofilter ammonia and nitrite oxidation processes showed quick recuperation after exposure to a single dose of HP up to 30 mg L^?1. An average HP concentration of 10–13 mg L^?1 maintained over 3 h had a moderate inhibitory effect on the biofilter elements from one of the RAS with relatively high organic loading, while the nitrification was severely inhibited in the pilot‐scale biofilters from the other RAS with a relatively low organic loading. A pilot‐scale RAS, equipped with two biofilter units, both a moving‐bed (Biomedia) and a fixed‐bed (BIO‐BLOK^®) biofilter, was subjected to an average HP concentration of ～12 mg L^?1 for 3 h. The ammonium‐ and nitrite‐degrading efficiencies of both the Biomedia and the BIO‐BLOK^® filters were drastically reduced. The filters had not reverted to pre‐HP exposure efficiency after 24 h, suggesting a possible long‐term impact on the biofilters.     

Variability of the nitrifying bacteria in the biofilm and water column of a recirculating aquaculture system for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production

The aim of this study was to evaluate variability of nitrifying bacterial community in the biofilm and in the water of a recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in a tilapia farming in order to determine if nitrification process is dependent, or not, of nitrifying bacteria abundance. Biofilm and water samples were collected periodically for 30 days and analysed with the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, used to quantify ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Ammonia presented the peak in the first week, while the nitrite's maximum was recorded in the second week. Nitrate increased steadily, indicating nitrification activity. Total bacterial abundance in biofilm increased continuously, while in water, it did not change significantly. In the biofilm, number of AOB was high at beginning, decreased after few days and increased again following augment of ammonia. Number of NOB also showed an increase in abundance in biofilm following the increment of nitrite and nitrate. In water, AOB and NOB did not show major variability. Relative abundance of nitrifying bacteria represented more than 30% of total bacteria in biofilm at beginning of the experiment. Their contribution decreased to >3% in last days. It indicates that nitrifying bacteria are biofilm colonizers, and that their activity seems to be directly related to the concentration of nitrogen compounds. However, contribution of nitrifying bacteria did not vary much along the time. We may conclude that the biofilm‐nitrifying bacteria plays major role in nitrification process in RAS and that the activity of these organisms is dependent of their abundance in response to the concentration of nitrogen compounds.     

Acute Toxicity of Ammonia and Nitrite to Sea Bream,Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758), in Relation to Salinity

Sea bream, Sparus aurata, is one of the most important fish species that is commonly cultured in the Mediterranean and the eastern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. The life cycle of sea bream in its natural habitat passes through hyposaline and hypersaline lagoons. It is important to determine the tolerance of the fish to nitrogenous compounds for aquaculture at maximum stocking densities. In the present study, a series of acute experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of salinity on ammonia and nitrite toxicity to sea bream. The fish were exposed to different ammonia and nitrite concentrations according to the static renewal methodology at three different salinities (10, 20, and 30 ppt) and at a temperature of 20 C and a pH of 8.2. The toxic effect of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite nitrogen (NO₂‐N) decreased with increasing salinity levels (P < 0.001). Acute toxicity (96‐h lethal concentration 50 [LC₅₀]) values of TAN were determined to be 5.93, 11.72, and 19.38 mg/L at 10, 20, and 30 ppt salinity, respectively. The 96‐h LC₅₀ values of NO₂‐N were determined to be 370.80, 619.47, and 806.33 mg/L at 10, 20, and 30 ppt salinity, respectively. Results indicate that sea bream is less tolerant to ammonia but more tolerant to nitrite compared with some other fish species.     

添加不同菌剂海水水族箱硝化功能建立过程的比较研究

分别选取自制硝化细菌、德彩、喜瑞和科迪4种硝化细菌制剂,研究其对海水水族箱硝化功能建立过程的影响。结果表明:添加不同硝化细菌海水水族箱硝化功能建立过程明显不同,自制硝化细菌制剂组海水水族箱氨氮在5 d达到峰值,11 d降至最低;德彩、喜瑞和科迪组则分别在15 d、13 d和17 d达到峰值,30 d、36 d和30 d降至最低;自制硝化细菌制剂组海水水族箱中亚硝酸盐在21 d达到峰值,在40 d降低至检测不出;德彩硝化细菌、喜瑞硝化细菌和科迪硝化细菌组亚硝酸盐分别在46 d、59 d、68 d到达峰值,德彩、喜瑞组亚硝酸盐分别在69 d、75 d降至检测不出,而科迪组亚硝酸盐直至实验结束仍维持在较高浓度(80 mg/L)。     

Genetic diversity of nitrate reducing bacteria in marine and brackish water nitrifying bacterial consortia generated for activating nitrifying bioreactors in recirculating aquaculture systems

Nitrate reducing potency of 88 bacterial isolates segregated from marine and brackish water nitrifying bacterial consortia (NBC), generated for activation of nitrifying bioreactors, was confirmed by determining the nitrate reducing capability under aerobic conditions as maintained in nitrifying bioreactors. All the isolates had the potential to be used as bio‐augmentors for activating nitrate dissimilation in recirculating aquaculture system. The existence of nitrate reducers with nitrifiers in NBC and in the reactor configuration negates the requirement of integrating anoxic denitrifying system for effective removal of NO₃^?‐N. Phylogenetic analyses of representative isolates from each cluster of the dendrograms generated based on phenotypic characterization and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis revealed profound diversity of nitrate reducing bacterial flora in the NBC. They were composed of Streptomyces enissocaesilis, Marinobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., Microbacterium oxydans, Pelagibacterium halotolerans and Alcanivorax dieselolei from marine NBC and Streptomyces tendae, Nesterenkonia sp., Bacillus cereus, Microbacterium oxydans and Brevibacterium sp. from brackish water NBC. The diversity indices of the consortia were calculated using Mega 5.0, primer 7 and VITCOMIC softwares. Marine NBC exhibited higher Shannon wiener diversity and mean population diversity than brackish water NBC. The study delineated higher species richness and diversity in marine NBC than in its brackish water counterpart, a possible reflection of the higher biodiversity of marine systems, and hence, the former is more promising to be used as start‐up cultures for the activation of nitrifying bioreactors after appropriate acclimatization to the desired salinity.     

Acute tolerance of juvenile Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus L., to ammonia and nitrite at various salinities

The acute tolerance of juvenile Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus L. (mean weight±SE=8.1±0.5 g) to environmental unionized ammonia‐nitrogen (NH₃‐N) and nitrite‐nitrogen (NO₂‐N) at various salinities was determined via a series of static exposure trials. Median‐lethal concentrations (LC₅₀ values) of NH₃‐N and NO₂‐N at 24, 48, and 96 h of exposure were calculated at salinities of 6.3, 12.5 and 25.0 g L^?1 at 28 °C (pH=8.23–8.36). Tolerance of pompano to acute NH₃‐N exposure was not affected by salinity, with 24, 48 and 96 h LC₅₀ values ranging from 1.05 to 1.12, 1.00 to 1.08 and 0.95 to 1.01 mg NH₃‐N L^?1 respectively. Regarding NO₂‐N, tolerance of pompano to this environmental toxicant was compromised at reduced salinities. Median‐lethal concentrations of NO₂‐N to pompano at 24, 48 and 96 h of exposure ranged from 67.4 to 220.1, 56.9 to 140.7 and 16.7 to 34.2 mg NO₂‐N L^?1 respectively. The results of this study indicate that juvenile Florida pompano are relatively sensitive to acute NH₃‐N and NO₂‐N exposure, and in the case of the latter, especially at lower salinities.     

硝化细菌浓度及滤料对养殖水中氨氮处理效果的影响

分别研究了不同硝化细菌浓度(0、20、60、120 mL/100 L)和不同微生物滤料(珊瑚石、锅炉煤渣、牡蛎壳)对养殖水中氨氮处理效果的影响。结果显示,添加硝化细菌后,水体中的氨氮浓度呈现下降趋势,在8～12 h出现极低值后,开始上升,但上升速度较慢;随着水体中硝化细菌添加量的增加,水体中的氨氮浓度下降速度加快;水体中亚硝酸氮浓度呈现先上升后下降的趋势,并在4～6 h出现极高值,然后迅速下降,且硝化细菌添加量越高,下降速度越快。硝化细菌对以珊瑚石和锅炉煤渣为滤料的养殖水体中氨氮和亚硝酸氮的处理效果显著优于牡蛎壳,但珊瑚石和锅炉煤渣之间无显著差异。综合试验结果,应急水质处理时,硝化细菌菌剂的添加量以一次60 mL/100 L(或以活菌计数为1.2×109个/100 L)、间隔24 h添加1次为宜;经过脱硫筛选之后的锅炉煤渣可以作为循环水养殖用滤料。     

The effect of low pH on physiology,stress status and growth performance of turbot (Psetta maxima L.) cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems

We evaluated the effect of low pH and low and high total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations on the physiology, stress status and the growth performance of turbot in RAS. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, turbot (466 g) were grown at control (pH 7.5; TAN ~0.5 mg/L) or low pH and high TAN (pH 5.7; TAN ~50 mg/L) for 55 days. In Experiment 2, turbot (376 g) were grown at control (pH 7.5; TAN ~0.5 mg/L), low pH and low TAN (pH 5.7; TAN ~5 mg/L) or low pH and high TAN (pH 5.7; TAN ~50 mg/L) for 59 days. In Experiment 1, final body weight, feed intake and growth were significantly lower and FCR significantly higher in turbot exposed to low pH and high TAN. In Experiment 2, only growth was significantly lower in turbot exposed to treatment low pH and high TAN as compared to fish in the control treatment and low pH and low TAN. Osmoregulation and stress indicators measured were within normal levels. In conclusion, turbot grew equally well in a water pH of 7.5 or 5.7 provided a low TAN. In contrast, low pH combined with a high TAN impaired turbot performance.     

The impact of elevated water nitrite concentration on physiology,growth and feed intake of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

The nitrite threshold concentration in rearing water of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was assessed. African catfish with an initial mean (SD) weight of 219.7 (57.8) g were exposed to an increasing range of water nitrite from 6 (Control) to 928 μM nitrite for 28 days. Mean (SD) plasma nitrite concentrations increased from 5.0 (3.6) to 32.5 (12.6) μM at 928 μM ambient nitrite. The increase in nitrite was accompanied by gradual increase in plasma nitrate from 41.6 (28.4) μM to 420.2 (106.4) μM. Haematocrit, haemoglobin, methemoglobin, plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose, lactate, osmolality, gill morphology and branchial Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity were not affected. Feed intake, final weight, SGR, FCR and mortality were not affected. We advise not to exceed a water nitrite concentration of 43 μM (0.6 mg L^?1 NO₂^?‐N) to prevent the risk of reduced growth and feed intake in African catfish aquaculture.     

Dissolution rates of hydrated lime,Ca(OH)2 in fresh,oligohaline, mesohaline and euhaline waters and its significance for liming of shrimp culture ponds

This study aimed at assessing the dissolution rates of hydrated lime, Ca(OH)₂ in fresh, oligohaline, mesohaline and euhaline waters and discussing its significance for liming of shrimp culture ponds. Appropriate volumes of seawater and distilled water were mixed to prepare oligohaline (1–4 g/L) and mesohaline waters (4–15 g/L). One gram of analytical grade calcium carbonate, CaCO₃, or one gram of analytical grade calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂, were applied in 10‐L gallons filled with seawater (39.9 g/L), 10.7 g/L, 4.2 g/L and distilled water (0.0 g/L). The final TA of water was significantly higher for Ca(OH)₂ than for CaCO₃ only at salinities 4.2 and 10.7 g/L. It was concluded that hydrated lime, Ca(OH)₂ is a better liming option than agricultural limestone, CaCO₃ for moderately saline, hard and/or buffered waters (?4.5 ≤ Langelier saturation index, LSI ≤ ?0.7). In poorly saline, hard and/or buffered waters (LSI < ?4.5), limestone and lime would increase water TA similarly. Neither limestone nor lime should be applied on highly saline, hard and/or buffered waters (LSI > ?0.7) because a TA decrease is expected.     

Performance and welfare of Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L. post-smolts in recirculating aquaculture systems: Importance of salinity and water velocity

Producing a larger post-smolt in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) could shorten the production time in sea cages and potentially reduce mortality. Knowledge of the biological requirements of post-smolts in closed-containment systems is however lacking. In the present study, the effects of salinity and water velocity on growth, survival, health, and welfare of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS were examined. Salmon smolts were stocked in three separate RAS with salinities of 12, 22, and 32‰ and subjected to high (1.0 body lengths per s⁻¹) or low (0.3 body lengths second⁻¹) water velocity. Growth performance, survival, welfare, and physiological stress responses were monitored until the fish reached a bodyweight of around 450 g. Growth rate was higher at lower salinity and higher water velocity generally had a positive effect on growth in all salinities. Feed conversion ratio was lower at 12‰ compared to the 22 and 32‰ when the fish were between 250 and 450 g. Higher mortality, elevated plasma cortisol levels, higher incidence of cataract, and a higher expression of stress-induced genes in the skin (iNOS, Muc5ac-like) indicated a negative effect of higher salinity on fish welfare. Male maturation was low (<1%), and not affected by salinity or water velocity.     

Taxonomic and geographic gaps in understanding the functional effects of imperilled fishes on freshwater ecosystems

The effects that fishes have on rates of one or more ecosystem processes (hereafter referred to as functional effects) are often invoked as an important reason for imperilled species conservation. However, the degree to which we understand these effects is rarely evaluated for most groups of fishes. We assessed how well the functional effects of freshwater and diadromous fishes, one of the most imperilled groups of animals, are quantified to date. We found that 88% of studies considering the functional effects of imperilled North American fishes were conducted on one family, Salmonidae. Studies of the functional effects of fishes were also concentrated in Pacific drainages of North America, with few studies in hotspots of imperilled fish diversity such as the Southeastern United States, the arid Southwest and central Mexico. Our results demonstrate the vast taxonomic and geographic gaps in our functional understanding of imperilled fishes and highlight the need to broaden this work to justify the argument that they are functionally important in the ecosystems they inhabit.     

温度突变和非离子氨胁迫对淡水养殖凡纳滨对虾cyt-C和caspase-3的影响

 采用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法, 研究了温度突变(16℃←22℃→28℃)和非离子氨胁迫 (0.1 mg·L^–1←0→0.5 mg·L^–1)后, 淡水养殖凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)细胞色素C (cyt-C) 含量和天冬氨酸–半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)活性的变化规律, 并与海水养殖条件下的相关指标进行了比较。结果显示: (1) 温度突变5 d, 淡水和海水养殖凡纳滨对虾血淋巴和肝胰腺cyt-C含量均显著高于突变前的水平(P<0.05)。(2) 温度突变后, 淡水养殖对虾血淋巴caspase-3活性显著升高 (P<0.05), 而海水养殖对虾血淋巴caspase-3活性在低温突变后无显著变化 (P>0.05), 在高温突变后显著升高 (P<0.05); 淡水养殖对虾肝胰腺caspase-3活性在低温突变后显著升高 (P<0.05), 在高温突变后呈无规则波动, 海水养殖对虾肝胰腺caspase-3活性在温度突变后无显著变化 (P>0.05)。(3) 淡水和海水养殖对虾血淋巴和肝胰腺cyt-C在0.1 mg·L^–1非离子氨胁迫后显著升高(P<0.05)(), 而在0.5 mg·L^–1非离子氨胁迫后则呈现先升高后下降的趋势。(4) 0.1 mg·L^–1非离子氨胁迫后, 淡水和海水养殖对虾血淋巴和肝胰腺caspase-3活性均显著升高 (P<0.05); 0.5 mg·L^–1非离子氨胁迫后, 淡水和海水养殖对虾血淋巴caspase-3活性先升高后显著降低, 而肝胰腺caspase-3活性则持续升高。实验结果表明, 温度和非离子氨胁迫对淡水养殖凡纳滨对虾cyt-C和caspase-3均有显著影响; 与海水养殖条件相比, 淡水养殖凡纳滨对虾cyt-C和caspase-3受低温突变的影响更加显著, 而两种养殖条件对虾对非离子氨胁迫的响应规律基本相似.

     

Comparative economic performance and carbon footprint of two farming models for producing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): Land-based closed containment system in freshwater and open net pen in seawater

Ocean net pen production of Atlantic salmon is approaching 2 million metric tons (MT) annually and has proven to be cost- and energy-efficient. Recently, with technology improvements, freshwater aquaculture of Atlantic salmon from eggs to harvestable size of 4–5 kg in land-based closed containment (LBCC) water recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) has been demonstrated as a viable production technology. Land-based, closed containment water recirculating aquaculture systems technology offers the ability to fully control the rearing environment and provides flexibility in locating a production facility close to the market and on sites where cost of land and power are competitive. This flexibility offers distinct advantages over Atlantic salmon produced in open net pen systems, which is dependent on access to suitable coastal waters and a relatively long transport distance to supply the US market. Consequently, in this paper we present an analysis of the investment needed, the production cost, the profitability and the carbon footprint of producing 3300 MT of head-on gutted (HOG) Atlantic salmon from eggs to US market (wholesale) using two different production systems—LBCC-RAS technology and open net pen (ONP) technology using enterprise budget analysis and carbon footprint with the LCA method. In our analysis we compare the traditional open net pen production system in Norway and a model freshwater LBCC-RAS facility in the US. The model ONP is small compared to the most ONP systems in Norway, but the LBCC-RAS is large compared to any existing LBCC-RAS for Atlantic salmon. The results need to be interpreted with this in mind. Results of the financial analysis indicate that the total production costs for two systems are relatively similar, with LBCC-RAS only 10% higher than the ONP system on a head-on gutted basis (5.60 US$/kg versus 5.08 US$/kg, respectively). Without interest and depreciation, the two production systems have an almost equal operating cost (4.30 US$/kg for ONP versus 4.37 US$/kg for LBCC-RAS). Capital costs of the two systems are not similar for the same 3300 MT of head-on gutted salmon. The capital cost of the LBCC-RAS model system is approximately 54,000,000 US$ and the capital cost of the ONP system is approximately 30,000,000 US$, a difference of 80%. However, the LBCC-RAS model system selling salmon at a 30% price premium is comparatively as profitable as the ONP model system (profit margin of 18% versus 24%, respectively), even though its 15-year net present value is negative and its return on investment is lower than ONP system (9% versus 18%, respectively). The results of the carbon footprint analysis confirmed that production of feed is the dominating climate aspect for both production methods, but also showed that energy source and transport methods are important. It was shown that fresh salmon produced in LBCC-RAS systems close to a US market that use an average US electricity mix have a much lower carbon footprint than fresh salmon produced in Norway in ONP systems shipped to the same market by airfreight, 7.41 versus 15.22 kg CO₂eq/kg salmon HOG, respectively. When comparing the carbon footprint of production-only, the LBCC-RAS-produced salmon has a carbon footprint that is double that of the ONP-produced salmon, 7.01 versus 3.39 kg CO₂eq/kg salmon live-weight, respectively.     

Integrating activated sludge membrane biological reactors with freshwater RAS: Preliminary evaluation of water use,water quality,and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss performance

Onsite research indicates that activated sludge membrane biological reactors (MBRs) are an effective waste treatment technology for aquaculture effluents. MBRs produce a filtered permeate that is nearly free of dissolved nutrients, organics, and solids; therefore, this technology could be well-suited for integration within the process control loop of recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS). A four-month study was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating single-vessel MBRs within freshwater RAS while culturing rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Triplicate RAS with and without MBRs (controls) were evaluated; mRAS and cRAS, respectively. System backwash water of mRAS was processed and retained within MBRs which allowed increased water recycling, while cRAS utilized standard dilution rates to limit nitrate accumulation. On average, mRAS required six and a half times less makeup water. Mean daily water replacement of the RAS volume for mRAS and cRAS was 1.2 ± 0.4 and 7.8 ± 0.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). A range of water quality concentrations were significantly greater in mRAS including chloride, carbon dioxide, heterotrophic bacteria count, pH, nitrate-nitrogen, total ammonia-nitrogen, total phosphorous, and true color, as well as dissolved concentrations of calcium, copper, magnesium, and sulfur. Alkalinity and ultraviolet transmittance levels were significantly lower in mRAS. These culture environment differences did not affect rainbow trout growth, feed conversion, or survival (P > 0.05). In addition, concentrations of common off-flavor compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) in water and fish flesh were not affected by MBR presence. Improvements for future MBR integration with RAS were realized including optimization of MBR permeate rates, increased RAS water exchange through the MBRs, and infrequent supplementation of a carbon source to enhance denitrification efficiency and alkalinity recovery. Overall, incorporating MBRs within RAS resulted in substantial water savings and was biologically feasible for rainbow trout production.     

Evaluating the chronic effects of nitrate on the health and performance of post-smolt Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in freshwater recirculation aquaculture systems

Commercial production of Atlantic salmon smolts, post-smolts, and market-size fish using land-based recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) is expanding. RAS generally provide a nutrient-rich environment in which nitrate accumulates as an end-product of nitrification. An 8-month study was conducted to compare the long-term effects of “high” (99 ± 1 mg/L NO₃-N) versus “low” nitrate-nitrogen (10.0 ± 0.3 mg/L NO₃-N) on the health and performance of post-smolt Atlantic salmon cultured in replicate freshwater RAS. Equal numbers of salmon with an initial mean weight of 102 ± 1 g were stocked into six 9.5 m³ RAS. Three RAS were maintained with high NO₃-N via continuous dosing of sodium nitrate and three RAS were maintained with low NO₃-N resulting solely from nitrification. An average daily water exchange rate equivalent to 60% of the system volume limited the accumulation of water quality parameters other than nitrate. Atlantic salmon performance metrics (e.g. weight, length, condition factor, thermal growth coefficient, and feed conversion ratio) were not affected by 100 mg/L NO₃-N and cumulative survival was >99% for both treatments. No important differences were noted between treatments for whole blood gas, plasma chemistry, tissue histopathology, or fin quality parameters suggesting that fish health was unaffected by nitrate concentration. Abnormal swimming behaviors indicative of stress or reduced welfare were not observed. This research suggests that nitrate-nitrogen concentrations ≤ 100 mg/L do not affect post-smolt Atlantic salmon health or performance under the described conditions.     

Water quality in a serial‐use raceway and its effect on the growth of South African abalone,Haliotis midae Linnaeus, 1758

To quantify the effects of serial‐use of water on abalone growth and feed conversion, this study describes water quality in a serial‐use raceway with seven passes. A flow index of 7.2–9.0 L h^?1 kg^?1 was estimated as the minimum value at which to grow 60–70 mm Haliotis midae, as weight gain (analysis of variance; F_{6, 14}=13.9, P<0.0001) and feed conversion ratio (Kruskal–Wallis test; H_{6, 21}=16.3, P=0.012) were significantly reduced at lower values. pH and dissolved oxygen concentration were positively correlated with the flow index (pH, r²=0.99; P<0.001; dissolved oxygen, r²=0.99; P<0.001), while free ammonia nitrogen (FAN) and nitrite were negatively correlated with the flow index (FAN, r²=0.99, P<0.001; Nitrite, r²=0.93, P<0.001). The concentration of nitrite increased throughout the experiment and may reflect the colonization of Nitrosomonas bacteria as water re‐use increased. Based on comparisons with growth and toxicity tests, it is suggested that low pH combined with growth‐limiting levels of FAN were the first variables limiting abalone growth in the serial‐use raceway.