Improved performance of an intensive rotifer culture system by using a nitrifying inoculum (ABIL)

Abstract A dense nitrifying culture (ABIL) has been examined for its capacity to stimulate rotifer growth in a labscale culture system. The nitrifiers were applied in different ways. When ABIL was added directly to rotifer batch cultures, it gave rise to significantly higher population densities (factor 1.5–2.5 higher, P  < 0.05). The nitrifiers were subsequently examined for their capacity to enhance the start-up of bioreactors, commonly installed in aquaculture rearing tanks. Of the different carrier materials used in these bioreactors, i.e. CaCO₃, gravel and a PVC matrix (Bionet), CaCO₃ gave by far the best results. In a third set of experiments, effectively nitrifying bioreactor systems were connected to rotifer culture tanks and operated over a period of up to 10 days. It was demonstrated that the ABIL inoculated CaCO₃-based bioreactor allowed excellent rotifer growth reaching rotifer densities up to 5500 rotifers per mL. Moreover, a new system in which the ABIL culture was recirculated through hollow fibres was developed and demonstrated to be effective for supporting rotifer growth up to 3500 rotifers per mL. Overall, the use of the dense nitrifying culture either in seed batch cultures, conventional bioreactors or hollow fibre bioreactor systems in support of rotifer cultures was demonstrated to be effective for improving the water quality and the rotifer growth.