Management of a closed brackish water system for high-density fish culture by biological and chemical water treatment

During a 1-year operation of a warm water recycling system (salinity about 8‰) sufficient water quality was maintained under high stocking density conditions using Tilapia and the European eel as potential candidates for intensive farming. The final fish: water ratio was 1 : 23 (or 43.5 g fish per 1 water) for the whole experimental culture unit. The total water volume of the system was about 5 m³. The water treatment unit held 52% of the total volume, whereby 46% was available for fish culture. Combined biological (trickling filter with Hydropack-foil) and chemical (ozonation) water treatment proved to be useful to meet water quality requirements under these rearing conditions. After an initial conditioning period of the biofilter, BOD varied from 4.5 to 6.0 mg O₂/l, ammonium levels were maintained at less than 1 mg/l and nitrite concentrations averaged 1 mg/l. The average efficiency (oxidation rate) of the biofilter for NH₄⁺-and NO₂^?-oxidation was 31% and 13.2%, respectively. The pH was stabilized slightly above 7.0 when a denitrification unit was connected to the system. Nitrate concentration of the system levelled of between 200 and 400 mg/l and was regulated by the addition of an electron donator (first glucose solution, then methanol) to the denitrification unit; the elimination rate averaged 50% with a maximum of 98%. High nitrite levels were avoided by ozone treatment of the recycled water. The accumulation of low-biodegradable substances was also successfully counteracted by ozonation. Fish growth rates of about 30% per month at high stocking densiteis were reached for Tilapia at a fish: water ratio of 1 : 4.6 (217 g fish per 1 water), indicating that a combination of biological water treatment and ozonation supports intensive fish culture in a closed aquaculture system.