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Role of stocking density of tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) on fish growth, water

quality and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant biomass in the aquaponic
system

Article · November 2017

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-2, Issue-6, Nov-Dec- 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/2.6.7 ISSN: 2456-1878

Role of stocking density of tilapia (Oreochromis

aureus) on fish growth, water quality and tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum) plant biomass in the
aquaponic system
Hijran Yavuzcan Yıldız, Süleyman Bekcan

Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, Turkey

Abstract— The present study reports the results of the Aquaponics, basically, the symbiotic growing of fish and
production of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) and vegetables in recirculating water systems is emerging as
tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in the classical aquaponic one of the most important areas of sustainable agriculture.
system (one-loop) with different fish density. The Aquaponics is the systems that integrating aquaculture
experiment as the first scientific aquaponics study in recirculating production systems with hydroponics. With
Turkey was conducted at the Ankara University, Faculty of aquaponics dual production of both fish and plants is
Agriculture, using in-door, small-scale classical possible by using the water from the fish tanks for plant
aquaponic systems. Ninety six tilapia juveniles (O. aureus) growth. The essential elements of an aquaponic system
were stocked at different ratio; 25 kg/m3 (Group I), 35 consists of fish rearing tank, a suspended solid removal
kg/m3 (Group II) and 50 kg/m3 (Group III) and fed with component, a biofilter, a hydrponic component and a sump
45% raw protein feed at the level of 2% body weight for [4]. In the aquaponic system, nutrients, which are excreted
126 days. Fish density affected the fish growth parameters directly by the fish or generated by the microbial
and the most densiest group showed the best results in breakdown of organic wastes, are absorbed by plants
terms of fish growth and feed efficiency. Water quality cultured hydroponically. Through microbial
parameters measured fluctated during the experiment even decomposition, the insoluble fish metabolite and
the exceed of the optimal ranges for the fish. However, unconsumed feed are converted into soluble nutrients
tilapia tolerated the changes of water quality. Total plant which then can be absorbed by plant [5] . Fish feed
biomass was low with the various limiting factors provides most of the nutrients required for plant growth
including insufficient lighting of in-door aquaponics [6]. Aquaponics work on the principle of nitrogen cycle,
system and low level of water potassium. The results of where in dissolved waste generated from the production
this study clearly illustrate the fish stocking rate has an system is effectively converted to plant nutrients by
impact on total biomass in the aquaponics and in one-loop beneficial nitrifying bacteria. Plants can utilize these
aquaponics the water quality fluctation is the main nutrients for their growth [6, 7, 8]. Plants in hydroponics
challenging factor. and aquaponics grow more rapidly compared to their
Keywords— aquaponics, tilapia, tomato, fish growth. counterparts which grow in the soil because the root
system is in direct contact with nutrients and nutrient
I. INTRODUCTION uptake is more efficient in an aqueous phase [9]. Water,
One of the main challenges of agriculture in 21th century energy and fish feed are the three main physical inputs for
to feed the growing population is finding more efficient aquaponic systems although the aquaponic operations vary
and sustainable food production systems and adapting to in size and type of production system [10]. Palm et al. [11]
climate change. There is also a gap in the availability of highlighted that economic sustainability of aquaponics
freshwater and land to increase the yield with minimal depends on a variety of factors including system and feed
environmental effect [1]. To overcome the problems that design, animal welfare and pathogen control. There is a
the worls is facing with such as water scarcity, soil need to establish the macro- and micronutrient proportion
degradation, climate change and the population increase that fish can release in the water for a given feed in a given
the aquaponics appear an alternative solution as the system; this depends on fish species, fish density,
aquaponics are an environmental friendly and sustainable temperature, and type of plants [12]. It is clear that feed
food production system [2,3]. and stocking rate of fish are directly related and to
maintain the balance between metabolic products the

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-2, Issue-6, Nov-Dec- 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/2.6.7 ISSN: 2456-1878
stocking rate is critical in the aquaponics as a reflection of where, Wt =Mean final fish weight, Wt0 =Mean initial fish
feed. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess weight and t-t0 = number of days on feed
the production of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) and vi) Daily growth index DGI (%): DGI%= (final
tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in the aquaponic system weight1/3 - initial weight1/3 ) ×100/day
with different fish density.
. Table.1: Chemical composition of the feed
II. MATERIAL AND METHODS Component (%)
This research was carried out in the small-scale aquaponic Protein % 45,0 Digestible energy 4125
system with a grow bed form, producing tilapia (O. kcal/kg
aureus) and tomato (S. lycopersicum) in Ankara Lipid % 20,0 Metabolic energy 3742
University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of kcal/kg
Fisheries and Aquaculture. Aquaponic system was Moisture % 8,5 Vitamin A IU/kg 5.000
installed in-door. Ash % 11,0 Vitamin D IU/kg 1.500
The protocol for the experiment was approved by the Cellulose % 3,0 Vitamin E IU/kg 100
ethics committee of the Ankara University with the Nitrogen free 12,5 Vitamin K IU/kg 20
reference number of 2014-2-9. extract %
Experimental set up Phosphorus 1,5 GE (Gross 5124
Ninety six tilapia juveniles (O. aureus) were stocked at % energy) kcal/kg
different ratio; 25 kg/m3 (Group I), 35 kg/m3 (Group II)
and 50 kg/m3 (Group III). Individual fish weight was 5-7 g At the end of the experiment, plant (S. lycopersicum) parts
at the beginning of the experiment. Fish were fed with were weighted separately (as leaf, stem and root) for
commercial rainbow trout feed with 45 % raw protein with determination of fresh and dry weight. For measuring dry
2% body weight for 126 days. Chemical composition of weight of the plant samples was dried in 65 ºC for 3 days.
the feed is presented in Table 1. The aquaponics Water Quality Measurements
experimental system comprises of a nine fish tank Water quality parameters in fish tanks were routinly
(80x60x50 cm) and nine plastic tanks (65x40x35 cm) measured. During the experimental period the water
filled with hydraton for vegetable beds. Each vegetation temperature was kept at 23°C. Dissolved oxygen (DO),
tank planted with 4 plantlet (30-35 days old) of tomato (S. temperature (T) and pH were measured every week with
lycopersicum). Each fish tank was filled with 100 L of tap portable equipments. Other water quality parameters;
water and aerated continuously with air stone. Nitrifying ammonia (NH3), Nitrat (NO3-), Nitrit (NO2-) and
bacteria; Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter potassium (K) were measured every 15 days by using
winogradskyi were added to the system at the initial Standard Methods [13].
period. Experiments were run in three replicates. A Statistical Analysis
lighting system made of eight Ostram HO 80w/865 This experiment were conducted as completely
lumilux cool daylight fluorescent lamps was placed above randomized design with three replicates. Data were
the units. Water loss due to sampling and evaporation was analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the SAS
replenished with the addition of distilled water. package. Duncan’s multiple-range test was used to
Analytic procedures compare differences among individual means. Treatment
After 126 days of rearing the fish was harvested and their effects were considered significant at p<0.05. Percentage
growth performance was measured with the parameters and ratio data were transformed to arcsine values prior to
using the formulas as below. analysis[14].
i) Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR): FCR= food
intake/ weight gain III. RESULTS
ii) Protein efficiency ratio (PER): (PER) = (Wt- Growth and production of tilapia in the aquaponic system
Wt0)/crude protein fed are given in Table 2. The mean group weight gain was
iii) Feed efficiency (FE): FE= weight gain/feed fed 544.1±57.9 in Group I (stocking rate: 25 kg/m 3),
iv) Specific growth rate (SGR%): SGR%= (lnWt – 849.7±30.8 in the Group II (stocking rate: 35 kg/m3) and
lnWt0 x100) / t-t0 1003.3±49.8 for Group III (stocking rate: 50kg/m 3). The
where, lnWt = the natural logarithm of the final weight, differences in mean group weight gain were statistically
lnWt0 = the natural logarithm of the initial weight, t = time significant (p < 0.05) and the highest weight gain was in
(days) between lnWt and lnWt0 Group III with the highest fish density. Feed conversion
v) Average daily gain (ADG): ADG% = 100[Wt- ratio (FCR) differed among the groups (p < 0.05) however,
Wt0/Wt x (t-t0)]

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-2, Issue-6, Nov-Dec- 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/2.6.7 ISSN: 2456-1878
the FCR was similar in Group II and III. The FCR was value of 12.833±0.829 %. Daily growth index (DGI)
higher in Group I than that of Group II and III. Thus, feed differed among the groups (p < 0.05) and the minimum
efficiency (FE) was lower in Group I. Protein efficiency DGI percentage was in Group I. Survival rate showed
ratio (PER) showed significant differences among the significant differences among the groups (p < 0.05) and
groups. PER was the lowest in Group I and the highest in was the highest in Group II.
Group III. Specific growth rate was higher in Group III.
Average daily growth was the highest in Group III with the

Table.2: The growth parameters of tilapia (O. aureus) in the aquaponics system by the stocking ratio
Experimental groups
Growth Parameters Group I Group II Group III
Stocking rate: 25 kg/m3 Stocking rate: 35 kg/m3 Stocking rate: 50
kg/m3
Mean group initial body weight (g) 44.967±1.08b* 68.733±0.994a 70.067±3.18a
Mean group Final body weight (g) 589.0±58.4b 918.4±31.8a 1073.4±50.0a
1
Mean group weight gain (g) 544.1±57.9c 849.7±30.8b 1003.3±49.8a
Food Consumed (g)2 621.87±23.0c 788.90±12.1b 913.83±2.39a
Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR)1 1.1600±0.0777a 0.9300±0.0231b 0.9133±0.0406b
Feed efficiency (FE)1 0.8710±0.0618b 1.0765±0.0257a 1.0977±0.0516a
Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER)1 11.828±1.26c 18.471±0.669b 21.812±1.08a
Specific Growth Rate (SGR %) 2.2891±0.0763b 2.3138±0.0176b 2.4366±0.0533a
Percentage average daily growth (ADG 10.788±1.02b 11.030±0.238b 12.833±0.829a
%)
Daily growth index (DGI %) 4.2943±0.228c 5.0193±0.0815b 5.4583±0.145a
Survival (%) 80.952±9.52a 96.970±3.03b 85.714±10.9a
*Values with different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p<0.05)
1 Expressed as the percent of the initial body weight after 126 days.
2 Moisture-free basis.

The tomato (S. lycopersicum) plant biomass as fresh and plant (p < 0.05). Final total weight values were the
dry weight of tomato plant leaf, stem and root branches maximum in Group III. Fresh and dry weight of total
were presented in Table 3. Significant differences were plant correlated with fish density (R2=0.92).
observed in the fresh weight and dry weight of tomato

Table.3: Biomass of tomato (S. lycopersicum) plants grown in the aquaponic system by fish stocking density groups.
Fresh Weight (g pot-1) Dry Weight (g pot-1)
Group Leaf Stem Root Total Leaf Stem Root Total
I 1252,5 621,6 131,2 2005,3a* 192,5 66,1 20,4 278,9a
II 1405,9 902,6 90,0 2398,5b 216,0 95,9 14,0 326,0b
III 1728,1c 1108,3 139,8 2976,2c 265,6 117,8 21,7 405,1c
*Different letters in a column indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) among the groups.

Water quality parameters measured in the experiment in Group III. Dissolved oxygen level providing with
(DO, pH, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, potassium) are artificial aeration ranged between 5.80 mg/L (min) and
presented in the Fig 1. Water quality parameters except 7.13 mg/L (max). Ammonium levels during the
water temperature showed significant differences by the experiment varied between 0.68 and 3.70 mg/L in Group
time (p<0.05) and the experimental groups (p<0.05). I, 0.15 and 3.49 mg/L in Group II and 0.40 and 2.92 mg/L
During the experimental period the water temperature was in Group III. Nitrite levels were between 0.05 and 0.80
kept around 24-25°C. The range of pH was between 5.83 mg/L in Group I, 0.16 and 0.90 in Group II and 0.10 and
and 7.31 in Group I, 5.60-7.22 in Group II and 5.50-7.12 0.53 mg /L in Group III. Nitrate levels ranged from 1.85

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-2, Issue-6, Nov-Dec- 2017
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to 275 mg/L in Group I, from 2.33 to 419 mg/L Group II
and from 2.38 to 400.93 mg/L in Group III. Potassium Nitrate mg/L
values in water ranged from 0.13 to 0.36 meq/L in Group 600
I, from 0.10 to 0.37 meq/L in Group II and from 0.10 to 500
0.38 meq/L in Group III. 400

VALUE
300
200
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 100
0
10
VALUE

5
0
DAYS

DAYS Group I Group II Group III

Group I Group II Group III

Potassium (K) meq/L
0.5
pH 0.4

VALUE
10 0.3
VALUE

5 0.2
0
0.1
0

DAYS

Group I Group II Group III DAYS

Group I Group II Group III

Ammonium mg/L .
15 Fig.1: Water quality parameters in the aquaponic system
VALUE

10
5 with different tilapia density and tomato plant
0 (Group I:Stocking rate: 25 kg/m3, Group II: Stocking
rate:35 kg/m3, Group III: Stocking rate: 50 kg/m3)

DAYS IV. DISCUSSION

In this aquaponic system, three different stocking rate of
Group I Group II Group III tilapia were analysed for i) Feed Conversion Ratios
(FCR), ii) Protein efficiency ratio (PER) iii)Feed
Nitrite mg/L efficiency (FE) iv)Specific growth rate (SGR %), v)
Average daily gain (ADG), vi)Daily growth index DGI
1.5 (%) and all fish were fed with the same feed containing
VALUE

1
0.5 45% raw protein. We observed that the growth parameters
0
were better in the group having the maximum fish density
with 50 kg/m3. Total plant biomass values were also
better in the group of 50 kg/m3 than the groups of 25 and
DAYS 35 kg/m3. Nevertheless, tilapia in oxygenated water can
be grown at the 120 kg/m3 by providing better nutrient
Group I Group II Group III supply [15]. FCR as one of the most import parameters in
terms of economy of the aquaponic system should
optimize in parallel to fish density and feding ratio. Thus,
in our case, the minimum FCR was observed in the group

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-2, Issue-6, Nov-Dec- 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/2.6.7 ISSN: 2456-1878
of the highest stocking rate (50 kg/m3) with the feding Leaves portion to total biomass increased in the one-loop
ratio of 2% of total body weigt daily. system here. Thus, Bloom et al [23] reported that when
The average FCR as 1.2-1.3 in the couple system with 40 exposed to low light, plants usually respond by increasing
kg fish /m3 in the study of Monsees et al [13] was allocation of biomass to leaves, by actively creating a
considered as favouring for the commercial aquaculture. dynamic balance where all resources should be equally
Endut et al [16] reported that feed conversion ratio (FCR) limiting to growth. Goddek et al [12] reported that every
values were in the range of 1.23–1.39 for catfish (Clarius plant and fish species have different nutritional needs that
gariepinus) in the aquaponic system with stocking ratio of are also dependent on the growth stage/life-cycle and
25 kg/m3 at different flow rates, by stating that the FCR external factors (including system design). Hence, the
values were close to the ideal value for aquaculture. Thus, optimization of whole aquaponics system to dual
in our study FCR of the all groups (Group I 1.16; Group production is highly complicated. Regarding the fish
II 0.93 and Group III 0.91) are appropriate when reaction to water quality fluctations, tilapia tolerated the
compared to the economic FCR values in aquaculture. sharp changes in water quality as reported by Rakocy
Here, SGR values were 2.28 (Group I), 2.31(Group II) [24]. Survival ratio is considered in normal ranges as
and2.43 (Group III), presenting good growth found in RAS.
performance. SGR values are higher than the values
assessed by Al-Hafedh [17], Monsees [15] and Endut [16] V. CONCLUSION
for the aquaponic production. The effects of stocking rate were determined for the
pH values fluctuated in all groups during the present tilapia growth and plant biomass in one-loop system. The
study. pH is one of the crucial factors in aquaponics and growth performance and feed conversion assessed in this
should be kept around 7 for the success in nitrification; study were better in the group with the maximum density
converting ammonia and providing nitrate for the plants (initial stocking rate, 50 kg/m3). Total plant biomass was
([12, 15, 18]. Although the pH values were below the found to be low with the various limiting factors
optimal value for the fish in this experiment tilapia including insufficient lighting of aquaponics system used.
tolerated the pH changes. On the other hand, pH values The most important factor was to control the water
were suitable for the plant in the present study hence, quality, particularly pH and nitrogenous substances.
most plants need a pH value between 6 and 6.5 in order to Thereby, the dynamic action of water quality in one-loop
enhance the uptake of nutrients [12]. It is known that systems may not meet the expectations in terms of co-
pH<6.5 disrupts the nitrification process with eventual production performance. To optimize fish stocking
risk of ammonia and nitrite toxicity. Here, ammonia and density in the aquaponics the complexity of the water
nitrite exhibited high values in parallel to low pH, the quality should be considered in one-loop system.
peak of ammonia and nitrite corresponds to the lowest pH
values. However, in our case, the nitrate values reached ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
higher values and this may be explained by the insufficent The authors are grateful to Ankara University, Scientific
nitrate uptake of the plant due to weak lighting. Thus, the Research Fund for the support of the project “
interaction of the water quality parameters in the Aquaponics”.
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