The document is an article from the International Aquafeed magazine published in March/April 2012. It discusses water quality parameters that are important for aquaculture operations, including dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, and nitrogen compounds. It describes how these parameters influence each other and outlines standard values for different water quality variables.

1. March | April 2012
Feature title: PRODUCT SHOWCASE 2012
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2. FEATURE FEATURE
FEATURE
tolerance to low O2 conditions
table 2: temperature (°C) conditions for aquatic species
and inducing stress comparable
feeding started in the country in late 1990s to suffocation. lower lethal Preferred Upper lethal
Species
when semi-intensive shrimp farming of brack- temperature temperature temperature
An increase in CO2 may also
ish water started in the southeastern part of decrease the pH, which can lead
the coastal area and in the beginning of last to toxicity of nitrite. If plants in rainbow trout 0 13 - 17 24 - 27
decade in fresh water, when Thai catfish farm- the water absorb too much CO2 nile tilapia 8 - 12 31 - 36 42
ing started getting popular. for photosynthesis during the day,
Before that a few farms used rice bran and tra catfish 9 23 – 27 33
the pH will increase, and the
oil cakes mash from in aquaculture. Crucian carp 0 25 - 32 38
fish and shrimp are subjected to
Supplemental feeds in pellet form for semi-
Figure 1: The daily cycle of oxygen in higher un-ionized toxic ammonia Channel catfish 9 22 – 29 37
a pond
intensive Peneaus monodon farming were (NH3) concentrations. Cobia 1 21 - 27 33
mostly imported and a joint venture company Carbon dioxide concentra- tiger prawn 14 25 - 30 36
started producing several thousand tonnes tions above 60 ppm may be
White shrimp 14 > 20 40
Monitoring pond water quality to
annually in the country. lethal. In an emergency,
However, semi-intensive Peneaus mono- CO2 can be removed by
don farming started and vanished like bubbles, table 3: toxicity of H2S to various aquatic organisms
improve shrimp and fish production aquaculture feed imports ceased to exist and
the joint venture company switched over
adding liming agents such
as quicklime, hydrated Common name Species name lC50 (ppb)
lime or sodium carbonate
by Elisabeth Mayer MSc, BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Austria to producing low-cost aquaculture feeds for to the pond water. Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus 846.7
fishes. pH is a measure of
Since than pellets became familiar and Indian prawn Penaeus indicus 179.3
acidity (hydrogen ions) or
several companies and private farm owners oriental river shrimp Macrobrachium nipponense 51.0
alkalinity of the water. It
Figure 2: The daily cycle of oxygen and non-food grade livestock by-products; 2)
are now producing pellets for fish and shrimp is important to research report and various Crab
According to maintain Portunus trituberculatus 31.5
T
carbon dioxide in a pond
in the way they like. Most of the pellets surveys it was found that there are 100 feed- plant oilseed and grain legume meals; 3) cereal
he proper management of pond water quality parameters such as oxygen, pH, tem- energy expenditure (also known as specific a stable pH at a safe Black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon 62.6
quality plays a significant role for the
perature, salinity, turbidity and nitrogen com- dynamic action). To face this higher oxygen produced as feed contains more junks than range because it that produce aquaculture by-product meals; vannamei
mills in Bangladesh affects
Pacific white shrimp litopenaeus
and 4) miscellaneous pro-
60.2
success of aquaculture operations. pounds are described with insights on how demand, several measures can be taken: nutritionally required proportional ingredients. feed and poultry feed together.
the metabolism and other tein sources such as single-cell proteins, leaf
Each water quality parameter alone these parameters influence each other. Table Other sources of oxygen than photosyn- Improper feeds provided to a terrestrial ani- physiological processes of culture organisms. protein concentrates, invertebrate meals, etc.
It is clear that there is no specific study daylight hours. pH is generally lowest at
can directly affect the animals´ health. Exposure 1 gives an overview of the water quality thesis are diffusion or transfer from air to mal may cause harm to it or the animal can emphasising sustainability/ feasibility of feed- sunrise (due the respiration and release of
It can create stress, enhance the susceptibility However, to eventual success of these
of shrimp and fish to improper levels of dis- parameters with their standard values. water. Wave action or mechanical aeration deny consuming and provider has an option to disease, lower the production levels and potential feed resources as fishmeal replace-
based aquaculture, especially in Bangladesh. CO2 during the night) and highest in the
solved oxygen, ammonia, nitrite or hydrogen Dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the is forcing this oxygen diffusion. Paddlewheel to change or modify to make it palatable. In cause fact, the production even death. Signs ment in aquafeeds will depend upon the
In poor growth and of aqua-feeds has afternoon when algae utilization of CO2 is at
sulfide leads to stress and disease. However, most important parameters in aquaculture. aerators accomplish this by breaking water case of aquaculture once feed (sinking) is pro- been widely recognised as one of the fast- further development and use of improved
of sub-optimal
in the complex and dynamic environment of Maintaining good levels of DO in the water into small droplets and increasing contact vided, it is difficult to know that percentage of est are besides
pH expand-
aquaculture ponds, water quality parameters is essential for successful production since of water surface with air. Aspirator aerators feed being consumed by target animal. ing agricultural
others increased
also influence each other. oxygen (O2) has a direct influence on feed compel air into the water through a venture industries
mucus on the gill in
intake, disease resistance and metabolism. A and a propeller. Another reason for aeration The impact of poorer
quality feeds
the world, with
surfaces of fish,
annual growth
Aquaculture UK 2012
Unbalanced levels of temperature and sub-optimal level is very stressful for fish and is the circulation of aerated water through unusual swim- 23-24 May 2012
the pond. Diagram 1: CO2 and worse uneaten feed/
To make things pH correlation, rates in excess
pH can increase the toxicity of ammonia shrimp. It is therefore important to keep DO ming behavior, Aviemore, Scotland
and hydrogen sulfide. Thus, maintaining bal- at optimum levels of above 4.0 ppm. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the particles partly used as fertiliser in aquatic eco-
influencing the toxicity of NH3 of 30 percent
fin fray, harm
anced levels of water quality parameters is The dynamic oxygen cycle of ponds fluctu- pond can affect the oxygen cycle and thus, system and pollute the water body rapidly, per year (Tacon,
to the eye lens
fundamental for both the health and growth ates throughout the day due to phytoplankton the oxygen equilibrium. Five-day biochemical if water exchange is not and the degree of
metabolism, feeding rates practiced (Tacon, 1996). On the
as well as poor
of culture organisms. It is recommended to photosynthesis and respiration (Figure 1). oxygen demand (BOD5) is the amount of 1996). In Bangladesh aquaculture most ponds
ammonia toxicity. Temperature also has a basis of differ-
phytoplankton
monitor and assess water quality parameters As shown in Figure 1 maximum DO DO needed by aerobic biological organisms are rain fed and hardly has any scope of water
direct impact on biota respiration (O2 con- ent categories
and zooplankton
on a routine basis. will occur in the late afternoon due to the in the water to break down organic material exchange.
sumption) rates and influences the solubility of species, 25
growth. Optimal
In this article the most important water buildup of O2 during the day through photo- present at a constant temperature during a of Therefore, cost effective quality O2 than
O2 (warmer water holds less feed is a percent of total
pH levels in the
synthesis. As phytoplankton 5-day period. must for aquaculture.
cooler water). aqua-feed pro-
pond should be
table 1: Water quality parameters and their standard values (microscopic algae) usually BOD5 is an important water quality vari- Bad quality feed translated into poorer
Temperature cannot obviously be con- duction was
in the range of
Parameter Standard values consumes the most O2 and able that may be required to demonstrate production performance, pollutes water bod-
trolled in a pond. Aquatic animals modify for shrimp and
7.5 – 8.5.
since photosynthesis does compliance with water quality permits issued ies, degrade eco-system and environment and
their body temperature to the environ- prawn.
The CO2
not occur during the night, by the governments and to achieve farm may lead to out break of disease in aquacul-
ment and are sensitive to rapid temperature The efforts
concentration
(Dissolved) oxygen >4.0 mg/l ture farms (Barua et al, 2011). have been
DO levels decline. Critically certification. variations. For each species, there is a range in the water
temperature Species dependent placed on the
low DO occurs in ponds The BOD5 of pond aquaculture efflu- of It is very much difficult to find 2). It is
temperature conditions (Table out the also influences
pH 7.5 – 8.5 specifically when algal blooms ents usually ranges from 5 to 20 mg/l. The time when formulated feed was introduced in
therefore important to adapt fish and shrimp use pH, e. g. an
the of by-prod-
Salinity Freshwater: < 0.5 ppt crash. The subsequent bac- greater the BOD, the more rapidly oxygen aqua farms of Bangladesh, but it is well known
progressively when transferring them from ucts from the
increase in CO2
Brackishwater: 0.5 – 30 ppt terial decomposition of the is depleted. that during the introduction of semi intensive
tank to pond. much larger and
decreases the
Saltwater: 30 – 40 ppt method supplementary feed was introduced. faster-growing
dead algae cells demands a Also, the O2 cycle and thus, the DO levels Carbon dioxide (CO2) in ponds is pri- pH, as already
optimum: 15 – 25 ppt Especially in shrimp farms located in Cox’s terrestrial agri-
lot of oxygen. Managing the can be affected by changes in the environ- marily produced through respiration by fish/ mentioned
Carbon dioxide (Co2) < 10 ppm ment; a cloudy day will diminish the photo- Bazaar used fishmeal, rice bran and different cultural pro-
above (Diagram
equilibrium of photosynthesis shrimp and the microscopic plants and animals
ammonia (nH4+/nH4-n) 0 – 0.5 ppm and respiration as well as the synthetic O2 input to DO. Correspondingly, types of oil cakes as supplementary feed.
that constitute the pond biota. duction sector,
1). As phyto-
nitrite (no2-) < 1 ppm algae growth - is an impor- uncommonly high temperatures will decrease Local farmer started to (and this mixture
Carbon dioxide levels use toxicity) are including: the
plankton in 1)
tant task in the daily work of the solubility of O2 in water and hence lower in 1987-1988. The Meghna Farm of Cox’s
highest when DO levels are lowest (Figure terrestrial ani-
water utilizes The UK’s major Aquaculture exhibition and conference
Hardness 40 – 400 ppm
a farmer. DO. When a pond is in “equilibrium” DO will bazar first used the pelleted feed in 1989.
2). Thus, dawn is a critical time for monitor- mal by-product
CO2 for photo- featuring the latest aquaculture products and innovations.
alkalinity 50 – 300 ppm Saudi Bangla Fishfeed Ltd, first manufactured meals result-
When feeding the fish not change drastically. ing DO and CO2. High CO2 concentra- synthesis, the pH Visit www.aquacultureUK.com for further information or
H2S 0 ppm ing vary natu-
and shrimp, oxygen demand Temperature is another important water pelleted feed the 1990. In 2001, and shrimp
tions inhibit in ability of fish Bangladesh will from the contact info@aquacultureUK.com
BoD < 50 mg/l is higher due to increased quality parameter. It can affect fish and shrimp Integrated Fishery and Poultry Limited” first
to extract O2 from the water, reducing the processing (i.e.
rally throughout
introduced floating feed which is very costly. rendering) of
38 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | March-april 2012 2012
38 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | March-april March-april 2012 |2012 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | 39
March-april InternatIonal AquAFeed | 39
30 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | March-april 2012 March-april 2012 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | 31

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