Growth performance of Nile tilapia cultured in a recirculating water system with microalgae “Spirulina platensis”

Abstract

The present work aimed to evaluate the zootechnical parameters of Nile tilapia, water quality and rate of nitrogen removal compounds by Spirulina platensis in a closed system of water circulation. The experiment took place at the Biotechnology Aquaculture Applied Center (CEBIAQUA) of The Fishing Engineering Department of the Federal University of Ceará. Tilapias culture was conducted in three treatments with four replicates at densities of 010, 0,15 and 0,20 juveniles L-1. The tilapias were fed ad libitum with a commercial ration (0,8mm) containing 55% crude protein (CP), administered daily at 9, 13 and 17 h. Throughout the experiment, the water of fishes boxes and of the respective microalgae basins was reused in the closed recirculation system between the two cultures, with only replacement of water due to evaporation. The results showed that the most efficient stocking density was 0,10 L-1, because it presented the lowest feed conversion ratio. With respect to water quality, levels of N-ammonia (0,26 ± 0,03mg L-1), N-nitrates (2,55 ± 0,71mg L-1) and N- nitrites (0,19 ± 0,01mg L-1) remained within acceptable values for the cultivation of tilapia Nile. Moreover, were reduced 95.57 ± 1.1% of ammonia, 87.9 ± 4.4% of nitrate and 42.63 ± 8.5% of nitrite of water fish culture.